Izakaya A Quintessential Part of Japanese Food Culture

Izakaya is a small Japanese styled bar that serves small portion dishes and alcoholic drinks. It’s one of the authentic Japanese cultural experiences you wouldn’t want to miss when travelling in Japan. It’s also the place I frequented the most in Japan, even more than temples and shrines.

My First Izakaya Experience

Hole In The Wall Izakaya

On the first night of my first ever Japan trip, I visited my first Izakaya where I  had my first sake and questionable meat.

The place was recommended by our Ryokan owner. It was small, the only place that was opened on a long alleyway, and had no name whatsoever. They had an English menu though. I was feeling adventurous and pointed out the hot sake on the menu, while my friend, Yin, ordered the cold version and some food for us. I remember loving the taste of the sake, not realizing its strength (we just had a full-on sushi meal), and stumbling back to our Ryokan in the Asakusa neighbourhood. It was one of the travel moments, I shared with my friends, that I think fondly of.

What To Order in an Izakaya?

The food choices in Izakaya vary, but some basic ones are available in most of it such as kara-age, yakitori, edamame, mushroom, and such. A must-order for me is Tebasaki chicken and bacon-wrapped quail eggs — and polishing it off with a glass of Umeshe on the rocks.

I also have eaten some unusual ones in Izakayas, such as horse meat, small salted fish, and octopus — the last two were uncooked. Expect to share a number of dishes with a few friends, and drink a few glasses in Izakaya as that’s when the fun begins.

Ask The Local

Niku Yokocho

It was the night before New Year’s eve, we have done enough touristy stuff for the day in Tokyo. So, and ss a part of our Japan trip traditions, we decided to spend the night in an Izakaya. Niku Yokocho came highly recommended by a local friend and since we had never been there before, we thought we would check it out.

I could see when the lift opened up why Niku Yokocho is a favourite among many. Located in the trendy part of the city, Shibuya, it covers multiple izakayas in a single place with an open floor concept. Kinda like a food court but instead of food stalls, these are Japanese-style bars.

We walked around the already crowded floor before deciding to sit somewhere in the middle, that way we got to see most happenings. Also, it meant more air circulation and less smoke. Yes, the one shitty thing about some izakayas, including this one, was that smoking is allowed. Which kinda ruins the experience for the non-smokers, usually the tourists. But, I guess in izakayas, tourists are not the target market.

Though there are many Izakayas in Tokyo, finding a good one without non-smoking admittedly can be harder.

Izakaya in Pop Culture

I have stumbled upon the best depiction of Izakaya in pop culture on Netflix’s original Midnight Diner. It’s a lovely show centring around the life stories and dramas of the people who frequented this hole-in-the-wall izakaya in an alleyway in Tokyo.

Another snippet of Izakaya was shown on Girls Season 5 Episode 3 where one of the characters, Shoshanna, lives her best life in Japan, from living in a quirky Tokyo apartment, soaking in the onsen to visiting izakaya with her group of friends.

Going to izakaya to wind down is a part of Japanese culture as much as going to the pub for Australian, or eating roadside street food for Indonesian. I love to dunk inside a well-lit Izakaya to avoid the biting winter night chill. Eat, drink, and be merry before stumbling back to the hotel at least semi-drunk.

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