Izakaya居酒屋

An izakaya (居酒屋) is a type of Japanese drinking establishment that serves food to accompany the drinks. They are casual places for after-work drinking. "Izakaya" entered the English language by 1987. It is a compound word consisting of "i" (to stay) and "sakaya" (sake shop), indicating that izakaya originated from sake shops that allowed customers to sit on the premises to drink. Izakaya are sometimes called akachōchin (red lantern) in daily conversation, because these paper lanterns are traditionally found in front of them.

from Izakaya (Wikipedia) CC BY SA 3.0

Advice about Izakaya

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Izakaya: An Insider's Perspective images

Izakaya: An Insider's Perspective

It can be a little difficult to explain the concept of an “izakaya” in English. They are likened to pubs or bars, essentially being establishments focused on serving alcoholic drinks. However, that’s not all there is to an izakaya. As a former izakaya waitress, I'd like to debunk a few common misco…(591 words)

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Sakura

SinKaya: Shibuya's Heavenly Secret images

SinKaya: Shibuya's Heavenly Secret

Shibuya's Dogenzaka has a reputation for its seedier side, albeit safe for those adventurous enough to wander its streets. One of its oldest areas, called Hyakkendana ("100 Shops"), is usually shunned by tourists and only ever used as a short-cut for locals.And it's exactly that reason why SinK…(336 words)

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Former Deep Japan Writer

Best Izakaya in Yokohama, Japan images

Best Izakaya in Yokohama, Japan

By far my favourite izakaya is a place in Yokohama called Camp Yokohama. As its name may suggest, this particular izakaya is camping themed. Which of course means, MEAT! GOOD MEAT! CHEAP MEAAAAT!!Anything you order here is awesome, from the jumbo sausage (300 yen) to the lamb. What makes it e…(398 words)

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GenS

Izakaya Okajoki in Nakano images

Izakaya Okajoki in Nakano

We've been to Okajoki a few times with friends. We've sat at the counter - okay if just a couple of you; and we've had a private room - better for groups.The food is typical Izakaya food and they have a good variety of drinks.Prices are reasonable. Service is good.Getting there: take …(119 words)

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Joe Peters

Fascinating 4 Akasaka izakaya's of A-un group with reasonable prices, valued quality, and vitality images

Fascinating 4 Akasaka izakaya's of A-un group with reasonable prices, valued quality, and vitality

One recommendable ‘izakaya’ type of operator in Akasaka area is ‘A-un group,’ which is actually operating four ‘izakaya’s under the name of ‘A-un-tei,’ ‘A-un,’ ‘Gonkichi,’ and ‘Kyushu Sakaba,’ respectively in the order of less casualness, providing, though, more or less, the same menu almost for th…(326 words)

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Techan

Tokyo Izakaya for Sashimi and Seafood images

Tokyo Izakaya for Sashimi and Seafood

Izakaya are Japanese style pubs, great places to meet and have drinks. Many izakaya also serve excellent food. Try having a few drinks while you sample some popular izakaya foods. If you like fish and seafood, you should try one of the Isomaru Suisan 磯丸水産 izakaya. Isomaru is a seafood speci…(287 words)

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David

Lively Drinking Spots in Japan: Beer Gardens and Izakaya Japanese Pubs images

Lively Drinking Spots in Japan: Beer Gardens and Izakaya Japanese Pubs

You can find Beer Gardens atop department stores around Japan and Izakayas along any busy restaurant area in any city in the country.Although also popular with groups of friends or coworkers, you will find Japanese style pubs "Izakaya" popular with men- they serve many small dishes that go well…(220 words)

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jjwalsh

Kinsai in Nakameguro is a great Izakaya images

Kinsai in Nakameguro is a great Izakaya

If you are looking for tasty small plates of great japanese food that goes well with sake, beer and wine- but you don't want a low end chain or a disney-fake experience- check out KINSAI in nakameguro. The food is always great, and there is a good seasonal variety I especially recommended gri…(88 words)

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LShannon

Tamagawa Izakaya Sushi in Shibuya, Japan: There is a spirit in every grain of rice images

Tamagawa Izakaya Sushi in Shibuya, Japan: There is a spirit in every grain of rice

As we sat on the one-piece blonde wood counter in the 20-something seat sushi restaurant just past the Hyakkendana red arch on Dogenzaka in one of Shibuya’s most Shibuya-like neighborhoods, the Ita-mae Sushi Taisho Mr. Yamaga speaks of eating Sushi in one piece, the intricacies of inter-customer tr…(531 words)

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Kaisendon - Sashimi Pub Lunch at a Seafood Izakaya images

Kaisendon - Sashimi Pub Lunch at a Seafood Izakaya

How is your sushi vocabulary and experience? If you have tried a few sets of sushi and sashimi, try kaisendon. Kaisendon is sashimi on rice. Don 丼 is short for donburi, food served on top of a bowl full of rice. Magurodon for example is tuna on rice, kaisendon is mixed seafood on rice. It coul…(283 words)

David image

David

A little bit of Kyushu in Tokyo images

A little bit of Kyushu in Tokyo

While a visit to Kyushu Japan’s southern archipelago is highly recommended, the 1,000 Km trip from Tokyo often means short-term Japan travelers and even long-term foreign residents don’t travel there or get there often enough. Fortunately, we can get a taste of Kyushu right here in Tokyo for a reas…(223 words)

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Aron

Enjoy Japanese Chu-hi drink ! images

Enjoy Japanese Chu-hi drink !

You will see an overwhelming numbers of Chu-hi cans lined up in a rowbesides beer and wine in every convenience stores. Chu-hi is aJapanese-shochu-based cocktail, which has now become a widely acceptedbeverage nationwide in Japan with a variety of offerings such as localfruits flavors.A…(332 words)

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fujimorison

SAKE 101: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SAKE images

SAKE 101: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SAKE

A trip to Japan would not be complete without a little sake tasting! But unless you are an avid sake drinker, it can be hard to know where to begin.To help you navigate the world of sake, we’ve done plenty of research in Japan: from consulting with sake connoisseurs, to sake tastings and sampli…(1032 words)

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan image

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan

Nomihoudai: All you can drink (but not too much) images

Nomihoudai: All you can drink (but not too much)

Nomihoudai - all you can drink - is a very customary service in a Japanese pub. The service usually includes all of the drinks in one part of the menu, usually beer and some mixed drinks, and sometimes wine. Nomihoudai usually has a time limitation, such as 2 or 3 hours. But as is common in Japa…(195 words)

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mikekato

Popular Yatai Foods: Yakisoba images

Popular Yatai Foods: Yakisoba

Yatai food stalls at festivals always include a yakisoba vendor. Yakisoba noodles are Japanese fried noodles, but they have nothing to do with soba. The noodles used here are more like the ones for ramen. The noodles are quickly cooked on a hotplate with vegetables, meat, or seafood and seasone…(215 words)

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David

Ordering Tips At A Yakitori Shop 101 images

Ordering Tips At A Yakitori Shop 101

Yakitori is a popular food both in and outside of Japan. Grilled Chicken on skewers are just the perfect comfort food or snack epecially after a good hard day of work. Back in America there were plenty of Japanese restaurants that have “Yakitori” on the menu, and it’s a popular menu item.Come t…(375 words)

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Japanista

Gorgeous and Exotic "Pontocho" in Kyoto! images

Gorgeous and Exotic "Pontocho" in Kyoto!

At night, Kamogawa riverside is turned to be the scenic site well-known for its gorgeous Pontocho in Kyoto! I used to take my friends visiting Kyoto to Pontocho without fail. I just love their atmosphere - the traditional lantern lights in their narrow street are really exotic. Summer is here …(257 words)

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EmiOnishi

Shimbashi, the Yakitori Haven in Japan images

Shimbashi, the Yakitori Haven in Japan

If you go to the Shimbashi area at night, you will find numerous funky little izakaya and eateries filled with Japanese salarymen letting go after a long day of work. Yakitori is considered a great snack to eat along with drinking alchol and so these izakaya usually have yakitori. When a bunch of i…(122 words)

GenS image

GenS

Aisatsu images

Aisatsu

The use of aisatsu is probably one of the best ways to strike up a relationship in Japan. "Aistatsu" are greetings such as "Konnichi wa" (Hello, used during the day). Try using aisatsu at a variety of places; eg. in the elevator, in the park, at ths supermarket or in the izakaya (as per the above e…(97 words)

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StevieB

Yakitori; Grilled Chicken that Sake Lovers Can’t Drink Without. images

Yakitori; Grilled Chicken that Sake Lovers Can’t Drink Without.

Just like Londoners enjoying fish and chips with pints of beer at the pub, yakitori(焼き鳥, やきとり) or skewed chicken barbecue, is an essential delicacy for beer or sake here in Japan. You can easily find yakitori on izakaya menus everywhere in Tokyo, but I would like to recommend you visit a few…(256 words)

Hagi image

Hagi

Tenpura ryori, Yasai Tendon, Yasai Itame (sauteed veg), Yasai Yakisoba (veg noodles) and many other veg options can be tried out images

Tenpura ryori, Yasai Tendon, Yasai Itame (sauteed veg), Yasai Yakisoba (veg noodles) and many other veg options can be tried out

Tenpura Ryori - Tenpura is a Japanese dish which is fried in a batter. Vegetable (yasai) Tenpura would be vegetables dipped in the batter and then fried. They are assorted vegetables and then as a side dish rice or miso is given with it in a full meal. Yasai Tendon - Basically a bowl of rice wit…(342 words)

suku image

suku

SL hiroba images

SL hiroba

Shinbashi is great spot to feel in Japan. It's call salaryman(Japanese business man called salary-man) paradise! There are many inexpensive izakaya(casual Japanese tavern) .Shinbashi station is one of the big station in Tokyo and it's so hard to find a good place to meet.I highly recommend …(95 words)

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yukorose

Try Okonomiyaki and a Chuu Hai images

Try Okonomiyaki and a Chuu Hai

Okonomiyaki is an awesome Japanese dish that is basically a pancake filled with cabbage, meats, and whatever else you'd like. In the Tokyo area, okonomiyaki tends to be thinner, whereas in the Kyoto/Osaka region they get much thicker.Chuu Hais are a japanese interperation of the Highball drink …(72 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

All You Can Drink in Japan! images

All You Can Drink in Japan!

When having a party at any izakaya (Japanese pub), a common option to choose is the nomihoudai (all you can drink) option. I never thought this was unique to Japan until my foreigner friends told me they had never had an all you can drink option. If you choose to do nomihoudai, you will be able to …(260 words)

GenS image

GenS

About ONIGIRI... and O CHA TSUKE images

About ONIGIRI... and O CHA TSUKE

Well, the easy way is to get them at your closest and favorite combine store. But, you can prepare them yourself. All you need is:- rice- a sheet of dried alga or if you do not like it, some sesame- salt- something to put inside: basically, anything you like. Purist will use the salty and a…(290 words)

Claire image

Claire

Special places in Japan can be hidden just outside of the city images

Special places in Japan can be hidden just outside of the city

How much would you pay to eat fresh sashimi?Would you go to a 100 yen Kaiten Sushi?Or would you prefer to know what your eating and go to a Sushi bar where the chief is right in front of you? Sounds expensive?!The fish you eat in Tokyo the main hub comes through a large market called Tuki…(288 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

"Teishoku" is a nostalgic homemade meal for Japanese. images

"Teishoku" is a nostalgic homemade meal for Japanese.

Are you interested in the fare found in a normal, ordinary Japanese household? Why not give Teishoku(定食) a try? The word itself means "set meal", and if you've stayed at a Japanese style inn and enjoyed breakfast there, you must have tasted steamed rice, miso soup and several other delicacies…(305 words)

Hagi image

Hagi

5 Unique Japan Guidebooks For An In-Depth Japan Experience images

5 Unique Japan Guidebooks For An In-Depth Japan Experience

A general Japan guidebook can be great if you’re looking for general information on Japan travel.But if you’re looking for more specialized, in-depth information, most guidebooks won’t cut it. That’s why we love these specialty Japan guidebooks.*OLD KYOTO: A GUIDE TO TRADITIONAL SHOPS, REST…(472 words)

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan image

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan

My first loach.What's otoshi?? Girls' Japanese night life. images

My first loach.What's otoshi?? Girls' Japanese night life.

http://youtu.be/wZvdjtDaEPcWe introduce a Japanese-bar (Izakaya), which is in a place where people from other countries hesitate to enter.This time, it's in Uguisudani.We took out some yakitori ,talked with a drunk old man and ate loach! We didn't know Japanese omelette is square....(48 words)

Eddie image

Eddie

Where to visit when your in Aichi images

Where to visit when your in Aichi

Recommended place for family, couples, and friends.Nagashima Onsen has it all.I went there last year stayed at a near by Ryokan for a night.The first day my friends and I went to the Theme Park.One of the many must rides is the Steal Dragon.It takes you up 97 meters feet dangled from yo…(208 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

How to cook edamame at home images

How to cook edamame at home

Edamame is a delightful vegetable commonly served at Japanese Izakaya and sushi restaurants as a meal starter. Also, we can also cook them easily at home when you want some finger food to dinner during summer. Although it's very easy and simple, how to cook edamame is very important since it makes …(191 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Golden Gai images

Golden Gai

Golden Gai is a small and fantastic area in Shinjuku. Almost 200 mini-bars are squeezed into just a few small alleys, with some bars dating back to the 1960′s. The area was saved from being burnt down in the 1980′s because bar owners and protesters stayed up all night to guard the area from being d…(258 words)

Emelie Fågelstedt image

Emelie Fågelstedt

October Festival in Nagoya till July 21st images

October Festival in Nagoya till July 21st

The October Festival in Nagoya started from July 5th.Right in the middle of Sakae.The sites are divided into two main areas, one is next to the TV tower (Angel Area) and the other is next to Matsuzakaya (Hisaya Area).Entrance fee is the free.I went last Sunday on a rainy day the area ha…(223 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Deep crawl at night in Shinjuku - Golden Gai(District) images

Deep crawl at night in Shinjuku - Golden Gai(District)

Which is the best place to visit in Tokyo at night?To experience the local and enjoy the talk with the locals?Well, one has his/her own interest so does other. And Tokyo has so many options to offer. So it's not easy to pick only one.But this is for you who might be looking for some ol…(294 words)

Zara image

Zara

so many choices! images

so many choices!

Yakitori : You may be asked, “tare” (sweet say sauce) or “shio” (salt) for flavor.Kushi-age : Deep fried vegetable, meat and fishes. It's like deep fried pinchos. You are not allowed to dip it in a source pod twice or more!Tori-kara-age : Deep fried chicken.Sashimi-moriawase : Variety o…(65 words)

Moo Moo image

Moo Moo

Go out to drink to socialize. images

Go out to drink to socialize.

Japanese people like to be in groups.They also take close attention to "Kuki" (air) the atmosphere of the location, the people they are with. You won't be welcomed if you bombard a random group or at an Izakaya.There are many pubs all around Japan now.These places are more open, the Japanes…(129 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

UMESHU images

UMESHU

UNESHU IS SAKE WITH PLUM.SWEET TASTY !PLEASE TRY IT!↓ FOLLOWING IS ONE OF THE FAMOUS UMESHU COMPANY http://www.choya.com/umeshu_02.htmlYOU CAN BUY UMESHU AT CONVINIENCE STORE.YOU CAN FIND EASILY UMESHU IN IZAKAYA ALSO.(39 words)

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karnavi

Saying "No" images

Saying "No"

Refusing an offer isn't always easy, especially if the offer is for a fun night out at an izakaya. However, if you can't make it, here are some techniques I use to bow out gracefully. Usually, I go for the easy let-down. I feel a too-direct, "Thanks, but I'm not interested," may be too straight-…(165 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

Are there any special events for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in Japan? images

Are there any special events for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in Japan?

Yes and No. Halloween, for commercial reasons, has become "popular" among Japnese people, but they don't really know what to do or even when it is! Even at supermarkets or 100-yen stores, you can find many kinds of Halloween ornaments, but unless you go to Roppongi or some place where many foreig…(233 words)

TinaT image

TinaT

Nomihoudai are economical and great if you are in groups.. images

Nomihoudai are economical and great if you are in groups..

Normally Nomihodai are timebound. It is for 60 min or 90 min or 120 min etc and this is told /decided initially when you enter the shop. There are set of drinks which you can have as much as you like in these 60 or 120 min. Drinks not included in this list have to be purchased separately at norma…(192 words)

suku image

suku