"Anchors Liquor Store" stands about an 8-minute walk from Kameari Station North Exit. This is a well-known liquor store that has been in business for over 60 years. First, let's talk about the appearance. It has a simple and modest look like a regular town store. Inside, there is a space for canned goods and snacks, and a space for standing and drinking, with a row of menus near the checkout counter. During my visit around 6:20 pm, there was one other customer. I started by ordering a "Barrel Highball." They currently do not serve food, so I bought a can of sardines from the canned goods section, had it transferred to a plate, and sat at a table. The Barrel Highball had a slightly smoky aroma due to being barrel-aged, with a smooth and refreshing taste - delicious! The sardines paired perfectly with it due to their rich flavor. After finishing the Highball quickly, I moved on to sake. The refrigerator was stocked with a variety of sake, from popular to rare ones, showing that the elderly landlady is knowledgeable about sake. It was a tough choice, but I decided to pick the "Hiroshima Prefecture Motozui Junmai Ginjo" based on the label design. The sake had a strong aroma of raw sake, a crisp taste, and a slightly dry finish - incredibly tasty! Also, the glass really brought out the flavors of the sake. Personally, I was surprised by the quality of sake from Hiroshima as I didn't have much of an image of it before. So, for my second drink, I decided to stick with Hiroshima and chose the "Hiroshima Prefecture Kamosu Junmai Sake." It had a rich aroma, highlighted the umami of the rice, and had a light and smooth taste that made it easy to drink - absolutely delightful! Oh, it was irresistible! As I chatted with the regular customer who was there before me and received a recommendation, I ended my visit with the "Fukui Prefecture Kuzuryu Junmai Sake." This sake had a lingering rice flavor, a dignified taste, and was incredibly easy to drink! I had no idea there was such a great standing bar away from the station, and honestly, it was so good that I almost don't want to tell others about it, haha. If you're curious, definitely check it out.ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー【Menu】・Sardines in a can: 140 yen************************・Barrel Highball: 430 yen・Hiroshima Prefecture Motozui Junmai Ginjo: 250 yen・Hiroshima Prefecture Kamosu Junmai Sake: 190 yen・Fukui Prefecture Kuzuryu Junmai Sake: 360 yenーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

I found a standing bar in the neighborhood! The regular customers in the cozy shop mostly drink beer, highballs, shochu, and reasonably priced sake. You can also buy canned beer, canned shochu highballs, and canned highballs inside the shop, making it easy to enjoy a casual drink inside. You enter the shop, deposit money like at a cash-on system, then order what you like. If you don't have enough money, you can add more. I started with a draft beer and homemade shumai, which turned out to be surprisingly large and delicious. Next, I bought a canned highball and ice for 100 yen. The Dewazakura (Sakuragawa) from Yamagata is only 300 yen for 100ml, which is quite cheap. Despite appearances, even the regulars are friendly and the shop owner is a nice person, making it a comfortable standing bar.

I finally made it to Ikariya Saketen, a sake shop that I've been wanting to visit for a while. It's a rare sight in Tokyo, a standing bar at a liquor store. An elderly man seemed to be the owner. When I walked in, there were already customers inside, mostly regulars. I was a bit hesitant at first, but the atmosphere was welcoming and I was able to strike up a conversation with a newcomer. They served warm draft beer and the snacks were like those at izakayas (Japanese pubs). The food was delicious, especially the simmered pork intestines and grilled mackerel. However, I ended up ordering too much and the bill was quite high. I wish the prices were a bit more reasonable. They also had tables with vinyl sheets for splash protection, hand sanitizers, and a system for customers to leave their contact information for COVID-19 tracing. Overall, it was a great experience and I would love to visit again for their unique standing bar concept.