Kawa0310
A friend who found out that I was in Tokyo invited me to go drinking in Asakusa. I couldn't possibly turn down such an invitation, right? I had no idea where I was going and ended up getting off at Asakusa-bashi Station instead of heading to Kaminarimon, which was a bit embarrassing (laughs). We met up in front of Kaminarimon Gate and walked through the crowded Nakamise Street to the so-called "Hoppy Street". After having a drink or two there, we tried to go to the next bar, but it was closed. We were unsure of what to do next when we stumbled upon "Asakusa Tachinomi Sharemon", a standing bar. The exterior and the menu posted at the entrance made us decide to go in. The interior was cozy and dimly lit with a standing counter for about 10 people and a reserved private room with seating for about 8 people. It had a nice atmosphere. Since we had beer on "Hoppy Street", I decided to start with sake here. I tried the "Kachikoma Junmai Namazake" from Toyama's Seito Sake Brewery, a rare sake known for its limited production, and it was indeed delicious. It was a bit early, but they had "Kohada Vinegared Fish (350 yen)" on the menu. I love Kohada, and it's not easy to find in Okinawa, so whenever I come across it on the mainland, I can't help but order it. And for only 350 yen, it was a steal! The "Hanamizuki Junmai Ginjo Dewasansan" from Akita's Ryokan Sake Brewery was a fresh and juicy sake with a refreshing taste. It's not easy to come by, so I had to try it. The "Grilled Pork with Black Salt Potato Salad (450 yen)" was a simple potato salad with plenty of thinly sliced grilled pork and a black salt that added a nice accent. The "Eijun Junmai Ginjo Yamada Nishiki Fire" from Mie's Kiya Masamune Sake Brewery was a well-balanced sake with umami, acidity, and a slight gas sensation. It was a representative of delicious Japanese sake. The "Sweet and Spicy Simmered Red Clam (450 yen)" had a chewy texture and paired perfectly with the sake's umami. It's a perfect dish to enjoy with your drink. I also tried the "Soga Pale E Fisuiria Sonton" from Nagano's Obuse Winery. It's a sake made by the winery during the off-season, and it had a light acidity and a fresh taste, resembling white wine. The "Grilled Horse Mackerel Minced Meat with Smoked Daikon Radish Tartar (450 yen)" was a unique dish with grilled mackerel and a smoked daikon radish tartar sauce, which added a smoky flavor. I also tried a sake that was not on the menu, the "Kansugi Fukoku Nihonbare Junmai Namazake", which was offered to me at a discounted price. The owner had a lot of stock of sake that was not listed on the menu. The "Iwanori Cream Cheese" was a light snack that paired well with the sake. The "Inato Agave Doburoku Series" from Aichi's Kami Sugi Sake Brewery was a sake made with hops, which added a refreshing bitterness to the aftertaste. It was recommended to mix it with beer in a 1:1 ratio, and it created an interesting flavor. The "Hokkai Tsubugai Ginger Simmered" was a dish with a unique flavor of clam broth and liver bitterness. Lastly, I tried the "Tosa Tsuru Azure Junmai Ginjo" from Kochi's Tosa Tsuru Sake Brewery, which had a fruity acidity and a smooth sweetness, resembling eating fruits. The stylish bottle made it look cool and not like a typical sake bottle. The lineup of sake was impressive, and the food was equally delicious.