Born and raised in Tokyo, I have loved sake for 20 years. I want to make many acquaintances and connect with other sake lovers.
I want to share the goodness of Japanese sake（Ginjo） with the world. I drink sake （Ginjo）every day and tell people overseas how delicious it is. I also has a license for sake（Ginjo） . Introduces sake （Ginjo） from all over Japan that can be drunk mainly in Tokyo. I will also teaches people how to drink and eat with food.
Looking for an authentic yet affordable dining experience in the heart of Tokyo? If you’re near UenoOkachimachi station, Tori-ichizu (とりいちず) is a visit. Known for its incredible cost-performance, this chicken specialty restaurant offers everything from juicy yakitori to rich collagen-filled hot pots without breaking the bank. Tori-ichizu This time, two adult men spent a total…
Another cozy solo drinking session tonight. Bought some sake for the first time in ages. “Sensuke Junmai Ginjo Origarami”—I really like origarami. Origarami refers to sake that’s bottled with a slight cloudiness, intentionally leaving behind the “ori”—the fine particles of rice and yeast solids—after the pressing process, rather than removing them through “ori-hiki” (sediment removal).…
About three hours by bullet train from Tokyo, you can enjoy travel and gourmet dining on the Sea of Japan coast. From Tokyo, it takes about three hours by bullet train to reach the Sea of Japan coast, where you can enjoy travel and gourmet dining. It also serves as the gateway to the Tateyama…
Looking for an authentic yet affordable dining experience in the heart of Tokyo? If you’re near UenoOkachimachi station, Tori-ichizu (とりいちず) is a visit. Known for its incredible cost-performance, this chicken specialty restaurant offers everything from juicy yakitori to rich collagen-filled hot pots without breaking the bank.
Tori-ichizu
This time, two adult men spent a total of 6,587 yen. We drank a lot of alcohol. It’s heaven for those who love alcohol.
The sign is awesome. Lemon sour for 80 yen a glass. It’s heaven for drinkers. Beer is also 299 yen. Other drinks are 199 yen. There’s a saying in Japan: “Cheap and tasty.” This is what makes a good casual restaurant in Japan.
Tori-ichizu
Menu
Tori-ichizu Menu
Tori-ichizu Menu
Other items include chicken for 59 yen and yakitori for 99 yen—cheaper than buying bottled water.
Tori-ichizu
Tori-ichizu
It’s fairly crowded. The restaurant is quite spacious. There are many office workers.
Tori-ichizu
My favorite bargain chicken
The rumored super cheap chicken. It’s actually pretty tasty. You could eat it forever. It’s soy sauce flavored. In my experience, chicken this cheap and delicious is rare.
Tori-ichizuFried Chicken
Tori-ichizuFried Chicken
Tori-ichizu Yakitori
Tori-ichizu Japanese yam
Tori-ichizu Carpaccio
Other menu items are also delicious for the price. The portions feel a bit small, but they’re still enjoyable.
Whether you’re a solo traveler looking for a quick bite or a group wanting to experience a Japanese Izakaya night, Tori-ichizu UenoOkachimachi provides high-quality chicken dishes at prices you won’t believe.
Shop Information
📍110-0005 5-27-17 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo Okachimachi Overpass Store 1, 2nd Floor
Another cozy solo drinking session tonight. Bought some sake for the first time in ages.
“Sensuke Junmai Ginjo Origarami”—I really like origarami.
Origarami refers to sake that’s bottled with a slight cloudiness, intentionally leaving behind the “ori”—the fine particles of rice and yeast solids—after the pressing process, rather than removing them through “ori-hiki” (sediment removal).
I like it fizzy.
Sensuke Junmai Ginjo Origarami
It’s settling. This is the sediment.
Sake from Hyogo Prefecture. Please note that vigorously shaking the bottle before opening may cause contents to spray out.
This warning indicates that gas may have built up inside.
100% Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture.
There’s no mark on the bottle cap.
Opening
It’s colorless and transparent. It doesn’t have much of a scent.
No color at all, huh? Well then, gulp.
Evaluation of Sensuke’s Taste
It has a melon-like flavor. Well-balanced. Suitable for beginners and easy to drink for intermediate drinkers. Slightly higher alcohol content. Sweetness is present but just right. Due to the sediment, it has a pronounced lactic acid note reminiscent of yogurt.
Today’s snack is mentaiko and cheese macaroni.
This dish pairs exceptionally well with my personal taste—the saltiness of the mentaiko, cheese, and macaroni all complement each other perfectly, making it an outstanding match for sake.
About three hours by bullet train from Tokyo, you can enjoy travel and gourmet dining on the Sea of Japan coast. From Tokyo, it takes about three hours by bullet train to reach the Sea of Japan coast, where you can enjoy travel and gourmet dining. It also serves as the gateway to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
The Best Station-Connected Hotel in Toyama, Japan. If you are planning a trip to Toyama, Japan, and want a hotel that combines perfect location, comfort, and value, Toyama Chitetsu Hotel is an excellent choice. Directly connected to JR Toyama Station and Dentetsu Toyama Station, this hotel offers unmatched convenience for both sightseeing and business travel.
This hotel is conveniently located just a short walk from the station, allowing you to arrive without getting wet in the rain. Proceed to the second floor to complete check-in at the reception desk. The elevators are secured with a card-access system for safety, requiring you to swipe your key card to access your floor.
Toyama Chitetsu Hotel
Unbeatable Location: Direct Access from Toyama Station The greatest advantage of Toyama Chitetsu Hotel is its direct station access. You can walk from the Shinkansen platforms to the hotel without going outside, making it ideal during rainy weather or Toyama’s snowy winters. 1 minute walk from JR Toyama Station Direct access to Dentetsu Toyama Station. About 20 minutes from Toyama Airport by bus or taxi. This location is especially convenient for travelers heading to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, one of Japan’s most famous scenic mountain routes.
Toyama Chitetsu Hotel
Toyama Chitetsu Hotel
Convenient Facilities and Nearby Attractions
The hotel building and surrounding area offer plenty of dining options, cafés, and convenience stores. Inside the hotel, guests can use:
Lounge space
Coin laundry
Luggage delivery services
Within walking distance, you can explore:
Toyama Castle Park
Matsukawa River area
Shopping and dining districts near the station. Everything you need is close by, making the hotel perfect for short stays or extended visits.
Comfortable Rooms with Modern Amenities.
The guest rooms at Toyama Chitetsu Hotel were recently renovated and designed for comfort and functionality. The interior features calm, ocean-inspired colors that create a relaxing atmosphere after a long day of travel.
Room features include:
Comfortable beds (even in single rooms)
Free high-speed Wi-Fi
Work desk and seating area
Private bathroom with bidet toilet
Refrigerator and TV
The multiple cables provided in the room were very convenient and helpful.
Multiple cables
Amenities are available in the lobby, allowing guests to choose only what they need—an eco-friendly and practical system.
Amenities Zone in lobby
Toyama Chitetsu Hotel
Toyama Chitetsu Hotel
I didn’t eat it myself. Enjoy local flavors at breakfast
The hotel restaurant serves breakfast buffet-style, offering a mix of Japanese and Western dishes. Notably, it focuses on Toyama Prefecture’s local cuisine.
Popular items frequently include:
Toyama-grown Koshihikari rice
Masu sushi
Braised yellowtail (Buri daikon)
Seasonal local side dishes
For international visitors, this offers an excellent opportunity to experience authentic regional cuisine without leaving the hotel.
Toyama Chitetsu Hotel
Toyama Chitetsu Hotel
I visited some delicious miso ramen shops and sushi restaurants around Toyama.
The miso ramen shop inside Toyama Station. While the main branch is located away from the station, the station shop is convenient for travelers. Why is Toyama known for miso ramen? Nagano Prefecture is famous for miso, with the term “Shinshu miso” existing. While black ramen is actually Toyama Prefecture’s specialty, I enjoyed the miso ramen.
A shopping mall at the station. It has everything from sushi restaurants to seafood izakayas and various other eateries.
A shopping mall at the station. It has everything from sushi restaurants to seafood izakayas and various other eateries.
Menu
Menu
Menu
Here’s the menu. There are various options. They all look delicious. The rice bowls paired with noodles and carbs are the perfect combo to fuel your growth. I’ll make sure to work off every bite.
Menu
Menu
Menu
Inside the restaurant, many people eat in silence, and the sound of eating echoes throughout rather than chatter.
Inside the store
miso_ramen
miso_ramen
Eating Miso ramen
miso_ramen
This shop’s miso ramen is incredibly delicious. While Hokkaido’s miso ramen is famous, Hokuriku’s miso ramen is also delicious. Personally, I find adding extra garlic to miso ramen creates a strong aroma and makes it a very mild miso ramen.
Gyoza
Chashu Rice Bowl
It’s a matter of preference, but try mixing them in a ratio of 2 parts soy sauce, 4 parts vinegar, and 1 part chili oil. This is generally the standard amount. When eating gyoza in Japan, use soy sauce, chili oil, and vinegar.
Gyoza
miso_ramen
seasoning
This time, I stayed at this hotel. It’s conveniently located less than 5 minutes from Toyama Station. For more details about the hotel, click here.
The Hokuriku region yields delicious fish from the Sea of Japan during winter. Tossed by the rough waves of the Sea of Japan, fish rich in fat are caught. Toyama Bay, in particular, is often called a natural fish farm. Plankton thrives there in just the right amount, attracting fish that gather specifically for it.The bay itself is called a natural fish farm, being circular and shaped like an actual fish farm,creating an environment where fish thrive and grow vigorously.
Sushi Tama, Toyama Kakeo Main Store. There’s one near the station too, but the main store has a better atmosphere.
When winter arrives, the Hokuriku region faces harsh conditions like low temperatures and snow, causing the fish to develop a lean, firm body with rich fat—an adaptation to their environment. While this might seem cruel for the fish, within the food chain, it makes for an ideal season for humans to enjoy delicious sushi. That’s why the Sea of Japan in winter offers some of the most exquisite sushi in Japan, the country that invented it. Among these, Toyama Prefecture stands out as a hidden gem—a precious area where you can still find superb sushi off the beaten path. The sushi restaurant I visited this time, Sushi Tama Honten, is renowned locally for its freshness, sourcing fish directly from the region.
Even slightly off the lunch rush, this popular spot still had a line for seats. About a 20-minute wait. Sushi places have a quick turnover. Since I was alone, I was guided to a seat at the end of the counter. I immediately looked over the menu. There it was—the fish you must eat when visiting Toyama Prefecture in winter: Winter yellowtail.
sushitama
Himi’s Kan Buri is different here!
Starting with Hokkaido, where autumn arrives a little earlier, winter yellowtail are landed as they migrate southward: Niigata and Sado, Toyama Bay, the Noto Peninsula, and further south in Kyoto and Nagasaki’s Iki and Goto Islands. Toyama Bay lies midway along the yellowtail spawning route. Its deep submarine valleys, extending from the Noto Peninsula, act like natural fixed nets, drawing in the winter yellowtail. This is why they are caught at their most fatty and flavorful. Yellowtail caught in fixed nets in Toyama Bay and landed at Himi Fishing Port, weighing over 7kg with excellent shape and quality, are distributed under the brand name “Himi Kanburi.” Due to the short distance from the fixed net fishing grounds to Himi Fishing Port, the yellowtail is shipped while maintaining its freshness. In recent years, some cold-water yellowtail undergo an additional step of nerve removal after being auctioned. This process helps retain umami components and freshness, ensuring the fish reaches restaurants and dining tables in optimal condition.
There are many different types of tea. Total payment amount: ¥3,905 Beer: ¥440 Sake: ¥440 Sushi: ¥3,025
Sushitama_Kanburi
This is the best sushi made with winter yellowtail in its prime season. Rich in fat, incredibly juicy, and delicious. Limited-quantity sushi. First come, first served.
sushitama_Yellowtail
sushitama_Local Fish Set
There are also local fish sets featuring sushi you can only truly savor in this region. While you can find similar options in Tokyo, the price difference is night and day.
sushitama_Tuna Set
sushitama Grilled Sushi
Both the tuna and the seared sushi are delicious. Fish from the Sea of Japan side develop rich, meaty flavor from the rough waves and winter fat.
sushitama
This restaurant has an interesting setup where sushi travels to the next table via this conveyor belt.
sushitama
sushitama
sushitama
Sake is also a locally produced alcoholic beverage. While you can drink it in Tokyo, it’s not widely distributed.
sushitama
This time, I stayed at this hotel. It’s conveniently located less than 5 minutes from Toyama Station. For more details about the hotel, click here.
