A restaurant where you roll the dice, and if the numbers match, you get a free drink

My previous post about an all-you-can-drink deal for 550 yen and yakitori for 100 yen was well-received, so this time I visited a similar Chinese-style izakaya in Gotanda.

I was planning to go to a restaurant in Gotanda to meet up with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while, but it was full, so the staff happened to direct us to this place instead. It’s called “Taishu Hanten Kaneko Gotanda Branch.” To be honest, the way the sign is displayed makes me think the owner might be of Chinese descent.

you get a free drink.

Taishu Hanaten Kaneko, Gotanda Branch

• Inside the store
• Chinchiro, an old-fashioned form of gambling
• Store Information
• The AI is explaining it.
  

This is how neon is used in Korea and among the Chinese community. However, since it’s trendy, I have a feeling even Japanese people are starting to use it this way.

During early hours, beer, highballs, and cocktails are 290 yen. That’s a great deal.円。安いです。

Inside the store

As you can see, the main customers are office workers in white shirts. I went there on Friday night. Even so, there were way too many people.

Here is the menu.

Here’s the menu. The drinks are reasonably priced, but the appetizers aren’t that cheap—though the 250-yen gyoza are a bargain. The “cheap” items are mixed in with the regular-priced ones.

Chinchiro, an old-fashioned form of gambling

The items I ordered have arrived. They are stewed offal, salmon yukhoe, and yakitori.

“Chinchiro” is a game that originated in an era before modern civilization, when samurai roamed the land. Players roll dice, and whatever happens depends on the number rolled. At this bar, rolling doubles gets you a free drink, an odd number gets you a large size, and an even number gets you half-price—it’s a game where only good things happen.

I rolled the dice a few times and won a free drink and a Big Highball, so I ended up with two drinks.

The restroom was shared by both men and women and was clean.

It cost about 6,000 yen for the two of us to eat and drink—about 3,000 yen per person. We had quite a bit to drink, so I think that’s actually pretty reasonable.

The restrooms are clean, too. It looks like they’re hiring staff starting at 350,000 yen.

I was very satisfied again today.

Thank you for your support.
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Store Information

The AI is explaining it.

The Gritty Reality of Tokyo’s Ultra-Cheap Izakayas: Survival Guide for Deep Local Drinking

For many international travelers, hitting a fancy rooftop bar or a polished tourist-friendly pub is the go-to night activity in Tokyo. But if you want to experience the raw, unfiltered, and dramatically cheap heart of Japanese nightlife, you need to step into a local, smoky, and tightly packed Budget Izakaya.

In these nostalgic pockets of Tokyo’s entertainment districts, the average appetizer costs a mere $1.50 to $2.00 (around ¥200 to ¥300). It is a world where budget-conscious salarymen wind down, and the environment is just as intense as the prices are low. Here is a look inside the gritty reality of Tokyo’s ultra-cheap drinking culture and how to navigate it like a pro.

📊 What to Expect: The Pros and Cons of Gritty Budget Izakayas

The Good (Why Locals Love It)	The Gritty Reality (What to Prepare For)
Unbeatable Prices: Draft beer for $3 and incredibly fresh, plum sashimi slices served at local market rates.	Intense Crowds & Cramped Spaces: You will be rubbing shoulders (literally) with locals in tightly packed, narrow seating.
Authentic “Salaryman” Vibe: 99% of the crowd consists of local office workers in crisp white shirts and black pants.	Smoking Allowed: Unlike modern Western pubs, many of these retro spots still allow indoor smoking.
Mind-Blowing Efficiency: Often run by just two staff members handling an entire room of thirsty customers.	No-Frills Environment: Don’t expect luxury decor; it’s loud, chaotic, and wonderfully nostalgic.

🔑 3 Insider Tips for Surviving and Thriving in a Deep Izakaya

1. The Global Workforce Driving Japan’s Nightlife

One of the most fascinating realities of Tokyo’s modern food scene is that these hyper-efficient, ultra-cheap bars are often kept alive by a diverse, international workforce. It is incredibly common to see hardworking foreign staff (from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond) flawlessly managing the chaotic rush of orders and pouring perfect drafts. Their incredible speed is the secret behind why these shops can keep labor costs low and prices drastically cheap for you.

2. The Early Bird Gets the Best Bites (The Food Competition)

Because these spots operate on razor-thin profit margins, the highest-quality daily specials—like fresh seasonal seafood or premium skewers—are highly limited. These budget hubs are a microcosm of competitive society; if you don’t arrive early (ideally before 6:00 PM), the best dishes will be completely sold out, leaving only the basic menu.

3. Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Entering these venues can be intimidating. From the outside, they often look completely full, chaotic, and uninviting to English speakers. However, if you boldly wave a finger to indicate “one person” or “two people,” the staff will almost always find a tiny, cozy corner for you. It’s an adrenaline-inducing doorway to a side of Tokyo that 90% of tourists never get to see.