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Oct 08 2021 12 Comments

Drinks in a dark and dingy Japanese alleyway

After months of continually extended states of emergency that mostly affected the nation’s bar and restaurant industry, restrictions have finally been relaxed, and life is once again a little bit more like it used to be. This may change of course as we head towards autumn, but for now at least, the option of enjoying an evening out is on again, and as my last outside drinks were on Christmas Day in the alleyway below (photos and audio here), it seemed entirely fitting that the first foray of 2021 should be at the same, wonderfully unique location.

Drinks in a dark and dingy Japanese alleyway

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Günter says

    10/8/2021 at 10:33 am

    This is very interesting. I like the atmosphere and DIY tables. This is somewhere I would very much to drink.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/8/2021 at 8:44 pm

      It really is a great place. Very unique, and it definitely has a good atmosphere. Quite unlike anywhere else I’ve been.

      Reply
  2. Sean says

    10/8/2021 at 11:34 am

    I’m feelin some real Blade Runner vibes here! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/8/2021 at 8:45 pm

      Yeah, there’s certainly some of that going on. More so in winter as well.

      Reply
  3. YTSL says

    10/8/2021 at 12:15 pm

    Happy visiting Japan’s atmospheric food (and drink) alleys again. It’s one of the things I really love doing when I visit the country. The pandemic has made it so that I’ve not done so since October 2019. But, hopefully, one day/evening, I’ll be able to do so again — and maybe even buy you a drink (or more) at one of them, Lee! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/8/2021 at 8:48 pm

      Yes, happy top get back to some of this. Missed it. Like you, it’s something I really enjoy.

      Hopefully with the numbers here going down, and the number of those fully vaccinated rapidly going up (well over 60% now), travel isn’t that far away now. Certainly hope that’s the case anyway. And yes, that would be very nice indeed!

      Reply
  4. Paul says

    10/8/2021 at 6:05 pm

    I have been on Tokyo 3 times and always tried to find some places to drink outside (seated or not).
    It seems that Ueno has some good spots since I’ve find my happiness in it, far from tourists, between salarymen and young people, next to train line. It looked like your photo.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/8/2021 at 8:52 pm

      Ueno definitely has quite a few standing places. Some outdoor ones as well. Or at least indoor and outdoor options. And yeah, right under the tracks which really adds to the atmosphere. Always a good and interesting mix in Ueno. A special area for sure.

      Reply
  5. Mario says

    10/8/2021 at 6:06 pm

    I love these 立ち飲み places! Lovely photo!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/8/2021 at 8:53 pm

      Cheers. Me too. A big fan of them. Just wish Tokyo had more…

      Reply
  6. cdilla says

    10/9/2021 at 7:04 pm

    Love it. That lady is so watching you as much as her partner.
    For some reason the wood strapped to the steel cable draws my eye too. I assume it was fixed there to protect people stepping over.
    I had to go back and play the soundtrack from before 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/10/2021 at 11:59 am

      Cheers. Yes, I wasn’t exactly discreet taking than one…

      That bit of wood is a weird one. I don’t notice it at the time. Hadn’t noticed it earlier either as we were stood drinking up towards the sign. But yeah, that sounds like as good a reason as any.

      Must admit, when when we got a place at the counter, the sound of the trains rattling past was just as interesting as ever. Such a special little spot.

      Reply

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