Tokyo Times

These previously posted sights and sounds from a Japanese drinking alleyway were taken in a place that is as unique as it is atmospheric. Unfortunately the little spot below can’t match that anymore, as even at night it’s a lot quieter than it used to be. Half of it has been demolished, and a good number of the remaining bars are no longer in operation. The Drinkers’ Alley sign at the entrance, on the other hand, still looks as incredible as ever, and its rather precarious appearance is only added to by the cluttered and suitably shabby surroundings.

Towards the end of last year I posted the same exterior photo, offering a glimpse inside this little yakitori place. At that time it was our second visit, and also the second, increasingly frustrating occasion to be denied entry. Such small bars are great in so many ways, but their limited space does mean that securing an empty seat isn’t always the easiest. Timing is very much of the essence, and on both evenings we’d clearly been way off.

Thankfully the third time was indeed the lucky one, and as expected it didn’t disappoint. The mama-san has been quietly holding fort there for over three decades, while the bar itself has been in business for about half a century. A further fifty years is obviously out of the question, but with the owner still positively youthful compared to many of her peers, it’s likely that everything will remain pretty much the same for many more evenings to come.