Bar Hop in Ueno’s Ameyoko Recommended by Locals
Ueno is an area that is particularly famous among Japanese people who love drinking alcohol. It is filled with tachinomi-ya (a type of bar where people drink while standing) that are open from the early morning, specialty izakaya (Japanese-style taverns), and unique bars. If you’re looking to experience Japan’s unique atmosphere and food culture, it is the perfect spot for bar hopping. To write this article, a couple of alcohol-loving writers set out on an actual pub crawl around Ueno! Find out which famous or unique bars and taverns they set their sights on.
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1. Enjoy Motsuyaki at Motsuyaki Daitoryo Shiten
The first bar that they visited is one that is extremely popular with tourists in Japan - Motsuyaki Daitoryo Shiten! This bar specializes in motsuyaki (roasted offal) that are priced from as low as 180 JPY (incl. tax) for two sticks. It often gets packed with customers as soon as it opens at 10:00 am. To experience this for themselves, the writing team visited this place in the morning.
You’ll find a long counter inside this spacious tavern that gives off a casual, liberating vibe.
After making themselves comfy at the counter, they ordered beer and the Motsuyaki Moriawase Omakase (5-kushi) (450 JPY (incl. tax)), which was an assortment of five sticks of motsuyaki that were selected by the chef. They noticed that the Homemade Potato Salad (320 JPY (incl. tax)) ordered by the customer beside them looked delicious, so they ordered that, too.
2. Head to Bunraku For Yakitori in Ueno
The second bar that they checked out was the famous yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) bar, Bunraku, which can be found under the railway tracks in Ameyoko. It is extremely atmospheric, with staff grilling the yakitori in the center of the counter.
3. Experience an Izakaya! Drop by Juraku
For their third bar, they visited Juraku - one of Ueno’s long-established izakaya. Enjoy leisurely dining and drinking in its Japanese-style interior.
The very first thing they did was toast with a super cold glass of Asahi Extra Cold Beer!
4. Stand While Savoring Seafood Dishes and Drinks at Fubuki!
Afterwards, the team still wanted to drink, so they went to Fubuki, a tachinomi-ya that prides itself on its seafood dishes. Here, you can savor delicious seafood prepared in various ways - sashimi, grilled, stewed, and more!
5. Try Visiting a Japanese Bar at mr.kanso Ueno Okachimachi Branch
Now, how about a bar where they serve unique snacks? There’s a bar called “mr.kanso Ueno Okachimachi Branch” that is known for its canned food and alcohol. It’s located on the 3rd floor of the building in front of Fubuki.
You will be overwhelmed by the racks of canned goods that will greet you as soon as you enter. They have standard canned goods like canned yakitori and boiled mackerel, as well as several rare ones.
The inago looked grotesque, so the writers were hesitant to eat it. However, trying it made them discover that it was a perfect accompaniment for alcohol! It had a shrimp-like texture and a strong flavor that came from the soy sauce-based seasoning.
This bar is located on the 3rd floor. Look out for the signboard when visiting!
6. Have Your Fill of Delicious Whisky at STANDING BAR PARE
The final bar that they visited was STANDING BAR PARE. The 1st floor of this establishment is a tachinomi-ya; the second floor is a space with table seating; and the 3rd floor is comprised of a full-fledged bar. They have more than 100 types of alcohol (prices start at 350 JPY (incl. tax) per glass), including a long list of whiskies - Japanese whisky being one example. They also serve up creative dishes that go well with whisky.
If you plan to bar hop when in Japan, please use this article to help you plan which places you\'ll visit!
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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