Fancy A Pint - Tokyo

I was in Tokyo over the weekend and yes immigration was crazy full, the fun intensified by contradictory signs as to wether to use the paper form or the new QR code system, and yes all the usual places are busy but you don’t have to step very far outside of them to get away from the hordes. I was staying in Yotsuya and there were only a few other obvious tourists.

The westerners at Japan craft sake week in Roppongi Hills seemed mostly to be expats with maybe a few who got curious about the techno and stumbled after buying a gucci handbag or whatever.

Went to a festival at a sake brewery in Higashimurayama and I was the only western face. Had a blast chatting and drinking with the other drunkards. Headline band was the 切腹ピズトルズ, I’d never heard of them and I’d never seen a mosh pit in a brewery or anyone stage dive with a drum but apparently they are a thing and turn up at punk festivals in the US a bit.

Basically I think a lot of spaces remain intimidating or unknown to tourists, a few will actively shut people out but many will choose not to serve that market. Case I point is my favourite izakaya in Kagurazaka, not off the tourist trail at all but if you get past the obscure sign, odd genkan and sliding door arrangement you’ll find a very welcoming counter seat and a baffling smudgy menu on a whiteboard. Order some pickles, sashimi and a sake, ask what’s good today and you’re away. I had sea squirt at the weekend, which had texture and tasted of soy sauce, mirin and ginger and not of whatever unseasoned sea squirt tastes like.

Sounds like a fun weekend!
Kagurazaka is so chill... did you go to the centipede temple?

I think it's up to you whether you do the qr code or the paper, you just stand in different lines depending.

Ilxmsiled you slowsquatch