Forest side

As soon as you open the door, it feels like another world~ Just stepping through a simple wooden door reminds me of Japan. The staff are all Japanese (and they can handle basic Chinese for ordering, so no worries), and most of the customers are also Japanese. Smoking is allowed indoors, so if you don’t like the smell of smoke, it might not be for you. The place isn’t big, but it has everything you need, and the restroom is at the back, so it can be a bit inconvenient if some customers drink too much, haha.

They focus on shochu here, but there are plenty of other alcoholic options available. It’s great for those who want to drink. The variety of shochu is vast, with many not listed on the menu, and you can enjoy it straight, with sparkling water, with oolong tea, or with flavored tea, depending on your preference. Daiyame has a hint of lychee and goes down easily, making it perfect for those new to drinking shochu. The staff recommended Torabana Kirishima, which is similar to Daiyame; it’s fragrant but has a stronger alcoholic taste, which isn’t bad at all. Then I tried the flavored tea for the first time, and it was quite good. Originally, I thought I’d have a gin and tonic as my last drink, but then a friend came, and I ended up having a fifth drink, a mud turtle (barley and sweet potato). Personally, I liked the barley one more as it was smoother.

Before I knew it, it was already four o’clock when we left. I heard my friend stayed until they closed at seven in the morning. If you don't mind the smell of smoke, this place is really quite nice; I would recommend it for practicing Japanese or just enjoying a drink.