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January 13, 2026
Essay Series | #ijichiman's Musings: Places I Spontaneously Want to Visit or Choose on Nights Without Plans
Serial Essays | #ijichiman's Musings
Part 56: "On Nights With No Plans, The Restaurants I Suddenly Want to Visit or Choose"
Drinking alone isn't about liking solitude or wanting to be by myself.
It might sound contradictory, but while it seems like I like being alone, that's not really the case.
That's because drinking alone requires communication skills.
I talk with the owner, and sometimes I exchange words with the person sitting next to me. If the timing is right, we might even share a toast. Whether you find that bothersome or amusing makes a big difference.
The desire to connect with people remains. I believe I choose to drink alone on certain nights as a reflection of that.
It might sound contradictory, but while it seems like I like being alone, that's not really the case.
That's because drinking alone requires communication skills.
I talk with the owner, and sometimes I exchange words with the person sitting next to me. If the timing is right, we might even share a toast. Whether you find that bothersome or amusing makes a big difference.
The desire to connect with people remains. I believe I choose to drink alone on certain nights as a reflection of that.
Photographs and Text by IJICHI Yasutake
Alone, Yet Not Alone
Past forty, and with my circumstances changing, I find myself eating out more than half the week.
I still cook at home. Yet, there are moments when I suddenly feel like drinking alone, on nights when I have no plans with anyone.
It's as if I need time where explanations are unnecessary.
When drinking alone, choosing a restaurant becomes naturally more deliberate.
The food doesn't have to be exceptionally delicious. Moderately good is fine. What matters is whether being alone feels natural there.
Even at a renowned establishment, a place that doesn't welcome solo diners can feel uncomfortable.
Regulars and new customers mingle freely, striking up conversations, and sometimes sharing a toast.
They leave you be, but don't shut you out. Restaurants that offer that kind of distance never disappoint on a night out alone.
Just because I'm drinking alone doesn't mean I'm deeply savoring every bite of food.
This isn't the time to be slurping ramen broth and saying, "Ah, I see..."
Honestly, I'm not a foodie or a gourmand, so the food just needs to be reasonably tasty.
The speed at which dishes arrive, how quickly my drink is consumed – the rhythm of it all determines the quality of the evening.
On nights I drink alone, time seems to melt away quietly.
I find myself checking my watch less often, and there's no reason to leave. Restaurants that evoke that feeling are the ones that naturally remain in my memory.
■ Tenju〃 — Ueno, Tokyo
It's surprisingly rare to find a place where you can casually enjoy tempura alone. While tempura bowls exist, establishments that naturally accommodate the style of enjoying sake with freshly fried tempura are uncommon. The simple reason is likely that tempura itself is an expensive dish.
For sushi, there are neighborhood sushi bars, but there are few "neighborhood tempura" places.
Amidst this scarcity, Tenju is a precious find, where one can sit at the counter, enjoy sake with freshly fried shrimp and seasonal vegetables.
■ Shifuya — Asakusa, Tokyo
Located in a shopping street near Asakusa Station, this seafood izakaya retains a somewhat old-fashioned atmosphere, with hardly any foreign tourists.
Some customers pop in for a quick 30-minute drink alone, while others, as they drink, find regulars arriving, and before they know it, they're sharing drinks together. The food served, needless to say, is seasonal seafood that perfectly hits the spot for sake drinkers.
You can immerse yourself in Asakusa's flavors and warmth, even when dining alone, without feeling the need to put on airs.
■ Tsuneyoshi — Asakusa, Tokyo
In contrast to Shifuya, despite its appearance, many of Tsuneyoshi's customers are foreigners, which is interesting. Nevertheless, it's an ideal place to enjoy sake with inexpensive and friendly sushi.
The third-generation master of this 90-year-old Asakusa institution speaks fluent English, and it's not uncommon to see him bonding with foreign customers over simple sashimi and nigiri.
The selection of sake isn't particularly extensive, and the accompanying dishes are refreshingly simple, but that's part of its charm.
Even alone, you can savor sushi and sake while experiencing a different culture.
■ Nikomi Suzukiya — Marutamachi, Kyoto
A comfortable U-shaped counter bar in Kyoto. It's a seemingly "modern" establishment run by a young owner and staff. You often hear that modern places in Tokyo can be hit-or-miss, but in Kyoto, you're unlikely to encounter anything strange.
Everything is in exquisite balance, and yet unpretentious.
Stopping by early in the evening on the way back from a business trip for a quick drink, then boarding the Shinkansen feeling pleasantly tipsy... such solo moments are supremely comfortable.
■ Iroha-tei — Nakano, Tokyo
A long-established eel restaurant located down a bustling street in Nakano. On a cold night, the first thing you receive after stepping inside is oden as an appetizer. And at the end, you're served Shine Muscat grapes. That alone should tell you there's no need to discuss the taste of the eel.
Enjoying sake with grilled eel skewers or a rice bowl. Combined with the neighborhood's atmosphere, it's a place where you can fully enjoy drinking alone.
■ CIELO — Daikanyama, Tokyo
A discreet Italian restaurant with only a counter, nestled between Daikanyama and Ebisu.
Run by the owner as a one-man operation, the dishes are simple yet meticulously prepared using seasonal ingredients. It's wonderful that they can adjust the portion sizes for solo diners.
The pairings of dishes and sake, which I try to replicate at home but rarely succeed, lead me to quietly raise my glass again and again.
Even the interactions across the counter become a pleasant experience.
■ Hoteiya — Tamachi, Tokyo
A hidden yakitori restaurant discreetly located down a side street off the Keioh Nakadori shopping street. It's a place you'd likely never find unless you knew it was there.
Starting with chicken skin ponzu, enjoying a variety of skewers with rare cuts, and having pickled eggplant as a palate cleanser. The flow of finishing with an oyakodon (oyako-donburi) feels just right for a solo drink.
The owner's meticulous grilling and well-balanced seasoning create a comfortable rhythm between the sake and the food.
Leaving room for human connection while remaining unbound by anyone. When you reach a point where you can accept this contradiction, the sake you drink alone becomes even more delicious.
Nights spent drinking alone are not about loneliness, but rather, they are nights where you can adjust the intensity of your relationships on your own terms.
IJICHI Yasutake
Born in Tokyo in 1982. While attending Keio University, he was involved in planning and producing receptions and parties for major brands at an event company. After transferring to a PR firm, he worked as a strategic planner and retired at age 30. With a friend from junior high school of 20 years, he participated in the launch of Japan's first cold-pressed juice specialty store, "Sunshine Juice," serving as Vice President. He currently serves as Representative Director of Eel Inc., Director of PA Communication Inc., and Director of LAMP Inc. While supporting branding and marketing for clients across a wide range of industries, he continues to explore neighborhoods, connecting people through food as a starting point. His favorite foods are fugu and soft-shelled turtle. His favorite sports are baseball and horse racing. His favorite places are traditional coffee shops and casual bars.
Instagram:ijichiman
Born in Tokyo in 1982. While attending Keio University, he was involved in planning and producing receptions and parties for major brands at an event company. After transferring to a PR firm, he worked as a strategic planner and retired at age 30. With a friend from junior high school of 20 years, he participated in the launch of Japan's first cold-pressed juice specialty store, "Sunshine Juice," serving as Vice President. He currently serves as Representative Director of Eel Inc., Director of PA Communication Inc., and Director of LAMP Inc. While supporting branding and marketing for clients across a wide range of industries, he continues to explore neighborhoods, connecting people through food as a starting point. His favorite foods are fugu and soft-shelled turtle. His favorite sports are baseball and horse racing. His favorite places are traditional coffee shops and casual bars.
Instagram:ijichiman