Another Japanese World In Pubs

Izakaya offers visitors a different perspective on the life of the Japanese, where they temporarily get rid of the pressure of life at the drinking table.
Another Japanese world in pubs
When traveling to Japan, if you are someone who likes to experience the daily life of the locals, then Izakaya is the place to visit. Commonly known as a Japanese-style pub, the Izakaya consists of a bar and part a restaurant.
Traditional restaurants in Japan typically specialize in just one type of food, while Izakaya offers a wide range of dishes both Eastern and Western. The Izakaya shows the relaxed side of the Japanese, like another world that lies outside the strict etiquette surrounding high-class kaiseki cuisine

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Izakaya pubs on the streets of Japan. Photo: anibee.tv
What is izakaya?
The history of the Izakaya dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868), when a merchant served wine tasting glasses with some snacks in the corner of the store.



Gradually, men have the habit of spending time in pubs after work to eat, drink and talk together. Today, the Izakaya is popular with everyone, from students to employees, including men and women.
Coming to Izakaya after work has become a culture in Japan. After enjoying a few alcoholic drinks, people began to let go of the pressure of work, temporarily forget their worries and happily join the small party. The Japanese are usually quite reserved, but when you come to Izakaya you can have a different impression.
The space inside is often the sound of talking, loud laughter and the "clattering" of cups touching each other at the dining tables. Many Izakaya serve overnight, so in the early morning, you can absolutely see drunk Japanese people who cannot go home and sleep on the floor at the entrance to bus, train stations .



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Ayuzyo, a Japanese travel blogger, shared that Izakaya for the Japanese people is not just coming to enjoy a drink or food. This is also a place for them to relax with friends or colleagues. Young people talk about their dreams, and many salaried workers relieve the stress of living through hard working days. You can hardly say anything about Japanese without an authentic experience here. The Izakaya is a microcosm of society in Japan, allowing tourists to see people's daily life and feel it.
Entered an Izakaya
To get to know the Izakaya, pay attention to the shops with red lanterns in front of the doors. In addition, the signs could be the smell of barbecue, the noise emanating from the inside or the rows of tables serving food and drinks.




As soon as you step through the sliding doors of the Izakaya, the staff will greet you and ask about the number of people to accompany them to lead to the appropriate table. If you do not speak Japanese, use your fingers to indicate the number of group members. These pubs offer you a variety of seating options such as sitting at a normal table, sitting on a high chair at a bar or sitting on a traditional Japanese mat beside a low table.
Most of the Izakaya are filled with cigarette smoke. If you don't want to smell cigarette smoke during your meal, ask for a private room in the café or simply search in advance for an airy Izakaya.
Everything in Japan has always had a strict etiquette that dictates how people eat and interact in Izakaya. Once seated, the waiter will bring you oshibori, a wet or warm wet washcloth depending on the season for you to wipe your hands on during the meal. To dine at the restaurant, diners are required to pay the seat fee indirectly by ordering otoshi - which are very small at the beginning of the meal for around 200 yen (40,000 VND).




Greg Lane, writer of the TokyoCheapo site that seeks to maximize the cost savings when traveling to Tokyo, commented that choosing otoshi is like playing the lottery: “You can get the best you ever try, sometimes you will be disappointed ”.
Beer is the most popular beverage in the Izakaya. Photo: TheSmartLocal.
The way to drink like the Japanese
The special feature of Izakaya compared to other bars or pubs is that they serve food and drinks in the form of buffet, meaning you can eat or drink unlimited for only a certain amount. Accordingly, the staff will let you choose nomihodai (all kinds of alcohol) and tabehodai (unlimited food). The price of tabehodai varies widely between bars, but the average price of alcohol is about 1,000-2,000 yen (about 200,000 to 400,000 VND).
Many famous Izakaya limit their diners' time to between 1 and 2 hours to make room for other guests. However, the more popular Izakaya open until early in the morning, ready for diners to stay intoxicated throughout the night.




Japanese people often have a habit of ordering drinks immediately when it is settled. If you are traveling with locals, you will hear them say "Toriaezu biiru", ie "Give me a beer first" to accompany the otoshi while selecting the main courses in the menu.
There are over 100 types of drinks available in.

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