[Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture] 3 Recommended Bars Where You Can Enjoy the Locally Loved "Morioka" Sake!

Morioka's drinking spots are concentrated mainly around the city's busiest shopping districts, "Odori" and "Eigakan-dori," as well as around "Hachiman-cho," the temple town of Morioka Hachimangu ShrineThis includes the area around Morioka Station, where an increasing number of new stores have opened in recent years

While large chain izakayas are on the rise not only in these areas but throughout the city, there is one bar that is loved by locals and where you can experience "Morioka" in many ways

In this article, we will introduce three quaint drinking establishments in Morioka

Please note that all prices shown here are current as of June 20, 2023

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Hirako Shoten (Konyacho)

Heiko Shoten is a traditional liquor store located in Kon'ya-cho, which has the atmosphere of a Morioka townhouse, where you can drink the local sake "Kiku no Tsukasa" at a corner bar and is always bustling with regulars

It was directly oppositeIt is related to Iwate's oldest sake brewery, Kikuno TsukasaYou can taste all of Kikuno Tsukasa's sake here

Kikuno Tsukasa Brewery moved to Shizukuishi Town in 2022, but Heiko Shoten still has a wide selection of Kikuno Tsukasa products

The shop also has a male black cat named Mimi-chan who is the shop's mascot, and if you're lucky you might get to say hello to him

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What is Kakuuchi?

This is a system in which alcohol sold at liquor stores is sold by weight and can be consumed in the store. It is said to have originated in Kitakyushu, where workers in coal mines and factories would stop by liquor stores on their way home from work

In Morioka, it is called "Mokkiri"However, this name apparently comes from the fact that sake is served in a "full" cup, and at Heiko Shoten, sake costs between 200 and 450 yen per glass (1 go), and you can also have it warmed

Although liquor store corner bars are generally served standing up, corner bars in Morioka, including Heiko Shoten, have seats inside the store so you can sit down and drink

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What is the proper etiquette for drinking alcohol at Heiko Shoten?

There is no complicated etiquette for enjoying a Kakuuchi bar

The basic method is cash on delivery or payment in advance, and snacks such as canned goods, fish sausages, and dried foods are purchased in the store

You can also bring in prepared foods purchased from nearby stores, and they also offer original fresh cucumbers, chilled tofu, oden, and more

Kakuuchi is a great place to drink casually, but it's a good idea to be a little careful about where you sit

Corner bars are frequented by many local regulars, who tend to sit in the same places

When visiting for the first time, it is considered good etiquette to show respect to regular customers by asking the staff, "Is it okay here?" rather than just sitting there in silence

INFORMATION

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• Store name: Heiko Shoten
• Address: 6-2 Konyacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 019-622-2753
• Business hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 20:30, Sundays and holidays 12:30 to 20:30
• Closed: New Year's Day
• URL: Kikuno Tsukasa Brewery Official Website

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WINE SHOP ACCATONE 539 (Koyamachi)

Accatone, a pioneering wine bar in Morioka, has been reborn as a bar where you can enjoy wine at the corner bar, making use of the exterior of a Morioka townhouse

The owner sommelier, Osamu Matsuda, who trained as a sommelier in Italy,The facility was opened in a renovated section of Gozaku, a Morioka City landscape important structure built during the Edo period in Kon'ya-cho, the city (now Morikyu Shoten)

In a relaxing space with a calm, old-fashioned atmosphere, you can easily enjoy a glass of wine in the style of a liquor store, along with light snacks that pair well with recommended wines

The wines available for purchase or to enjoy at the bar range from high-end wines personally selected by the owner sommelier Matsuda to affordable but high-quality wines, and the bar is always bustling with Morioka wine lovers

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How to enjoy a glass of wine

There are 5 seats at the counter and 16 seats at 2-seater tables. There are always at least 3 types of white, red, and rosé wines available for drinkingAnd,We recommend the affordable 3-variety tasting set

There are also premium wines that are a little more expensive, and owner sommelier Matsuda will be happy to help you choose a wine that suits your tastes

While many snacks are simple,The popular "Kakuuchi Zen" (rice bowl with a daily assortment of 6-7 snacks)One way to enjoy this dish is to order this and leave it to the chef to choose a wine that goes well with it

Non-alcoholic drinks include Red Delicious apple juice and Italian juicesEven those who don't like alcohol can enjoy the atmosphere of a corner bar

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Travel around the world with wines carefully selected by a sommelier

The shop is filled with low-priced, high-quality wines selected from around the world by owner sommelier Matsuda, and just looking at them makes you feel like you're traveling around the world

If you're unsure which wine to choose, ask a sommelier to help you choose the perfect wine that suits your tastes and budget

Wine purchased at the shop can be enjoyed inside the store for a corkage fee of 1,000 yen per bottle, so it's also nice to enjoy the wine you purchase on the spot

INFORMATION

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• Store name: WINE SHOP ACCATONE 539
• Address: 1F Sawaiya, 1-33 Konyacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 21:00019-624-3310
• Business hours: Tuesday to Thursday 14:00 to 21:00, Friday and Saturday 14:00 to 23:00
• Closed: Mondays
• URL: Wine Shop Accatone 539 Official Website

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Shimaka Seafood Restaurant (Chuo-dori)

Morioka is an hour and a half drive from the Sanriku Coast, known as a good fishing spotSo,Despite being an inland city, there are many restaurants where you can enjoy fresh seafood from the Pacific Ocean

Among them, this "Umi Gohan Shimaka" isShimaka Fish Shop, which sources seafood from Miyako in SanrikuThis makes it a very popular drinking spot in Morioka, where you can enjoy fresh seasonal seafood sashimi, simmered dishes, and grilled dishes whenever you visit

Before moving to Chuo-dori, it was a small restaurant with about 18 seats attached to a fishmonger in a residential area of ​​Odate-cho, but even back then it was popular as a place to enjoy fresh seafood and carefully selected sake

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If you're drinking at Shimaka, we recommend the counter seats

There are a variety of courses to suit different budgets, including an all-you-can-drink chef's choice course, all of which are good value for money, and you can enjoy your meal at your leisure at the spacious and bright table seats on the second floor

However, what we would like to recommend most about Shimaka is the 10-seat counter on the first floor

You can enjoy a drink and conversation with the owner and proprietress, and if the conversation flows well, they might even serve you some seafood delicacies or special sake that aren't on the menu

VIP room where you can relax and enjoy nigiri sushi

This is also on the first floor, but it is a private room located a little further back with a counter that can seat 10 people

The sushi course is renowned for its delicious ingredients, made with fresh seafood and carefully prepared, and we recommend making a reservation as the private rooms are popular

INFORMATION

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• Store name: Umi Gohan Shimaka
• Address: 1-11-15 Chuodori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 019-652-9123
• Business hours: Monday to Saturday 11:30 to 14:00, 18:00 to 23:00　
• Closed: Sundays
• URL: Umi Gohan Shimaka official website

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summary

In addition to these three establishments, Morioka City has many other popular drinking spots where locals gather

In addition to the Heiko Shoten introduced here,Two liquor stores, Hosoju ​​Liquor Store in Natayamachi and Kagiya Liquor Store in Sakanamachi Arcade Shopping Street, offer corner drinking

Both restaurants are unique and loved by locals, so if I have the opportunity, I would like to introduce these two as well

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