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The temperament of the people of Aizu is said to be "tenacious, honest, and earnest," but Obara Shosuke, who appears in the famous Aizu folk song "Aizu Bandaisan," is said to have loved "morning sleep, morning drink, and morning bath" and ended up ruining his fortune
You would think that Aizu would have many "senbero" bars where you can drink from the morning, but in the downtown areas of Nanukamachi-dori and Sakaemachi, which are home to retro townscapes and famous historical sites, there were many izakayas but very few "senbero" bars
However, in recent years, innovative bars have appeared in Aizuwakamatsu where you can drink Aizu's local sake in a "senbero" style
What is the definition of “senbero”?
The word originally referred to a bar where you could get very drunk for 1,000 yen, but now it has come to mean a bar where you can get 2 to 3 drinks and snacks for 1,000 yen.
In this article, we have defined the criteria for certification as a "Senbero" bar as follows.
You can order two glasses of alcohol (type and quantity are free) and one snack in addition to the appetizer and drink it for less than 1,000 yen.
Set prices such as "Senbero Set" are available for less than 1,000 yen.
Family restaurants where you can eat rice crackers are not eligible.
We also introduce sets that cost less than 1,500 yen as "high-priced rice crackers," but we appreciate your understanding.
Please note that prices in the article include tax unless otherwise stated and are as of the end of September 2023.
Senbero Kitchen Miyoshi
From Senbero Kitchen He's official Facebook page
Located a seven-minute walk from Nishi-Wakamatsu Station, the second stop on the Tadami Line from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station , this restaurant does not charge a table fee or appetizer, making it a true "senbero bar" with "senbero" in its name.
The "Senbero Set" costs 1,000 yen and includes two drinks and two of the four appetizers of the day , with the menu changing every week.
From Senbero Kitchen He's official Facebook page
Set meals are also available, including the "Handmade Shumai Set Meal" which comes with five handmade, meaty shumai, and the "Pork Plate Set Meal" which includes pork belly, both priced at 800 yen
From 11:00 to 14:00, the "Lunch Alcohol Set" which includes a set meal and one drink, and the "Lunch Yogurt Set" which includes homemade Heppyogurt are available for 1,000 yen
All drinks are 450 yen, including draft beer, highballs, lemon sours, shochu, sake, whiskey, and red wine, with the exception of some local liquors
From Senbero Kitchen He's official Facebook page
There is also a wide variety of a la carte dishes, and soft drinks and cakes are also available so that the cafe can also be used as a cafe
Senbero Kitchen Bow ＜Information＞
Store name: Senbero Kitchen Miyoshi
Address: 23-31 Sumiyoshicho, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
Phone number: 0242-85-8344
Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Closed: Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
From Stand Bar Ginza 9-chome official Facebook page
This standing bar is located about an 8-minute walk from Aizuwakamatsu Station along Omachi Street towards Nanukamachi
The origin of the slightly unusual name of the bar is said to be that the aim was to create a stylish stand bar where you can enjoy local sake, similar to Ginza in Tokyo (the address is up to the 8th block)
From Stand Bar Ginza 9-chome official Facebook page
The reason they chose to make this a standing bar on the side of the main street is because "there wasn't one in Wakamatsu," and it's a recommended place for anyone who wants to casually sample a variety of Aizu's local sake
From Stand Bar Ginza 9-chome official Facebook page
A wide variety of Aizu local sake is served in cocktail glasses and can be enjoyed from 300 yen
The back of the restaurant is connected to an izakaya called "Gonbee," but the proprietress prepares food for both places, so the menu is the same
Stand Bar Ginza 9-chome <Information>
Store name: Stand Bar Ginza 9-chome
Address: 2-6-2 Omachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
From the official Facebook page of Digital Countryside Bar Kanmasu
Located on the first floor of Hotel Osakaya at the intersection of Omachi-dori and Nanokamachi-dori, you can enjoy "senbero" in a digital way by using a prepaid card to drink small amounts (30ml per cup) of Aizu local sake from a dispenser
The prepaid card, valid for one year, comes in four courses, ranging from a 1,000 yen course that allows you to drink six glasses of local sake from one of Aizu's 24 sake breweries, to a 3,600 yen course that allows you to drink 24 glasses
There is also a course where you can compare four different brands in small sake cups for 500 yen, and there is also a wide selection of sake from sake breweries and seasonal limited edition sakes served in dispensers
Appetizers are available from 200 yen, including Fukushima specialties such as squid carrots and herring with Japanese pepper, and there are also meat dishes such as Aizu specialties such as kozuyu and meat miso.
Digital Countryside Bar Kanmasu <Information>
Store name: Digital Countryside Bar Kanmasu
Address: 1-2-54 Omachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
From the official Facebook page of Standing Bar Kurato
which was renovated from the storehouse of an old merchant who was a supplier to the Aizu domain, is home to young entrepreneurs who are revitalizing Aizu, one of which is this standing bar.
There are over 20 brands of Aizu local sake available, and you can compare different types such as ginjo, junmai, and namazake.
From the official Facebook page of Standing Bar Kurato
Our recommendations are the "3 kinds of local sake tasting (1,000 yen)" and the "3 kinds of Daiginjo tasting (1,500 yen)."
From the official Facebook page of Standing Bar Kurato
After paying in advance, you are given a cup and a QR code, which you then hold over the drink dispenser developed by the shop, select your drink on the touch panel, and it will be poured for you. This is an advanced system that allows you to taste Aizu's local sake
You can also order local sake individually, with one cup costing 800 yen
From the official Facebook page of Standing Bar Kurato
For snacks, there is a special menu of Aizu vegetable dishes (500 yen) provided by the city's vegetable restaurant Potagee, as well as cheesecake (300 yen)
Standing Bar Kurato <Information>
Store name: Standing bar Kurad
Address: 2-40 Nanukamachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
Phone number: 0242-93-5959
Business hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 11:00-15:00, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11:00-17:00
From Aizu Railway Co., Ltd. official Facebook page
Finally, we will introduce "senbero," a place located away from Aizuwakamatsu city
There is a standing bar with vending machines attached to the convenience store at Aizu-Tajima Station on the Aizu Railway, which runs from Nishi-Wakamatsu Station through Minami-Aizu
From Aizu Railway Co., Ltd. official Facebook page
If you purchase a 200 yen coin at the shop, you can taste a glass of the local sake that four breweries in the Minamiaizu region are proud of from a vending machine called "Minamiaizu Famous Sake Breweries."
Each brewery offers seasonal alcoholic beverages that are recommended by the brewers, and the snack shop stocks Aizu specialties, and if you want to splurge a little, you can also purchase an ekiben (boxed lunch)
The Aizu region is a rice-producing region centered around the Aizu Basin, sandwiched between the Echigo Mountains and the Ou Mountains. It is blessed with high-quality rice and clean water, and its climate, with its changing seasons, is also said to be ideal for sake brewing
Breweries in Aizuwakamatsu City are focusing on brewery tours and tastings, and izakayas and other establishments offer a wide variety of local sake, but if you only drink in one-go units, you won't be able to taste much in a short stay
So in this article, we've introduced "senbero bars" where you can taste many different types of Aizu local sake in small amounts, for those who want to enjoy comparing different types
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
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