Izakaya ; Japanese café

For Japanese, drink alcoholic drink already became their daily culture.

Sake, Shochu, Hopposhu, and wine consumed. They usually drink in their house, in bar, or in a drink shop ala Japan called Izakaya.

Izakaya came from sakaya (means sake shop) and additional letter i so have means sake store and consumer can have a drink there. All drink sold there was alcoholic drinks. In interior side, Izakaya often decorated ala western.

In daily word, Izakaya called Akachouchin or red lantern. It was because in past time, much of Izakayas decorated red lantern in front, but today already rare to get Izakaya like that. Izakaya today look like informal bar or restaurant which is sake and various snacks like robata, sashimi, tempura, yakitori, or all kinds of food (that match with sake) are available.

Izakaya was popular, city and town. Tokyo citizens often come to Izakaya after their busy day. For them, Izakaya have double functions, there are as drink place, and a place to relax. Because of it, Izakaya always crowd after work time. The consumers average were single person and 17 up years old students.

Nowadays, sake isn’t main drink anymore, there are also various alcoholic drink like shochu, hopposhu, beer, even cocktail, wine, and import whiskey.

Consumers really like nomihodai (drink as you wish) and tabehodai (eat as you wish).

Because Izakaya growth very fast, now Izakaya have differences according to the place and food, like Oden-ya (temporary tend at edge of street, was crowd in winter), Yakitori-ya (especially prepare drink and Yakitori or another baked food), Robatayaki (consumer sit around a table with baking tools), Chain Izakaya (popular since 1980s, have larger room, and many various of foods).

Beside kinds of Izakaya I described above, there’s an Izakaya with tatami and short table ala Japan. This kind of Izakaya usually enjoyed by rich people. Etiquette was do here. Before and after drink or eat, consumer gets oshibori or wet towel to clean their hands. And then otoushi or tsukidashi, that is opening snack. And then foods and drinks dished in queue.