180 Yen Beers in the Shimokita
You ever been to the Shimokita?
Lots of Japan noobs come to the Shimokita because they hear it’s a good place to buy vintage Levis or that it’s full of cheap drinking establishments that have cool, laid-back atmospheres. However, many a young gaijin punk-ass biyatch have come to the Shimokita looking for the next sweet Tokyo hangout spot only to be disappointed in a lack of opportunities for pulling ass or even funkin’ up a dance floor.
That’s right. The Shimokita is a place only for the Tokyo Hardcore, so if you think you’re gonna come out here and be some kind of playa, you’d better think again and take your punk ass back back to Roppongi, bitch.
Ok, I didn’t think it was that funny, either, but…
So, to the point… I’ve been living close to the Shimokita for about a year and a half now, making it the go-to hangout spot for me in Tokyo because it’s way more chilled out than Shinjuku or Shibuya, and since I spend every working day in one or the other of those places… well, you see where I’m going with that, right?
Anyway, every once in a while somebody new to Tokyo, or just visiting, puts up a blog post about Imanari (今成), a cool two-storey izakaya on the north side of the Shimokita.
That’s right… Northsidaz, bitchez!
So, usually these blog posts sing the praises of Imanari (though they rarely actually name the fucking place) and its ￥180 draft beers (￥180生ビール for the indoctrinated). And yes, in Tokyo ￥180 beers are something to sing about. And yes, lots of cheap-ass gaijin do make Imanari a first stop on weekends; a place to get their drink on before taking a short train ride down to the Shib.
Dont get me wrong, I’m a cheap-ass gaijin dude, myself. But, for me Imanari is a cool local hangout where I regularly (though not too often) start and finish the night with friends. It’s not an exciting place. The service can really suck sometimes (I waited over 30 minutes for one tiny yakitori food order last night) and if you’ve been in Japan for any length of time, you probably know what a 20-something Japanese dude with 5 ~ 10 beers in him is like. And, at ￥180 a pop (barley pop as a friend of mine calls the stuff), consumption of at least that many beers is a guarantee for most.
In short, Imanari (今成) is a cool yakitori izakaya in the Shimokita with cheap-ass beer (by Tokyo standards) and a decent amount of seating space. So, if you think you can hack a chill night outside of Roppongi or Shibuya for once, stop in. And, if I’m there when you are, I may just let you buy me a beer.
Ok, I’ll let you buy me two at that price…
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Address: 東京都世田谷区北沢３-20-1
Phone: 03-5465-1117
QUE7VAM9SWKJ
An American living in Tokyo. Can be seen bounding through Shinjuku Station most mornings, teeth gnashing, eyes bulging, a cup of cheap coffee clenched in one fist and a satchel in the other. God help those who don't see him coming.
March 13th, 2010 at 8:16 am
180-yen nama? Damn. Next time I’m in Tokyo I’ll have to check it out.
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March 14th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
For the first timers, like I was last Friday, exit the station through the North Exit and zig-zag the streets close to the tracks heading towards Shinjuku direction and you will see the lanterns in under 4 minutes. Cool place and if all you want to do is drink beer then it’s even better.
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March 16th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
@Blue Shoe:
There’s a ￥180 beer place in Kabuki-cho, too. But, not sure I want to promote them as on the occasions I’ve been there, they segregated the Japanese and foreign customers. On different floors, even…
@-Paul:
Good way to describe how to get there. When I used to live on the North side, it was the first place I would come across heading into the Shimokita.
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March 16th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Wow, that’s a good deal!
The cheapest drinks I’ve ever found were 50 yen, a special deal at an obscure backstreet yakitori place. I still managed to get a 5,000 yen check. Pretty sure I didn’t drink a hundred beers!
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March 29th, 2010 at 6:51 am
Is it really beer or is it goddamn happoshu served in a Kirin mug? That bait-and-switch sheot is way too common…
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Billy W Reply:
March 29th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Nah, this place is legit. I’m pretty sure happoshu on tap is rare, if not nonexistent. This place has their Suntory Malts on tap and on display for all to see.
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