This place has class !

Located in a rather uninspiring office building 2 min. walk from JR-Yamanote line Ōtsuka station, Edo-ichi was established directly after WW II, having been a liquor shop before. The place has a massive U-shaped cypress counter for 26 persons and also 3 tables in the back for 16 persons. But the counter is definitely where one should sit. Entering Edo-ichi you immediately feel the relaxing, tranquil atmosphere. The guests - on a Saturday afternoon all couples - are reserved and keep their tone down. The staff is friendly and well mannered. Center point of Edo-ichi is a stainless 燗付け器 (kantsukeki / sake warmer), attended by a friendly obasan, and obviously Edo-ichi takes pride in carefully and gently warming the sake to the guest’s favorite serving temperature. The drink menu offeres about 20 kind of sake, but almost all of the guests are drinking warm 樽酒 (taru-zake / sake stored in cedar casks), one dry type, 白鷹 (hakutaka), served in a white porcelain 徳利 (tokkuri) sake flask decorated with a blue stripe pattern, and a slightly sweet type, 和泉正宗 (izumi masamune), here the stripes on the tokkuri are brown, both at 630 Yen. The food menu is not big and the portions are rather small, but eveything is prepared with great care and placed on the laquer tray standing in front of each guest. 牡蠣酢 (kaki-su / vinegared oysters) (580 Yen), ナマコ (namako / sea cucumber) (580 Yen), very nice. The authors special recommendation is the  合鴨つくね (aigamo tsukune / skewered meatballs made from Aigamo-duck) (510 Yen), they are served with 黒七味 (Kuroshichimi / Black seven spices powder), a delicious combination.

Great place, perfect to introduce your female partner to the Izakaya world and to proof it has style.

Beer (633ml bottle): 640 Yen