No, you don’t say “Do-ze-u”, it reads “Dojou”, very old Japanese, 200 years, to be exact. This is the time when this place was founded, in 1801, now in the sixth generation of ownership. Not exactly a mainstream Izakaya, but fitting somewhere into the wide array of Izakaya types, Komagata Dojou is specializing in どじょう (Dojou / Japanese loach), a small, eel-like freshwater fish. Dojou is served in a variety of styles, but most of the guests would order どぜうなべ (Dojou Nabe) (1700 Yen), Dojou fish simmering in fish broth in a shallow iron pan on a charcoal hibachi put in front of the guests. It is cooked together with chopped spring onions, there is plenty of supply in wooden boxes placed on the “tables’, which are thick wooden boards on the Goza floor mats. The insiders also order some ささがきごぼう (sasagaki gobō / thinly sliced burdock root) (350 Yen), and cook it together in the Dojou nabe, gobō goes very well with Dojou. As side dishes I had べったら漬け (Bettara zuke / Daikon radish pickled in rice malt, sugar and mirin) (600 Yen), 玉ねぎ甘酢漬け (Tamanegi amazu zuke / Sliced onions pickled in vinegar with red shiso and sugar) (350 Yen) and ごぼうの唐揚げ (Gobō no kara-age / deep-fried burdock root) (500 Yen), all tasty and very recommendable. The drink menu is standard, the warm sake (630 Yen) comes in cute white porcelain sake flasks. Very friendly service!
Komagata Dojou is a big place, 4 floors, B1 table seating, a single large room with floor seating for about 50 persons on the 1st floor, private rooms (reservation possible) on the 2nd and 3rd floors. If you want to fully enjoy the full-5-points-atmosphere of this place, there is only one place to sit, on the Goza straw mats at the 1st floor dining area, overlooking the Japanese garden. And this is also the hard part. Writing this blog one day after my visit, my knee and hip joints are still hurting. And don’t put on you best gown. You will smell like having been soaked in Dojou broth.
Located in the Komagata neighborhood, a large Edo-style wooden house close to the famous sensoji temple in Asakusa. About 5 min walk from subway Ginza-line and Asakusa-line Asakusa station, 5 min walk from subway Ōedo-line Kuramae station.
Beer (500ml bottle): 600 Yen
