Izakaya

We met a couple of other foreigners, hence referred to as gaijin (the Japanese word for outsiders), at another local Izakaya. At this particular restaurant, a flat fee of ¥3,500 (about $25-30) is paid for all you can eat and all you can drink! I tried salad with pieces of sashimi, some baked fish, potato wedges, pig intestine soup and a bunch of other unidentifiable food. For drinks it was beer and shochu (the regional drink – a dry, distilled spirit) or chu-hai (shochu mixed with fruit soda).

Sitting right next to us was a gaggle of giggling Japanese women. They appeared to be on sort of a girls’ night out, making the most of their ¥3,500. While Japanese women seem very polite and subdued in public during the day, it’s no holds barred when they’re out on the town. (See picture above ☺.) They were absolutely loving Luke and his Aussie friend Tim who kept speaking to them in silly Japanese voices.

After dinner we got a ride back downtown via a service that drives your car for you. (Japan is a zero-tolerance country and they take drinking and driving very seriously. You simply don’t get behind the wheel, even if you’ve only had a sip.)

Then it was off to karaoke!