居酒屋 新珍

Shinchin is a weathered, red-lantern (akachochin) izakaya tucked into a backstreet near Minowa Station, the kind of Showa-era pub locals keep coming back to. The tiny counter-seat interior is unpolished and lived-in, with a wall of hand-written tanzaku menu strips behind the bar. The kitchen turns out generous, home-style Japanese pub food at old-school prices — natto omelet, chive-and-egg stir-fry, asparagus butter, katsuni (pork cutlet simmered with egg), mapo eggplant and fried squid, washed down with cold Kirin Lager. There is no English menu and only Japanese is spoken, but service is warm and quick, making it a favorite for solo diners after an authentic, unpretentious night out.