What is Izakaya?

Izakaya is one of the most common, place where Japanese adults hang out in the evenings. It is popular among college students, business people, men and women, young (well, normally 20+) and old.

Izakaya is a casual Japanese pub, serving drinks and various kinds of inexpensive dishes. Soft drinks are also served but most people go for beer and other “light” alcohol drinks.

What you can eat at Izakaya

Izakaya has plenty of dishes, and you usually order many different kinds of dishes and share with your friends.

Typical Izakaya dishes are: Sashimi, grilled fish, fried chicken (Karaage), edamame, Tofu dishes, Yakitori, fried noodles, salads, french fries, stewed meat dishes…etc

Don’t worry! Many restaurants in Japan have photos of the dishes in the menu, so do Izakayas. So you know at least what they looks like before you order.

What you can drink at Izakaya

Although Izakaya is a place to go drinking, prefered drinks are rather light-alcohol drinks than hard liquors. Draft beer (order “Nama Beeru”) is very popular, as well as “Chu Hai” / “Sour”.

Chu Hai (or Sour) is a cocktail, made of the Japanese alcohol called Shochu, soda, and any kind of juice or flavored drink — like lemon or grapefriut juice, Oolong tea, etc.

Izakaya — where you can meet real Japanese people

Izakayas have lively atmosphere in the evenings. With people getting tipsy and feeling relaxed and open, it even gets quite noisy often, unlike other places in Japan during day.

It is a great place to find opportunities to chat with locals in Japan :)