My tempura lunch (Photo: Peter Sidell)

Koutei in Kannami

A cosy, friendly neighbourhood dining bar

Peter Sidell   - 1 min read

Not far from Kannami station, Koutei is a cosy, friendly neighbourhood izakaya (dining bar). Bowls of ramen, soba or udon noodles cost from ¥550, other dishes and sets from ¥750 to ¥1100, including curry rice, fried cutlet curry, and sets with fried fish or seafood, sashimi, barbequed beef, or tempura. Drinks cost mostly between ¥250 and ¥500, including beer, sake, coffee and soft drinks.

Family-run for over thirty years, it's accumulated character through personal touches like the cute chopstick-rests, posters on the walls, and lanterns made inventively from empty cans. The proprietress speaks only Japanese, but was chatty and welcoming, and pressed a couple of gifts on me when I left.

Peter Sidell

Peter Sidell @peter.sidell

I came to Japan from Manchester, England in 2003, and have travelled a lot since then, around Japan and in Asia. When I'm not working, I write satire and perform stand-up comedy in and around Tokyo. Check YouTube for a taste.