[Nagoya’s Famous Bar] Sanoya, a Cheap and Delicious Liquor Store in Business since the Taisho Era.

Hello! I'm Izunoumi, a writer who loves alcohol. In search of delicious food and alcohol, I visit bars whenever I have free time. I visit more than 100 restaurants a year, but I especially love standing bars and pubs with a casual atmosphere that anyone can enjoy.

"Nagoya's Famous Bars" is a project that visits famous bars that have long been loved by locals in Nagoya and have great taste and atmosphere. For the second installment, we visited "Sanoya," located in Kita-ku, Nagoya, a two-minute walk from Ozone Station.

As you go up the E6 exit of the Ozone subway station, you will immediately see a long-established store on your left that has been in business since the Taisho era. Sanoya is a popular store that not only sells alcohol but also offers "Kakuuchi" where you can eat and drink at a standing bar inside a liquor store. It was founded in 1926. Its history stretches back 98 years, and it is currently run by the third generation owner.

The front of the store is a sales area for alcohol. They have a wide variety of sake, shochu, wine, whiskey, etc. If you go further in, you will find a Kakuuchi area.

Sanoya's Kakuuchi (corner drinking)
You can enjoy a variety of alcohol and snacks at low prices

There is a U-shaped counter at the back of the store and a counter by the wall for standing and drinking. You can drink canned beer and canned chu-hi from the refrigerated cases in the sales space at the counter, or you can order them from the staff. It is a hybrid store of a standing bar and Kakuuchi.

Alcohol that can be drunk in the standing drinking area will be indicated by a "standing drinking OK" sticker.

Kakuuchi is a system where you buy alcohol at a liquor store and drink it inside the store. Unlike restaurants, the advantage is that you can enjoy the alcohol you buy at the retail price on the spot. Kakuuchi is said to be a culture that was born in the Meiji era, and today it is enjoyed in different styles depending on the store.

Sanoya's Kakuuchi style has been passed down for decades, and the current owner is Maki, who makes sure that everyone, from new customers to regulars, has a pleasant and enjoyable time.

Since there are only a few places in Nagoya where Kakuuchi is available, many drinkers of all ages and both sexes gather here. Since it opens at 10:00 on weekdays, Saturdays and holidays, and at 12:00 on Sundays, it is also recommended for those who "want to have a drink from noon! 

Sanoya offers draft beer poured from a barrel and a wide selection of snacks. The cheap alcohol and delicious snacks attract many repeat customers from both inside and outside Nagoya.

When sitting in Kakuuchi bar, please find an empty seat. If it is crowded, ask the staff for directions, or if there is space available, we recommend asking the customers on either side of you to let you in.

Looking from the entrance, the counter on the left is non-smoking, the counter in the middle only allows e-cigarettes, and smoking is permitted along the wall on the right.

Enjoy a drink at Sanoya! A friendly atmosphere for women, too.

Draft beer Maruefu (300 yen)

Well, let's start drinking! The first glass is Asahi draft beer, commonly known as Maruefu (300 yen). Draft beer can only be enjoyed at a kakuuchi bar at this price. Sanoya in particular has maintained the prices of large bottles of beer (350 yen) and draft beer (300 yen) despite repeated price hikes.

The shop's desire to make its customers happy and to have them enjoy cheap drinks and have a good time is apparent.

In addition to beer, chuhai, and shochu, there is also a wide selection of sake brands to choose from. Chuhai and highballs are 220 yen, shochu (on the rocks) is 250 yen, and sake is 250 to 300 yen - it's amazing how cheap it is! Even though it's Kakuuchi, it can be used like a standing bar, and with these prices, it's easy to see why you'll want to visit frequently.

It's also fun to drink while looking at the alcohol posters decorating the walls.

After gulping down the draft beer, I went for a second glass and ordered the Hoppy Set (300 yen), a drink that is synonymous with the Showa era.

Not only is it cheap! The delicious and filling snacks are also a plus!

Even though it is Kakuuchi, Sanoya's charm is that it has a wide selection of delicious snacks. In addition to the alcohol menu, the restaurant also has a food menu. From light dishes such as homemade pickles, cold tofu, and spicy cod roe to meat dishes such as yakitori, ton-yaki, and smoked chicken, you can choose according to your mood.

Sanoya's snack menu

And if you come to Sanoya, one thing you should definitely try is the tuna belly, delivered directly from the market.

Tuna belly (300 yen)

They go to the market every morning to buy their produce, so the taste and freshness are outstanding! At 300 yen per plate, this is an incredible price. Other popular dishes include fried tofu with green onions and lightly pickled cucumbers. All of the dishes are perfect with alcohol, so it's hard to choose.

Chilled tofu (100 yen) + meat miso (150 yen)

This is a combination of a single item of chilled tofu and meat miso. The meat miso has just the right amount of mellowness and richness, and goes perfectly with the light tofu. There are many people who create their own unique arrangements, such as mixing it with boiled eggs and mayonnaise to make it tartar-style.

For those who want to eat snacks as well as alcohol, fried foods are also served on weekdays from 5pm to 7pm, and on weekends after lunch. Depending on the season, you can also eat homemade dishes such as braised pork, stewed tofu, and fried eggplant. Maki takes the time and effort to prepare these dishes, so if you come across them, be sure to give them a try!

You can also choose dry goods, canned goods, and snacks at Kakuuchi

Sanoya is committed to not just providing cheap food, but also food that is really tasty and worth the price.

Japanese Sake: Michisakari Daiginjo (300 yen)

After drinking the beer and Hoppy, I was feeling good, so I ordered some sake. The brand was Michisakari Daiginjo, which is my personal favorite among sake. The brewery is located in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, and the sake is characterized by a clean, sharp taste without any strong flavor. Drinking sake from a glass is also a nice touch, as it is Kakuuchi.

On weekdays, there were many local regulars and everyone seemed to know each other.

While I was taking photos inside the store, someone asked me, "Are you a YouTuber?" The regulars were friendly and chatted with me, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere inside the store.

One of the joys of drinking is being able to talk and make friends with people from different backgrounds, occupations, and ages who you would never meet in your everyday life. Sanoya is a bar for alcohol lovers, where alcohol lovers gather.

The light-hearted sauce makes me laugh.

What is the Kakuuchi system at Sanoya?

Sanoya's rules posted inside the store (these are just guidelines and are not that strict)

Kakuuchi is simply a place where you can rent a corner of a store and drink alcohol, so it is taboo to expect the same kind of service as an izakaya. Sanoya's kakuuchi is basically self-service. Let's all follow the rules so that many people can enjoy themselves.

However, there are no difficult rules, so you can rest assured even if it's your first time visiting.

■Payment is cash on delivery

You order your drinks and food, and pay when you receive them. There is a wooden tray for each person at the counter, so it's convenient to put your coins in there. However, be careful because if you're drunk when you leave, you might forget to take your coins!

■ Please return empty cans and bottles to the designated area

Once you've finished drinking, take your cans and bottles to the return area inside the store. Place empty cans in the trash and empty bottles in the beer case. Return plates you've finished eating from to the return area inside the store.

■ New customers will have priority when ordering.

The rule at Sanoya is that when a new customer comes in, they order their first drink first. If a customer comes in and wants to order additional drinks or snacks, please wait a little. Other than that, you can order at any time.

Sanoya is a famous store that leads the popularity of Kakuuchi in Nagoya.

Sanoya, which has been in business since the Taisho era, is a liquor store that has been loved by locals for nearly 100 years. You can enjoy cheap, delicious alcohol and snacks in the store. In Nagoya, where there are few kakuuchi places, Sanoya is a rare presence and can be said to be a leading store in the industry. There are many female customers and solo customers, and the casual atmosphere that makes it easy for anyone to use is attractive.

Ozone is also home to the Vantelin Dome and Aeon Mall, so why not stop by after an event or shopping?