Ichido
Take it down a notch at this laid-back Hiroo hideaway

Photos Courtesy of Studio Nagare

Hiroo is a neighborhood with relatively few bars and izakaya, and considering its proximity to Roppongi, many locals just give in and make their way north. But if your night calls for something laid-back and low-key, give Hiroo another chance and take the short walk from the station over to Ichido.

With a small entrance light next to a plain wooden door, Ichido is easy to overlook or to mistake for yet another dive. Don’t let the exterior mislead you, however, as this small yet well-arranged bar packs in a good amount of class. Ichido’s dimly lit earthen walls demonstrate the comfortable simplicity of Japanese design. The intimate seating arrangement includes eight stools at the wooden bar, and an inviting lounge area in the rear.

Upon entering on a recent visit, the lone barman welcomed us and took our coats, and we took the time to survey the double row of assorted whiskey, shochu and sake. The collection of scotch included our personal favorite, Glenlivet 12-year (¥1,000), as well as Glenfiddich, Macallan and many more (¥1,000 and up). If the hard stuff isn’t your style, then order yourself a Heineken (¥850) on tap.

For food, Ichido’s specialty, oddly enough, is miso soup. No doubt accustomed to customer’s asking about the subject, the bartender was quick to give us an explanation: “Miso is good for you if you’re drinking a lot because it gives you more energy. Plus, it lasts for awhile after you order it, so you can sip it throughout the night between drinks,” he said, while pouring a martini into another customer’s glass.

Taking the barman’s word for it, we glanced through the list of 13 different soups categorized by prefecture and ordered the Kyoto namafu miso (¥850). Ichido also has an assortment of a la carte dishes, including a tasty salad with three strips of smoked salmon (¥1,200) and jakoten (fried ground fish) from Ehime Prefecture (¥980). The dishes complemented our drink order well enough to make a return visit, but next time we won’t arrive with empty stomachs, as the portions are quite small.

We had a fine time sitting at the bar, though for future occasions we’ll surely bring more people to make use of the back lounge; With plush leather couches surrounding a glass table, the cozy private room is definitely worth reserving. And while the space is secluded, patrons in the lounge will never feel neglected with the friendly barman nearby.

With its stress-free vibe, Ichido is ideal for kicking back with friends and a bottle of scotch, or stopping by after work for a nightcap. You could even make it a morning cap, as the friendly bartender will gladly fill your glass until the first train, any day of the week.

4-13-8 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5449-1414. Open daily 6pm-5am. Nearest stn: Hiroo. www.1chido.jp

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