You don’t have to take many steps from the ticket gates at Tennoji Station to reach this petite standing-only sake bar in the Via Abeno Walk complex, where regulars and first-timers bond over fine brews from late afternoon every day of the week.
Start by perusing the day’s specials, displayed handwritten on a prominently placed whiteboard, or just ask the staff for recommendations. You won’t be overspending either way: a 60ml glass of the good stuff can be had for as low as ¥380, and even the rarest varieties are extremely reasonably priced.
Another smart way to order is to choose a few small nibbles first – they’ve got everything from excellent sashimi and deep-fried snacks to seasonal eats like oden, all available for around ¥300 each – and leave the pairing up to the resident experts. Making finding your new favourite sake all the more rewarding is that you can pick up a bottle for the road right away: Yosozake is run by Meijiya, a venerable Osaka liquor store founded in 1938 and located just across the walkway from the bar.