Vampire

If you’re on an afternoon stroll through the narrow alleys right by Oimachi Station, this classic standing-only watering hole will most likely be the only place that’s open, ensuring unwavering popularity. Hours amenable to daytime drinking aren’t the only reason for Vampire’s fame, though: the attraction here is, above all, the almost ridiculously low prices. The food menu ticks all the necessary boxes: seafood in every shape and form you’ll care to try, motsuyaki, deep-fried ham, oden, dumplings and so on, all available for a few hundred yen (at most) a pop. Wash it all down with people’s booze like Hoppy, oolong tea highballs and shochu, but don’t be boring and order a beer – at ¥410, it’s the most expensive thing on the entire menu. Even as a first-timer, you’ll have no problem striking up a conversation with the regulars, who are mostly retired (or soon-to-be retired) locals whiling away the hours over a few honest beverages. In fact, avoiding getting drawn into the down-to-earth atmosphere can prove difficult, considering the close quarters and the fact that this is a joint that always tends to get crowded.