A neighbourhood izakaya with a twist, Sato is a relative newcomer in Tachikawa. Opened in 2013 on the less sterile south side of the station complex, it fits right in among the old-school nomiya, ramen shops and snack bars scattered around the nearby streets. But what makes this smallish – basically an L-shaped counter and a couple of tables – joint stand out is an admirable dedication to detail. Said artisanal attitude shows up in the wine bar-like décor, on the tightly curated sake menu and in the multifarious seafood dishes, which range from raw oysters and sashimi to sushi and chunky bits of deep-fried aji mackerel. They also offer a brief selection of classic izakaya fare (think potato salad and edamame) and meats (horse sashimi), but make no mistake – the fish is where the value’s at.
Speaking of value, Sato definitely isn’t a cheap place, as you should expect to pay at least ¥4,000 per person for an evening of eats and drinks. That’s well above average this far from central Tokyo, but we don’t want to give them too hard of a time; after all, where else in Tachikawa can you combine a glass of nihonshu from some of the nation’s top breweries with super-fresh, raw, grilled or deep-fried seafood ordered off a bilingual menu? Unless the good folks behind Moto decide to expand further west from Kichijoji, Sato should hold on to the local crown for a while.