Room for Six. Just.
Tokyo is the largest city on the planet and the most densely populated; it’s no surprise the locals are considered ‘shy’. Being surrounded by so many people may cause everyone to keep their head down, keep their business to themselves and go about their days with as little fuss as possible. Because when a train station in the city you live in sees just under 4 million passengers pass through every day, it’s no surprise you’d want to avoid any unnecessary commotion.
Tucked away in a ‘quieter’ suburb of Tokyo, my place of residence for the last few weeks has been a place called Asakusa. This district has retained a traditional, older feeling of Tokyo. A district full of craft shops and street-food stalls, it has many streets that you can wander aimlessly with a certain level of tranquillity, a step away from the main hustle and bustle; it gives you an environment that has had the volume dropped ever so slightly. It is, however, the home to the very famous Sensō-ji temple. Walking around this temple within office hours is light years away from tranquil and calm. An extremely popular spot that sees coaches line the main road offloading a sea of selfie-stick-equipped tourists, making it near impossible to stroll past this temple without feeling like you’re in the middle of Shibuya crossing.
Other than this small drop of chaos, Asakusa has treated me well and looked after me in many ways.
I was fortunate to come across Bar Acoustic Radio whilst scrolling Google Maps for an establishment that would serve up a well-prepared drop. "Listen, talk, sing and smile" is the ‘theme’ of the bar, as per the website. Upon meeting the owner/barman, it was clear this message was as fitting as ever. The owner was named Shy, which was fitting as he was the most welcoming, friendly and talkative local I have had the pleasure of meeting on this trip. Also a nationwide celebrity due to his appearance on a Netflix show ‘Ainori Love Wagon: Asian Journey’, Shy was a man of smiles and had conversation in abundance.
The bar was designed by Shy himself, greeted by a genkan entrance to remove your shoes, allowing you to step onto the tatami mat flooring softly and respectfully. With the appearance of a traditional Japanese home, Shy explains how he wanted to create an environment of relaxation, to encourage conversation. The drink mats were wooden pieces of art, the cabinets that lined the behind-the-bar had animal silhouettes carved into them, and the opening of the central doors exposed a circular TV screen. A TV screen that displayed the appearance of a tropical fish tank, because why not. Shy explained and demonstrated the intricacies of his work with such pride, rightfully so as every inch of this space was a considered masterpiece. The only elements that outshone the details were the quality of the drinks and more so the quality of the host.
The large bottle of Clase Azul tequila that stood at the footer of the bar was a reflection of the high-quality ingredients that went into every crafted cocktail. I started with a drink named after the TV show that made Shy a more-than-local celebrity, ‘Love Wagon’, a cocktail created with the image of the Ainori journey in mind. Sweet and sour, with a slightly bitter taste, coming in turns. The drink had a pink appearance to match the colour scheme of the show, a wonderful creation.
The drinks flowed and the conversation became fruitful, the environment really did lend itself to relaxation and comfort. It felt like you were sitting in a home with your friends rather than a bar full of strangers. A testament to the consideration and personality of the owner. The quality of the drinks sipped came from a bartender who had attended a drinks school, this was obvious. However, the natural flow of conversation in English came from a barman who had become fluent in English purely from talking to patrons who had stumbled upon this fine establishment. Shy advised in a very humble way that he had learnt to speak English purely from making the effort to talk to his customers, learning and conversing more and more until he stood in front of us that evening and spoke to us like a friend from home. An incredibly impressive achievement.
In a way to ensure he kept note of all the local phrases any of his customers spoke of from many corners of the globe, Shy used an iPad to scribble down words he could use to bolster his ever-growing linguistic vault. As we spoke of life and experiences, Shy very proudly showed his few-month-old son through videos and photographs. In response to one of the many videos I said ‘oh so cute chubby cheeks’, Shy immediately asked of the word ‘chubby’, he had never heard this word before and immediately asked for its meaning. Explaining that it was a very common term used, especially in Northern England, to describe a baby’s cheeks whilst also meaning a ‘healthy baby’ that likes milk. Shy laughed whilst scribbling this down on his iPad, for sure the next English tourist to luckily walk into this bar will be greeted by a barman that is surprisingly well-versed in their ‘local lingo’.
A gentleman who was sat next to me stood up to leave and requested an autograph from Shy. A request that was, of course, delivered with humility and grace.
A masterfully crafted bar and cocktails, a welcoming environment to anyone from any corner of the globe and a nationwide celebrity stood behind the bar. Aside from any fame, Netflix show or autographs on a beer mat, Shy is deserving of the flawless reviews that sit on Google Maps.
I hope that our paths cross again and that this will not be the last time I visit this tucked-away serene hideaway. If and when I visit Asakusa again on my travels, I will make sure to sip a drink in this perfectly curated one-of-a-kind bar once again.
See you on the next one.