Aonisai

A cozy Japanese sake bar tucked into Nakano’s Rengazaka street on the south side of the station. Aonisai keeps a rotating selection of over 40 sake varieties, sourced from breweries across Japan, alongside seasonal small plates built to pair with them. Dishes like corn tempura, shiitake nanban, and beef tendon stew (*gyūsuji nikomi*) give a sense of the kitchen’s range — hearty, unpretentious, and genuinely good with a drink in hand. It’s the kind of local spot that feels a world away from the tourist-heavy izakayas of nearby Shinjuku.

Rengazaka is the quieter, more European-feeling side of Nakano — a string of Italian and French restaurants alongside the occasional izakaya — and Aonisai fits the vibe perfectly. Get there early on weekends; it fills up fast.

How to get there

A 2-minute walk from the south exit of Nakano Station (JR Chuo Line / Tokyo Metro Tozai Line).