Kamakura Saketen

This down-to-earth tachinomi (standing-only bar) joint on the south side of Ekoda Station is where students sip shochu side by side with neighbourhood old-timers and chow down yakitori skewers at a rapid pace. A wide variety of grilled meat options are always available, as well as grilled veg and a few stews, but the daily specials are where it really is at: they regularly stock superb seafood (our visit saw great mackerel and tasty shrimp on offer), and the ‘shochu of the day’ (¥280, mixed with water and stored for two to five days) is a great way to start exploring the world of this recently-trendy distilled beverage. If you find a brand or style of shochu or umeshu (plum wine) you like, make sure to buy some for home drinking – they'll fill up a bottle for you straight from the barrel.