Sai

Set on the 1nd floor of Nomura Heights in Nagaokakyo, Sai is an izakaya built around thoughtful small plates and a well-curated cellar of sake from across Japan. The meal begins with an engaging prelude: a broad assortment of otoshi appetizers from which guests choose their own opening bite. Options might feature sweet-and-savory simmered Japanese babylon sea snails, a rich potato salad laced with sweet potato, pumpkin, and prosciutto, or home-grown grilled eggplant and okra dressed with dashi soy sauce or savoury dashi broth, allowing the table to tailor the very first course to personal taste.

The broader menu highlights seasonal seafood, fried specialties, and grilled dishes. Generously sliced sashimi platters anchor the raw offerings, flanked by crisp seasonal vegetable tempura, fragrant seared sea bream miso paste, and a thin crust pizza topped with chirimen jako dried young sardines, sansho pepper, and white leek. For the final savoury stretch, the kitchen turns out grilled onigiri burnished with seared sea bream miso and cold zaru soba served alongside homemade dipping sauce, rounding out the dining experience.

Sake remains the central focus, stocked consistently with seasonal hiyaoroshi autumn releases, namagenshu unpasteurised undiluted bottlings, and representative labels from breweries nationwide. Structured tastings—ranging from an omakase flight of 3 pours to trios hailing from the same prefecture—offer an easy way to compare regional rice profiles and brewing styles side by side. Given the scratch cooking and attentive pace, booking a table in advance is strongly recommended for the evening.