01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Izakaya Tanoshimi, situated on the 2th floor of a building in Horinouecho in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward, is well suited to curious sake drinkers. The owner visits breweries in person to select and bottle exclusive batches and unpasteurised, undiluted namagenshu, often sharing the backstory of the producers and each label's distinct character as cups are poured. The list features selections such as Kyoto's Tomio alongside Shiga brews like Naminooto, Kazuhiro, and Daijiro, and diners can leave pairings to the host as the meal progresses.
The standout accompaniments for drinks are game dishes prepared with Yezo deer sourced from Wakkanai. Prized for its tender, mild meat free from unpleasant gaminess, the venison appears in cuts tailored to their strengths—ranging from lightly seared fillet (tataki), fragrant leg steak, and roast venison to deep-fried skewers of venison heart and liver. The broader menu includes sashimi of striped jack and red sea bream, fried chicken thigh marinated in sake lees, and an assortment of house-smoked bites, suiting a full dinner just as well as relaxed drinks and nibbles.
Fitted with counter and bar seating, the casual yet subdued interior welcomes solo guests and small parties in equal measure. With weekday hours running until 3:00 the following morning from Monday to Friday, it also serves as a dependable stop for a quiet late-night drink.
