Hayashida Liquor Store:A Small Sake Shop, A Gateway to the World

Just a short walk from Kokura Station stands Hayashida Saketen, a sake shop with a history spanning over 90 years.
But calling it “just a sake shop” would be a mistake.

This is a place where the tradition of “kakuuchi” (standing bar culture) is alive and well.
Regulars gather for casual conversation, travelers drop by on a whim, and strangers naturally find themselves engaged in conversation over a shared drink.

Yet, what makes Hayashida Saketen special isn’t just the warmth of its atmosphere.
It is a place where cultures intersect, and sometimes, where new ideas are born.

A Traditional Shop, Adapting for the Future – The Challenge of Going Global

At first glance, Hayashida Saketen looks like a classic sake shop, steeped in tradition.
But a closer look reveals something else.

Next to the rows of sake bottles, you’ll find QR codes for PayPay and Alipay—cashless payment systems catering to both domestic and international customers.
There’s even support for VISA, MasterCard, and other credit cards—a rare sight in traditional sake shops.

“A long-standing sake shop, evolving to welcome guests from around the world.”

The shop’s fourth-generation owner, Naoko Hayashida, took an unconventional path before inheriting the family business.
She earned an MBA in Boston, built a career in accounting at a firm in California, and later returned to Kokura to continue her family’s legacy【Source: We Love Kokura】.

By blending the heritage of a traditional sake shop with a global mindset,
she has created a space that is both preserving the past and embracing the future.

Conversations That Spark New Ideas

One of the best things about kakuuchi culture is its openness.
At the counter, it’s easy to strike up conversations with the person next to you.
You’ll find yourself surrounded by salarymen, artisans, students, and travelers from around the world.

One evening, a discussion unfolded between a local and a visitor.

“At what temperature is sake best enjoyed?”
“Does sake, like whiskey, need to be aged?”
“Where are these local brews produced?”

A foreign traveler asked questions, and a local regular enthusiastically explained.
Through this exchange, both learned something new about each other’s cultures.

And sometimes, a simple conversation leads to something more.

One French traveler, fascinated by the casual yet deep-rooted culture of kakuuchi,
was inspired to open a standing wine bar back home.

A Japanese sake enthusiast, after meeting a Taiwanese traveler here,
learned about Taiwan’s unique shochu culture and later launched a cross-cultural sake project.

The counter at Hayashida Saketen is more than just a place to drink—
it’s an experimental space where cultures meet, and ideas are exchanged.

A Quantum View on Travel – How Chance Encounters Gain Meaning

The true magic of travel isn’t just about planned sightseeing.
More often than not, it’s the unexpected encounters that make a journey memorable.

In Kokura’s underground dining district,
a simple sketch on a wall turned into a work of art the moment I learned it might have been drawn by the legendary illustrator Seitaro Kuroda.

Similarly, a casual conversation at Hayashida Saketen
can be more than just small talk—it might spark something bigger.

Travel is a series of quantum moments—
we observe, we interpret, and in doing so, we create meaning.

And sometimes, the words exchanged over a simple glass of sake
can become a hidden gem in someone’s journey—one that stays with them long after they leave.

Conclusion: Small Bar, Big Ideas

Hayashida Saketen continues to honor tradition while boldly embracing the future.

• It maintains its deep roots while integrating cashless payment options for global visitors.

• It serves as a unique cultural exchange hub, where locals and travelers naturally connect.

• It has sparked real-world innovations—whether through business ideas, artistic inspiration, or new friendships.

At this small counter, you’re not just drinking sake.
You’re experiencing a microcosm of global exchange, where new worlds open up with every conversation.

📍 Hayashida Saketen (林田酒店)
🏮 Experience the kakuuchi culture!
💳 Cashless payment available for international traveler

https://www.oh-sake.com/

Address：2-chōme-3-17 Kyōmachi, Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 802-0002

Tel：093-521-2368

Business hours：10:00-18:00

Closed：Sundays and public holidays