My friend Junji Hashimoto is back.
Junji was the owner of my first all-time favorite bar here in Niigata, which is now no more, called Club Hallelujah.
When Junji decided to close the bar and move to Hawaii about four years ago, I was kinda...well, no...super bummed. You see, Hallelujah wasn’t a bar, as much as an experience. And a kind of experience that was offered nowhere else in the city.
Lots of vinyl records, warm, soft lighting, high quality homemade food and interesting drinks. Plus the best fresh Premium Malts beer on tap in the city. When I went there, there was always a cool new band or record to learn about, and interesting conversations to be had. The patrons weren’t your average “bar crowd,” but were photographers, artists, professors, tired salarymen, audiophiles, and folks into music, in general.
Junji was always waiting with a new record in hand to show me.
Well...he’s back...has opened a new spot called Bar Free, and I couldn’t be more elated.
And now he’s got a craft gin theme going, and even makes his own tonic syrup!
With all this in mind, I thought I’d show you guys some pictures from my visit to Bar Free last night. I hope you enjoy them:
Junji pouring his delicious homemade tonic syrup into a fresh gin tonic.
Craft gin from Toyama prefecture, infused with cherry blossom flavor. This stuff was delicious. And, as you can see, everything is kept crisp and icy cold.
Best craft gin tonic experience in the city.
Something about last night seemed to suit the Bar Free experience. Or maybe the Bar Free experience suited last night. Either way. It was very good.
The air had cooled off, a sense of the very beginnings of fall could be felt in the fresh reprieve of the breeze, after weeks of sweltering heat, and the city had a sense of calm about it.
Bar Free, much like the old Hallelujah—perhaps even moreso—conveys this sense of relaxed calm and quality in everything from the subdued-yet-hip decor, to the craft gin, to the homemade food. And of course, let’s not forget the most important part....the music.
If you ever find yourself in Niigata, and need a little getaway. Find the alleyway just off the beaten path, and enjoy.
See you there!
*
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as DLive and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)