I had a wafu Christmas dinner at Hamacho, a nice traditional Japanese style restaurant just north of Sanjo on Kiyamachi.

I had a little peak at the first floor before heading upstairs…

…to our second floor counter seats…

…where we were served by the very handsome Kanemitsu-san…

…and enjoyed some fine Japanese cuisine. These raw oysters (酢牡蛎)　for example:

This tuna (マグロほほ肉のガーリックオイル焼き）:

These crab and turnip spring rolls (蟹かぶら春巻き):

A little sashimi (おつくり盛り合わせ）:

A scorched rice cake (五目御飯のおこげあつあつ陶板焼き):

Soft roe tempura (雲子てんぷら):

And this chilled pudding for dessert (カタラーナ).

All of that washed down with a few beers and some nihonshu too made for a very nice Christmas dinner indeed.

To find Hamacho go north of Sanjo on Kiyamachi, take the first bridge on your left and you’ll find it on the south side of the street opposite the Quil Fait Bon cake shop. Here is a map. They have English menus, a very fine nihonshu selection and very friendly staff. I’d recommend going for a set menu (between 3000 and  5000 yen) to save yourself a bit of money. Take a look at their English website to find out more. Open everyday from 17:00 – 23:00 (last orders at 22:30). Tel: 075-257-4949.