Izakaya Rishiri

Izakaya Rishiri looks like a home and feels like one, too. Tucked away in the quaint town of Higashikawa, this popular Hokkaido izakaya has become one of the hardest places to secure a reservation on weekends, thanks to its perfect combination of home-away-from-home charm and the irresistible appeal of Japanese bar drinks and grubs. Out front, its white picket fence, framed by springtime shrubbery, leads to a cottage-like structure that serves as the heart of this beloved locale. Inside, tables resemble those found in someone’s living room, while a team of chefs sporting patterned head wraps instead of traditional hats. By night, the space fills with jacketed locals savoring their favorite drinks and the place quickly becomes packed with conversations and flows of sake cups. The mission at Izakaya Rishiri is to elevate eating as a fortification for drinking, but both food and drink receive equal attention. In fact, its best dishes are often the most traditional bar fare, standing out not for complexity, but for their impeccable execution. The menu features a hallucinatory array of skewers — pork, chicken and minced meat — charcoal-grilled to perfection. Weekends without a reservation are a gamble. Make sure to reserve before you come to Hokkaido.