魚が美味しい。 : BOBAL

This year, Saga is hot! Visiting Saga at the end of March for the Hina Matsuri, I found out that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration, and a special exhibition is being held for it. During the late Edo period, Naomasa Nabeshima, the lord of the Saga Domain, was aware of the threats posed by Western powers expanding their colonies. He focused on training talented individuals and researching technology, elevating the Saga Domain to one of the most advanced domains in Japan. The military strength and numerous talents from the Saga Domain played a significant role in the modernization of Japan during the Meiji Restoration. Tosu is a transportation hub, making it very convenient to access Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima. I understood what the owner was saying as it was my first time visiting. I entrusted the main shop a bit further away to him, but I was more curious about Bobal, located in front of Tosu Station. The facade of the restaurant, inspired by a waterfall, is quite innovative. Since I arrived a bit late, the second and third floors were already bustling with banquets. The counter on the first floor had seats available, so I took a spot there. First, I enjoyed a bottle of beer, while a wide selection of shochu, sake, and wine was neatly arranged on the counter. I was already thinking about what to drink next after the beer. The appetizer, a vinegared dish, paired well with the beer. The chilled tofu was sweet and delicious, and the generously sized salad was full of vegetables. I switched to a water-based Black Mist shochu and ordered the day’s grilled fish with saikyo miso, but what arrived was a thick piece of sea bream. The tender meat was wonderfully flaky. Striking up a conversation with the person next to me from Gifu was also a delightful experience unique to the counter seating. I ordered the chicken tempura, and trying it with the sauce was a first for me—absolutely delicious. I concluded my meal with a super dry local sake, a special junmai sake called Tenbuki, and enjoyed my time chatting with the owner while feeling pleasantly tipsy.