A little of each town’s story

Asahi Dry Zero, a non-alcoholic beer

From: An Asakusa food diary that begins at an old coffee house

A bottle of non-alcoholic beer

What I drank at Sansada was Dry Zero, a non-alcoholic beer-taste drink from Asahi Breweries. It is a carbonated drink with 0.00 percent alcohol; the bottle reads "non-alcoholic," "zero calories" and "zero sugar."

Sources: asahibeer.co.jp

This moment in the journey

Over 180 years beside Kaminarimon

Upstairs I took a seat by the window. The chopstick sleeve bore a drawing of a shrimp and the words "Founded in Tenpo 8" and "Kaminarimon Sansada." This, too, is said to be the oldest tempura restaurant still in business in Japan. In 1837, Sadakichi, who had come to Edo from Mikawa, opened a tempura stall in front of his home in Ningyocho; Mikawaya Sadakichi was shortened to Sansada. Beside Kaminarimon, it has been loved for more than 180 years.

"The owner must always stand in the kitchen." Keeping that rule, the restaurant still has only this one shop. On the table were a bottle of non-alcoholic beer and a blue-and-white earthenware teapot, and a small bowl of mozuku seaweed topped with grated ginger and cucumber.

My heart raced at meeting a flavor so carefully preserved. When I lifted the lid of the bowl, a shrimp tail peeked out.

Watch this scene on YouTube10:11

Read this scene in the full journey