About のみみち
Nomimichi（のみみち）means "drinking road" — the zigzag line between counters that a good night in Kobe draws on the map.
Who's behind this
I'm Ben — American, in Japan since 2005, guesthouse owner, software developer, and long-time resident of the Kansai drinking landscape. I've spent years being led down Kobe's alleys by locals, and this site is me returning the favour.
The promise
- No ads. No sponsored spots. Nobody can pay to be here.
- No rankings, no stars. Every place listed is a yes. The write-up tells you what kind of yes.
- Places I actually drink at. If it closes or goes downhill, it comes off the list.
Why cheap places?
Because that's where Kobe actually drinks. The ¥400 beer under the railway arches comes with something no hotel bar can pour: the guy next to you who's been coming since 1985 and wants to know where you're from.
Want company for your first counter?
I also run BenTours — small craft-beer evenings in Kobe (and Tokyo and Kyoto) where we talk life in Japan over good glasses. If a standing bar solo feels like a big first step, start there and I'll point you down the michi.