Chokyu Sakaba (長久酒場)

A Shirahama institution for six decades, Chokyu Sakaba serves the kind of unpretentious, generously portioned izakaya fare — fresh Kishu coastal seafood chief among it — that has made it a local fixture rather than a tourist stop. The counter-and-tatami dining room stays lively into the evening, and its long tenure has earned it a reputation as one of the region’s most-loved neighborhood taverns.

Note: sources disagree on the exact closing time (reports range from 22:00 to 23:00), so confirming by phone before a late visit is recommended.