Is It A Hostel? A Bar? A Lounge? Presenting CITAN At Nihonbashi Area!

A Diverse Menu Unusual for a Lodging Facility

Photo courtesy of Backpackers’ Japan co., ltd.

Head down the stairs near the entrance, and a bar & lounge will appear in front of you. Dinner hours start at 18:00, and last until 22:30, but you can enjoy your favorite alcoholic beverages until 24:00. The payment method is cash on delivery here.

The tables and chairs you’ll see (or sit on) at the bar & lounge are either handmade or bought at antique shops, and such. The furniture was chosen to fit the ambiance of the hostel, it appears, and unlike the lounges and diners where you’re likely to see items of one particular brand only, this collection is far more unique and fascinating. You might just get enamored with the ambiance itself, but our recommendation is to savor both the atmosphere surrounding you and the delicacies offered at the bar & lounge.

If you’re at a loss what to order for your first drink, take our advice and go for Bunk Bed Session IPA (750 yen with tax per 280ml glass) – you probably won’t regret it. The long name is actually the name for a Backpackers’ Japan original craft beer produced by Baird Brewing Company from Numazu in Shizuoka prefecture. This beer’s revitalizing flavor and low alcohol percentage (4.5%), will surely appeal to those who aren’t that great at holding their liquor.

Still, the abundant and unexpected drink lineup is what will make your jaw drop! On the menu, you’ll find red wine from Bulgaria, Petit Enira 2011 (700 yen with tax), with a characteristic sweet-sour aroma of delicious raspberries, and a fiery aftertaste that’ll linger (and blaze) in the back of your throat for a long time. A marvelous feature of CITAN is that wine lovers can choose from numerous wines coming from different countries and parts of the world, such as Croatia, New Zealand, Japan, and many others.

If you order your wine in a glass, you can take your pick from 3 to 4 different white and red wine brands at any time. Of course, you are free to order a wine bottle should you feel like it, and share it with your partner, friends, and such – the “sharing is caring” concept is bound to liven up your group’s mood without a doubt!

As the surrounding area of Nihonbashi is packed with companies, offices, and similar business enterprises, the owners put their best effort into creating a drink menu that’d satisfy the palate and mood of people over 30. You’ll be amazed at the never-ending assortment of whiskey brands, cocktails, and other alcoholic beverages on the one hand, and non-alcoholic cocktails, soft drinks, and such on the other. You ought to have plenty of fun discovering which drink suits your taste buds the best.

As for the food available at this lounge, each dish is designed to complement your drink in the best possible way. The food lineup features dishes you can savor while enjoying your drinks and share with other people.

This is the fig and butter snack (500 yen with tax), with a slice of butter sandwiched between two figs, much resembling their cracker-counterparts. You can just imagine what a superb combo you get when you mix the sour-sweet figs and the salty butter! But, make sure to put it in your mouth after the butter melts a little, and becomes of a slightly softer texture – as it melts in your mouth further on, take a sip of your exquisite wine and it will seem as if you’re relishing a heavenly ambrosia!

Should you get the desire to treat yourself to something healthy, don’t hesitate to try the roasted seasonal vegetables (950 yen with tax). The dish is just like the name describes it – seasonal vegetables roasted on a hot plate for a delightfully warm and healthy meal. It appeals to the eyes as much as it appeals to the mouth, with potatoes, cherry tomatoes, purple onions, corn, and other tasty vegetables cut into bite-sized chunks, and displayed ever so charmingly and colorfully on the plate. However, mind that the combination of vegetables varies depending on the season and purchasing circumstances.

Behold the Tokushima Awaodori chicken tempura (680 yen with tax)! Savor your four extra-large chicken tempura pieces with two different sauces - a soy sauce-based one and a tartar sauce. The tempura itself is a piece of art you can enjoy either fried, with a crunchy and airy coating, or rare, should you like it better that way – take that bite without any fear or concern! It goes perfectly with a pint of cold beer or a glass of wine, so take your pick, and take your time relishing it.

Other menu items include the fish and chips with black salt tartar sauce (900 yen with tax), and similar snacks, as well as a wide variety of desserts. It ought to meet your expectations with ease, even if your expectations are “eat-a-whole-lot-of-food” oriented, or “let’s-snack-a-little-bit” oriented.

A Royal-Class Accommodation Available, As Well!

Photo courtesy of Backpackers’ Japan co., ltd.

After we’ve talked this much about delicious food and drinks offered at CITAN, you might have forgotten a very important thing regarding this place – it is originally a hostel! And guess what – the accommodation quality won’t lose out to food quality, we guarantee you that. Located on six floors, starting from the second to the seventh, you’ll find various types of lodging facilities, such as dormitories, twin, and double rooms, as well as other types of private rooms.

There are two types of dormitories you can choose to stay in – the mixed dormitory for gents and ladies (8 people per room, 3000 yen; 4 people per room, 3400 yen; *each price with tax), and the ladies-only dormitory (8 people per room, 3200 yen; 4 people per room, 3600 yen; *each price with tax). In each dormitory, you are free to use the reading-only lights, and power plugs prepared for each person staying in the room, so you shouldn’t feel any lack of personal space or comfort.

Photo courtesy of Backpackers’ Japan co., ltd.

If, however, you’re interested in a somewhat (or much) larger room, take a look at this king-sized double room (standard: 10,000 yen; large: 11,000 yen; *both prices with tax), the largest double room on the floor, accompanied with desks and washbasins. The natural light shining into this spacious room and the super-large bed will help you recover your strength from a tiresome trip in no time.

Photo courtesy of Backpackers’ Japan co., ltd.

The showers are shared-type but are cleaned thoroughly and regularly so that visitors can use them without worries or stress. For the shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and other amenities provided, guests can use organic cosmetic products made by Osaji (Japanese), a cosmetic store located in the hostel’s vicinity.

Found at a great location in the Nihonbashi area, where you can admire the very Tokyo-ish sights and enjoy the atmosphere of a big city, this hostel offers both a sophisticated bar & lounge, as well as clean and relaxing rooms for your stay. The ambiance will make you want to prolong your time here, trust us on that!

Start Your Great Trip at CITAN!

Photo courtesy of Backpackers’ Japan co., ltd.

Welcome to CITAN, a place that’ll make you forget about its prime function (of a hostel) when you take a look at its bar & lounge’s unbelievable drink and food menu. But, even if you aren’t in the need of accommodations, should you ever feel like drinking in a laid-back ambiance, let your path lead you to CITAN, for a glass of deliciousness, comfort, and quality.

CITAN’s doors are opened and welcome visitors coming and going in all directions – from and to Japan, or from within Japan. So, how about trying out CITAN’s hospitality and luck-bringing atmosphere, and pay them a visit the next time you're in the Nihonbashi area?

Photo courtesy of Backpackers’ Japan co., ltd.

CITAN

15-2 Nihonbashi Odenmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0011