The Noge neighborhood is Yokohama’s best-known nightlife area, with hundreds of drinking places. Some have been around for decades, while others are new. You might have the impression that Noge only has cheap-and-cheerful izakaya bars. But there are also one-of-a-kind bars that offer great music and a sophisticated drinking experience. One of these is “rotary” in Miyagawa-chō, specializing in vinyl records and mezcal.
What’s mezcal? It’s a Mexican distilled beverage made from agave, a kind of cactus. While tequila is made out of only one variety of agave, any type can be used to make Mezcal. That’s why it’s called “the mother of tequila.” It was my first encounter with mezcal, but “Sancozme with soda” (¥1100) was beginner-friendly. Its clean flavor with a hint of smokiness made it easy to drink.
The owner, Daiki Uchida, is from Asahikawa in Hokkaidō. He’s been a Yokohama resident for six years. He always loved music and worked at a record bar in his hometown, then moved to Yokohama for more extensive training. Before he opened rotary in 2022, he worked at Afro Tacos in Noge, where he was introduced to tequila and mezcal. “It takes about five years to harvest agave. I was attracted to the drama of the production process of Mezcal. Of course, I enjoy its taste, too.” Uchida claims that “Mezcal is one of the healthiest alcoholic beverages because it is made from 100% agave.”
Uchida’s original plan was to return to Hokkaidō to start his own bar. But he realized that while Noge has traditional jazz cafes and soul music bars, it lacked a bar where people can enjoy any type of music. That’s when he decided to stay in Noge and start his business. He chooses the records according to his mood, regardless of genre, paying close attention to the acoustics of the bar. He doesn’t take any requests from his customers. Music events are held on an irregular schedule, with genres ranging from pop songs to jazz, depending on the guest DJ. Customers include a wide range of ages.
Mezcal is typically drunk straight, with soda, or on the rocks (¥900~), but rotary offers original cocktails as well (¥1200~). Spend some time listening to music while experiencing Mexican drinking culture at rotary—a new way to enjoy Noge nightlife.