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Shimatori Jail The bar is big by Kumamoto standards - there's a dancefloor downstairs, and a pool table upstairs. 1000\ entry charge at weekends includes 2 free drinks. Open until 5am. Plug There is a great atmosphere in this small dimly lit bar. The music is RnB and reggae. Drinks are cheap (500\) - although there is sometimes a small cover charge. It is run by the friendly barman "Goatie" who is also the DJ. The Sharp The Sharp is a medium sized bar - with a dance-floor, comfy sofas and a small band stage. There is a good selection of music played at weekends - dance, rock and everything in-between. DJs are happy to play requests (unlike Sanctuary!) It has friendly English speaking bar-staff. There are band nights 2 or 3 times a month. A 500\ cover charge at weekend includes a free drink. Jeff's world Bar There is a good relaxed atmosphere here - there are sofas, bar games, Sky TV (with The Simpson's) and a selection of English books to read/borrow. There is a big drinks menu (including some British ales) 500-700\, and cocktails. On Friday you can buy 3 pints for 1,000\. The bar attracts lots of Japanese English students, and English teachers. It is run by friendly (former JET) Jeff. Bar Dayz Bar Dayz with its dimly lit, graffitied concrete walls feels a bit like an underground bomb shelter. It's small and often packed at weekends. The wall behind the bar is taken up by several thousand CDs by just about every guitar, indie, punk or rock band of the last 30 years. Beers cost 500\, nomihodai is 3000\ for boys, 2000\ for girls. Shark Attack Shark Attack is another smallish bar with a great atmosphere. This "beach bar" is complete with sand-covered floor, surfboard tables and sea views (painted on the walls!). There is a big drinks menu with different special offers for every night of the week. Zhela's An Izakaiya collection with 6 different themed floors. This place is really good for nomihodai and tabehodai. Ebisu on the 2nd floor offers all you can eat AND all you can drink for 2000\! (2 hours) Asian Clash This bar has gravel on the floor, candle-lit wooden kegs for tables and draped vines from the ceiling. There is a DJ at weekends. It's one of the funkiest bars in the city - look out for the propped up piece of plywood with "Asian Clash" scrawled in red paint. 15 15 has a dance floor complete with glitter ball, comfy sofas and a DJ box. The music is RnB, hip-hop etc. There is no cover-charge. Django Django IS the Kumamoto music scene. There is a stage and dance-floor. It has live bands playing most evenings and some DJ all-nighters. Expect to pay about 2000\ entrance fee. Good Time Charlie's Good Time Charlie's is Kumamoto's only country music bar. It has live country music, including Charlie's own band. Charlie is the organizer behind Japan's biggest country music festival - held in Aso in October. There is a cover charge which includes some drinks. Sanctuary Sanctuary is the cheapest place in town to get drunk - there is no cover charge and drinks start at 300\. If you arrive early there is a further 100\ off all drinks prices. It is on two levels - upstairs is a large bar area - with electronic darts and a juke-box. and downstairs is a medium sized dance-floor. In the week you can sing karaoke here for free. It normally gets quite busy at weekends. Oden This German style pub has a huge selection of world beers. It is big and noisy and great for groups. Tapas Tapas is a bar/restaurant serving Spanish food. The tables are cleared once a week for salsa classes. Primadonna The bar front is open to the street. Food is available (from 300\) and drinks (from 400\). The bar is open until 6am - and food is served until 5am. Zion Zion is a hip hop club with a big dance floor. Green Green is a small downstairs club, which plays dance music (techno/house etc.) Kamitori Nexus Nexus is a reggae and calypso bar - there is a neon-lit dance floor. Asahi Beer Hall This beer hall has a wide selection of beers (including UK ales). There is food available too - including cheese and chocolate fondue. The Lock Up The Lock Up is an interesting theme pub. At certain times in the night, the lights go out, sirens blare and "monsters" run around the tables dragging off poor patrons off to the jail cells downstairs. Mention it's a friend's birthday to guarantee a trip to the dungeon for them! Sapporo Beer Hall The Sapporo Beer Hall is a large venue with great tabehodai buffets. It is 3000\ for nomihodai and tabehodai. It is a great place for large groups. They also serve Guinness on tap. Hakata Paradis This bar has electronic darts and a big screen TV showing MTV and sports. It is 3500\ for nomihodai and tabehodai. Rock Balloon This former grunge establishment has been given a more classy refit. Drinks are cheap - and there is no cover charge. |