Bars and Clubs
Shimatori
Jail (3)
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 (6)
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 (7)
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 (8)
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 (10)
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 (11)
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 (12)
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 (14)
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 (13)
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 (15)
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 (16)
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 (18)
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 (20)
This German style pub has a huge selection of world beers. It is big and noisy and great for groups.
Tapas (21)
Tapas is a bar/restaurant serving Spanish food. The tables are cleared once a week for salsa classes.
Primadonna (28)
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 (35)
Zion is a hip hop club with a big dance floor.
Green (40)
Green is a small downstairs club, which plays dance music (techno/house etc.)
Kamitori
Nexus (5)
Nexus is a reggae and calypso bar - there is a neon-lit dance floor.
Asahi Beer Hall (8)
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 (14)
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 (15)
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 (16)
This bar has electronic darts and a big screen TV showing MTV and sports. It is 3500\ for nomihodai and tabehodai.
Rock Balloon (17)
This former grunge establishment has been given a more classy refit. Drinks are cheap - and there is no cover charge.
Restaurants
Shimitori
Tingha Tingha (2)
This restaurant serves Asian food- Vietnamese, Thai and Cambodian. It is popular and has a good atmosphere. The coconut chicken highly recommended.
Nature's Trail (4)
There is a good selection of dishes for the vegetarian or health conscious - spaghetti bolognaise, bacon sandwiches and great smoothies.
Ramen Shops (5)
The top floor of Daiel has 6 different ramen shops. It has been designed to feel like a 1960s Japanese street - and not like part of a departmemt store. Each shop serves one ramen from a different part of Japan. The Hokaido ramen is worth a try. This is really busy at weekends - so be prepared to queue.
Chez Ken (9)
A French food restaurant which serves roast duck (1,500\) and steak for 1,200\. It is open from 12:00-15:30 and 18:00-24:00.
Thai Ghandahara (17)
This huge, Thai restaurant only opened in 2002. Each table is situated in their own wooden booth. They have a good selection of Thai food and Thai beer.
2nd Sight (19)
This complex has an Italian and Chinese restaurant, a Swiss cakeshop and a great top-floor karaoke bar. The large Chinese restaurant JangJangGos is a really popular and spacious Chinese restaurant which is good for larger groups. There is a varied menu - crab's intestine soup, whole roast boar and snails are served, as well as more usual fare. The food is really good.
GyuKaku (22)
This Japanese style BBQ (where you sit round a table grill) is open from 5pm until 12pm. It costs around 500\ for a (small) plate of marinated meats - beef/chicken/pork. There is even a page of vegetarian options to grill.
Yakiniku Restaurant (23)
This is another Japanese style BBQ. It costs 2,500\ for a BIG selection of meats (OK to share). It specializes in beef tongue. It must be good - the Belgium football team ate here before last years world cup.
Nanak's(24)
Nanak's serve authentic Indian food prepared by the Indian Chefs. Set meals cost about 2000\ for Nan bread, curry and rice. You can choose the strength of the curry from a scale of 0-50.
Aoyagi (25)
This is a Japanese style restaurant which serves sushi, sashimi, tempura and basashi.
Volga (27)
Look out for the red katakana sign for this 3rd floor Russian restaurant. They serve thick soup with big chunks of beef, carrots and whole potatoes in it. It's great filling food for winter.
Soul of Soul (29)
Soul of Soul serves Korean food.
Barate (30)
Barate serves expensive but really fantastic steaks. There is also a good selection of quality wines. You are seated in a private booth and table area - and you have your own personal chef who cooks everything in front of you! With the chef so close you can have the steak grilled to exactly how you want. He will even cut it up into bite sized pieces. Expect to spend several thousand yen for wining and dining in style.
Okonomiyaki (36)
The Okonomiyaki restaurant is located above Angleus next to Parco. It serves good, cheap food - a basic mea costs only 500\. You get a bowl filled with ingredients for your money - which you mix then fry at your table.
Le Jardin Champagne Restaurant (37)
This has a beer garden great for summer drinking. Downstairs is Bistro la Repas - with a nice courtyard area.
Morricone (38)
This cafe restaurant offers a fantastic lunch set - 800\ for pizza or pasta plus an all you can eat buffet - with potatoes, muscles, rice, soup, melon and salad to choose from. The food is superb - it is cooked in a Mediterranean style. This is a great place for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
Kamitori
Ninoni (1)
This Japanese style restaurant is next door to the Yatais. It has a tatami-floored balcony area which overlooks the busy streets. There is a great atmosphere and plenty of great food to choose from.
The Yatais (2)
This is the best area of town for good restaurants. The yatais is a collection of a dozen or so eateries serving all kinds of European and Asian food. "Chu Long" Chinese restaurant is very popular and always busy. Abbey road is the place to go for Beatles songs and serves Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Italian food. Le Bouchon serves French food. There are also Korean, Thai and Japanese restaurants here. Try them all!
Takamatsu (3)
Takamatsu has a superb menu of European foods (the owner used to live in France). There are foreign cheeses for starters, and main courses include roast lamb and roast duck. There is a great atmosphere especially in summer when the canvas roof covering part of the restaurant is taken off. It is always busy - so book ahead at weekends.
Italian/Thai (6)
These two great restaurants are opposite from the Yatais. Italia is highly recommended. It feels like you're inside the owners kitchen! They serve authentic Italian food for about 1500\.
Gyan (7)
The huge red revolving doors are unmissable. The restaurant serves French food and specializes in steaks. Expect to pay about 3000\ for a shared bottle of wine and main course.
G Chai's Shop (9)
This cafe is a good place for a lunchtime curry and Chai/tea set (600-900\). It has a wooden balcony great for summer time. There are materials draped from ceilings, and jostick aroma. It is always busy with Japanese ladies.
Le Bisto (10)
This is another French restaurant.
Toscana (11)
This is an up-market Italian restaurant with a big wine selection.
Playa Del Sol (12)
You can get all types of Mexican beers/tequilas here (40 different types!) - and there is some outstanding Mexican food. Prices are affordable - 1,000\-2,000\ for a meal. The friendly staff speak English Spanish and of course Japanese. Latin music is played in the bar. There is salsa dancing after 11pm on Friday nights. Hours are 6pm-11pm (orders stop around 10pm). It is closed on Sundays.
Gormand (13)
This is a new place that serves French food. The portions are small - but it is really good quality. They serve roast duck and roast beef.
Extras
Shimatori
Bowling/pool,�@(A)
This large complex has 3 floors of bowling and a huge pool hall.
Zion Beer Garden (C
This is a great location for large summer drinking parties
Beer Garden (D)
This is another place to visit in the summer months.
Tsuriya (E)
The bottom floor of Tsuriya has a good selection of foreign foods.
International center (I)
This center is a fantastic facility for foreigners in Kumamoto. You can watch CNN, read English papers, use the English book library, and use the notice boards to meet Japanese English students, arrange lessons or buy and sell goods.
Tom Tourist (T)
This is a great travel agents - with English speaking staff. They offer some good travel deals - a Hiroshima ski trip for 2 man\ (1 night), a Kyoto trip for 2.6man\ (2 nights), an Okinawa trip (1 night) for 1.7man\ and return flights to Seoul for 2man\.
Monte Carlo Karaoke (26)
This large karaoke place has the look and feel of a love hotel!
2nd Sight Karaoke (19)
This is one of the best karaoke places in town - although it's quite expensive, and really busy at weekends. Upon arrival you are allocated a theme room for your karaoke - anything from a bed-room to a bar to a bathroom!
Love hotel area (34)
Head for the neon-lit hotels over the Shirakawa river.
Kamitori
Discount Ticket Shop (A)
This offers plane bus and train tickets at discount prices. You can save several hundred yen on bus tickets to Fukuoka and elsewhere in Japan.
Fujisaki Shrine (B)
Town Onsen (C)
This large onsen is within easy walking distance of the city center - it's great after a tiring day shopping.
Shirakawa Park (D)
Further Recommendations (not on the map)
"Tengaiten"Restaurant.
The owner is a devout Buddhist who allows no talking or requests. Quite an experience! It is only open at night from about 10pm. It is located by the Tsuriya parking by the park and the police box.
The Angelus Head Store
The shop has delicious bread and pastries and in the back there is a restaurant "Matsuishi" with wonderful food and all you can eat garlic bread. A 5 minute walk from the Shinmachi tram stop (in the opposite direction to the tram tracks) It is closed on Sundays.
"Sakae Zushi"
This is one of, if not the most famous sushi restaurant in the Ken - although it is quite expensive. You can eat there for about 5000\ a head. It's a beautiful traditional Japanese style restaurant with a rock garden and big fish tanks inside. It's easy to get to by car or train. If you are going by car, turn right off route three in Ogawa town. The turning is at the lights next to the "Seven Eleven" just after passing Diamond City(coming from Kumamoto city). Go down that street for about 100m and it's on the right. By train; get off at Ogawa station and either take a three minute taxi ride or a 15minute walk straight up the road opposite the station. It will be on the left - surrounded by rice fields.
Thai Restaurant
23-12 6-tyoume Suizenzi Kumamoto-shi
This really good restaurant attracts a lot of people at weekends - reservations are recommended! It is closed every Monday and the second Tuesday of every month. Lunch is from 11:30 to 14:30, dinner from 18:00 to 21:30.
Directions: It is located by the Prefectural offices - a 15 minute walk from suizenji koen tram stop.
Tia
Tia is an organic buffet place. There are some dishes with meat in, but a lot without, and it's all very wholesome and healthy. It's about 2000\ for all you can eat in the evenings. It is located in motoyama machi. tel: 0963 63 8081
Coming into the city on route 3 you will pass a big wedding place and the fairy-tale castle on your right. Just after that are some traffic lights - turn right here. On this road, on your right (again) is a bit of a shopping complex with a big sports store - the restaurant is under the sports store.
Shinkamu - Laotian restaurant
The restaurant is run by the former Laotian ambassador from his home in Kumamoto.
The lunch buffet is amazing, a 1,000\ tabehodai, with 2 different kinds of curry, sticky rice with adzuki beans, beef laap, Tom yam Goong, coconut milk and shiroko. Evening meals courses start at 2,500\. The place fills up very quickly, so plan to get there early. Reservations are recommended.
0963754070
Directions: Follow the tram car line past Suzenji Koen. Get off at the next stop misotenjin mae. Walk back towards Suizenji - and take the first road on your left (kyugakudori). There should be a printing shop and bento shop on the corner. The restaurant is on the 2nd road on the right off Kyugakudori. There is a map for the restaurant posted on Kirk Masden's web page.
http://www2.kumagaku.ac.jp/teacher/~masden/shinkamumap.jpg
Natural
This organic food restaurant is located in Fukuda Hospital. It is round the corner from the Central Post-office - a short work from the Shinmachi tram stop.