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Kofu City Chuo 1-chome, or the so-called Chuo 1-chome area, flourished as the center of Kofu city during the Showa era, and was lined with a variety of establishments, from grand cabarets and supper clubs to snack bars and bars. It was once an entertainment district where many people gathered and enjoyed the excitement all at once.
The current Chuo 1-chome area still has remnants of this, with long-established bars and snack bars continuing to operate in old buildings from the Showa era.
We would like to introduce you to Chuo 1-chome, which has such a nostalgic atmosphere.
Kofu City Chuo 1-chome is located south of JR Kofu Station. It is located about 1 km or 10 minutes walk from Kofu Station.
Kasuga Avenue is the main street of Chuo 1-chome. There are many restaurants and cabaret clubs.
Alleys extend from this main street, and it is in these alleys that you can feel the nostalgic retro Showa era.
Kasuga Building 1st Avenue consists of stores in the four-story Kasuga Building and stores in the alley that runs along the side of the building. (Snack, Izakaya, Pub, etc.)
There are stairs to the basement along with the “underground bar district”.
When you go down the stairs, there are about 2 bars or snack shops. However, none of the tenants have stores, making it a very dark spot with a feeling of ruin.
By the way, on the first floor of Kasuga Building, there is “Temari” which is famous as Onigiri Izakaya.
Also, the recently popular gyoza shop “Riri” is located in this Kasuga building.
You might be hesitant to enter because of the exterior, but even with such a nostalgic atmosphere, the inside of the store is pretty normal.
Both Temari and Riri are popular restaurants in the local area.
The origin of Olympic Street comes from the fact that the street was built to commemorate his 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
A variety of stores are open, including ramen shops, izakayas, snack shops, and bars.
There is only one place on Olympic Street where orange lighting is used, which creates an even more nostalgic feeling.
Izakaya, bars, and snack bars are open on Taki Street.
There is a nostalgic atmosphere.
In addition to traditional snacks, we also have a modern bar.
Bar Spuntino is a meat bar famous for its hamburgers.
“Eiji”, an izakaya where you can enjoy game and wine
“Tonkichi” where you can enjoy giblets and offal
“Ayame 163” is a late-night restaurant that will make whatever you want to eat (recommended is Neapolitan)
According to one theory, the “Taki” in Taki Street stands for “bonfire”. During the Edo period, when the town flourished as the castle town of Kofu Castle, night lights were installed to illuminate the streets with bonfires, which is why it is called Taki Street. It is said that it became so.
New Ginza Street is a short alley adjacent to Taki Street. Mainly snacks and bars are open.
Ura Kasuga Street is a street next to Kasuga Avenue, where restaurants and adult entertainment shops are open.
The Showa retro entertainment district that we have seen so far is an alley that connects Kasuga Avenue and Ura Kasuga Street, and is structured so that you can go between both by entering the alley.
There are some adult entertainment shops, and although it is a deeper street, there is a cute udon bar open for business, so it has an atmosphere that you can walk around even at night.
Chuo 1-chome, located in the center of Kofu City, is a nighttime entertainment district with a strong Showa era atmosphere. It was once a place where grand cabaret and supper clubs shone and the night life was lively, but even though that golden age has passed, Chuo 1-chome still retains a nostalgic atmosphere, and is a place where you can enjoy the retro atmosphere of the Showa era at night. It is known as an entertainment district.
It flourished as a post town during the Edo period, and developed as a downtown area for Kofu Castle during the Meiji period. From the 1950s to the 1950s, it was at its peak as the downtown area of Kofu, with many restaurants and red-light districts.
However, after the period of high economic growth (1955-1973), it gradually declined due to the outflow of people to the suburbs and the diversification of entertainment. However, in recent years it has been attracting attention again, and tourists, especially young people, are now visiting.
The charm of Chuo 1-chome is its nostalgic atmosphere. With its retro streetscape, old-fashioned signboards, and interiors that play Showa era popular songs, you’ll feel as if you’ve traveled back in time.
Chuo 1-chome is also home to a variety of restaurants. You can choose from cafes and bars with a retro Showa atmosphere, or izakayas serving local cuisine, depending on your taste.
Chuo 1-chome is a place where you can fully enjoy the deep charm of Kofu at night. Why not spend a relaxing time in a nostalgic atmosphere, enjoying delicious food and admiring the night view of Kofu?
