Three popular senbera bars in the Kawabata area, a long-established downtown area in Akita City! [Akita Prefecture]

The Kawabata area in Akita City was once considered one of the most bustling areas in the Tohoku region, but in recent years it is said to have seen a dramatic decline in foot traffic, in contrast to the bustling downtown area around Akita Station

Kawabata was once said to be comparable to Kokubuncho in Sendai and was a thriving city that never sleeps, but now many restaurants have their shutters down

Even in this situation, new taverns with a retro atmosphere that sell "senbero" (cheap drinking) have opened in Kawabata, and these establishments are always bustling with young people

In this article, we will introduce you to the "senbero bar" located in Kawabata

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What is the definition of “senbero”?

The word originally referred to a bar where you could get very drunk for 1,000 yen, but now it has come to mean a bar where you can get 2 to 3 drinks and snacks for 1,000 yen.

In this article, we have defined the criteria for certification as a "Senbero" bar as follows.

• You can order two glasses of alcohol (type and quantity are free) and one snack in addition to the appetizer and drink it for less than 1,000 yen.
• Set prices such as "Senbero Set" are available for less than 1,000 yen.
• Family restaurants where you can eat rice crackers are not eligible.

We also introduce sets that cost less than 1,500 yen as "high-priced rice crackers," but we appreciate your understanding.

Please note that prices in the article include tax unless otherwise stated and are as of the end of September 2023.

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What kind of town is Kawabata?

This town, written as "Kawabata" but pronounced as "Kawabata," is located at the edge of the Asahi River that flows through Akita City, and it is said that during the Edo period it was simply written as "Kawabata."

At the time, samurai from the Akita domain lived here, but the samurai eventually moved to the east bank of the Asahikawa River, closer to the castle, and Kawabata, which had previously been a samurai town, began to be inhabited by townspeople

It is said that because of this, the samurai began to use the characters "Kawabata" to refer to the opposite side of the river, signifying that the previous "Kawabata" was different from the area where they lived

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What made Kawabata become a bustling shopping district?

Akita City experienced many major fires from the Edo period through to the Meiji period

In particular, the large fire known as the "Tawaraya Fire" that occurred in 1886 led to the gathering of geisha houses and restaurants that were burned down in Kawabata (now Omachi) 4-chome and 5-chome, which became a bustling shopping district

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It's a good one, Torifuku

Senbero Sakaba specializes in yakitori, priced at 179 yen per skewer, but the wide variety of dishes are not only cheap but also generous in volume, making it an extremely popular restaurant with good value for money, with queues forming even late at night

In particular, the "Selectable Appetizer" menu allows you to choose two items from 27 different appetizers for 319 yen, which is more than enough as a snack on its own.
Many other dishes are also priced at 319 yen, and the restaurant's top recommendation, "Grilled Chicken Thigh Skewers Marinated in Saikyo Miso," is said to be a must-order among many regulars.
While most drinks, such as draft beer (medium mug), are priced at 429 yen, there is a wide selection of local Akita sake, including Mokkiri Junmai Ginjo at 319 yen, a great price for sake lovers.

As you can see, this is a "senbero bar" where both alcohol and food are reasonably priced, and even if you get carried away and order too much, you'll still be able to fit in "two senbero drinks."

It's good, Tori Ni Nine ＜Information＞

• Store name: Iimonya Tori Nikyu
• Address: 5-4-10 Omachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0188960290
• Business hours: Monday to Thursday 17:00 to 24:00, Friday and Saturday 17:00 to 26:00, Sunday 17:00 to 23:00
• No regular holiday
• URL: Tori Nikyu Official Website
• gourmet site
  • eating log

Google Maps

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Yakiton Daikoku Akita Omachi Branch

"Yakiton" is a skewer of grilled pork innards, known as "motsuyaki" in the Kanto region

This Yakiton Daikoku Akita Omachi branch opened in Kawabata two years ago as the second branch of the Sanno branch, but it is a popular restaurant that is always busy with customers, mainly young people, until 27:00 (3:00 am)

There are over 18 types of fresh yakitori, ranging from "Teppo" for 99 yen to "Kori Kori (blood vessels)" for 209 yen, so you can enjoy a variety of cuts at reasonable prices

The most popular dish in Yakitori Daikoku is the liver steak (199 yen), which is made with fresh liver cooked just rare and goes perfectly with the green onion and sesame oil sauce. It's a highly recommended dish

Kansai-style oden, made with dashi stock, is also a great affordable snack for the coming season

Additionally, quick meals like vinegared offal and potato salad are available for around 300 yen, and when paired with drinks in the 300-400 yen range, you can enjoy a "senbero" experience

Yakiton superpower ＜Information＞

• Store name: Yakiton Daikoku Akita Omachi store
• Address: Omachi Asahi Building, 4-2-2 Omachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 018-838-5107
• Business hours: Monday to Sunday 16:00 to 27:00
• No regular holiday
• URL: Yakiton Daikoku Official Website
• gourmet site
  • eating log

Google Maps

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Kushizaru Akita branch

This kushiage restaurant was a popular "senbero bar" in Omagari (Daisen City, Akita Prefecture), but it relocated and opened in Senakikoji, Kawabata, in December last year

Chiakikoji is a deep, eccentric, shack-like alleyway that is known only to those in the know, and is a little hard to enter, but it is located to the right of the entrance so you can drop in easily

The bright and clean interior has only 12 seats at the counter, and the cabbage appetizer (220 yen) is free to refill and you can eat as much as you like

There are over 40 varieties of lightly and crispy kushikatsu skewers, ranging from 165 yen to 220 yen per skewer, and there are also value sets of five skewers (starting from 660 yen)

The toast set is priced at 880 yen, which is cheaper than the "senbero" set, and includes one drink (under 605 yen) and a choice of three skewers of fried chicken or two pieces of fried chicken as a snack. The size of the fried chicken is surprising

Kushizaru Akita Store <Information>

• Store name: Kushizaru Akita store
• Address: 4-2-31 Omachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture, 010-0921
• Phone number: 018-838-1039
• Business hours: Mon-Sat 16:00-23:00
• No regular holiday
• gourmet site
  • eating log

Google Maps

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summary

The "senbero bars" introduced in this article are all relatively new, bright and clean establishments in Kawabata, and all of them attract a large young clientele, with many female groups also coming to enjoy "senbero."

In Akita City, several "senbero" bars have opened in front of Akita Station and are bustling with activity, but we cannot introduce them all here

I would like to introduce this place again in another article at some point, but for now, why not try some "senbero" drinking in Kawabata, which has the atmosphere of a Showa-era downtown area?

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