Akita Station area is a paradise for budget-friendly drinking! We introduce budget-friendly bars near the station that will leave you completely satisfied! [Akita City, Akita Prefecture]

Recently, the area around JR Akita Station in Akita City has seen an increase in low-priced bars offering cheap drinks and snacks, making it just as lively as Kawabata, the city's busiest entertainment district

I previously introduced a cheap bar in Kawabata, but this time I visited a cheap bar in front of Akita Station

(Prices mentioned in this article are inclusive of tax and are current as of mid-June 2026.)

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Akita Prefecture: 3 recommended cheap drinking spots in the Kawabata area, a long-established entertainment district in Akita City!

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/26530

The Kawabata area of ​​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 marked decline in foot traffic, in stark contrast to the bustling shopping district around Akita Station. Kawabata was once renowned as a sleepless city, rivaling Sendai's Kokubuncho, but now the number of restaurants with their shutters down is on the rise. Despite this, new taverns with a retro atmosphere have opened in Kawabata, selling "senbero" (cheap drinks), and these establishments are always bustling, especially among young people. This article introduces the "senbero" (cheap drinks) area in Kawabata...

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Revolutionary Restaurant Che Takeda

Located just a two-minute walk from Akita Station, this establishment, also known as "Akita Station Noodle Bar," operates as a Jiro-style ramen shop during the day and transforms into a cheap pub from 5 PM onwards

I visited at 5 PM, which is during izakaya (Japanese pub) hours, but even at that time, there were high school students eating ramen, so it seems that the distinction isn't strictly defined

Incidentally, the ramen menu includes "Buta Jiro," a Jiro-style ramen with pork bone broth, various types of soupless "Abura Soba," and dried sardine ramen, and large portions are free, making it popular with young people

From 5 PM onwards, a medium-sized glass of draft beer (Asahi Super Dry) is available for 190 yen (excluding tax, 210 yen including tax), and there are reasonably priced snacks such as "deep-fried whole garlic" for 160 yen

The following items were ordered by me and my companion on this occasion

• Two draft beers: 210 yen x 2 = 420 yen
• Grapefruit Sour: 430 yen
• Fried chicken skin with spices: 430 yen
• Deep-fried burdock root: 430 yen
• Pork rice bowl: 500 yen

The total came to 2,210 yen. While not quite a "feast," we were perfectly satisfied for around 1,000 yen per person

Incidentally, I was curious about the origin of the unusual shop name, so I looked it up. According to interviews from when the shop first opened, the name was said to embody the owner's passionate desire to "aim for the world from Akita." It's an impactful name, but it seems to be based on the owner's desire to challenge the nation and the world from his hometown of Akita

Tetsunabe Gyoza 3-6-5 Sakaba Akita Station Front Branch

"3-6-5 Sakaba" is a popular izakaya (Japanese pub) chain with 44 locations in Tokyo, Osaka, Iwate, and Akita, known for its excellent value for money

The name of this bar comes from the concept of being a place that is cheap, fast, and delicious, and that you'll want to visit every day of the year. At this bar, you can start drinking from 3 PM on weekdays and from 12 PM on weekends

There are no cover charges or seating fees, a medium glass of draft beer (Asahi Super Dry) is only 199 yen (218 yen including tax), and the "Hakata-style iron pot dumplings," which are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, are very popular

In addition to the iron pot dumplings, other recommended dishes include "meat sashimi," such as chicken liver, which is cooked at a low temperature so you can eat it with peace of mind

Other popular menu items include various types of okonomiyaki, as well as Shibuya yakisoba, which uses Shibuya's famous Hachiko sauce

The following items were ordered at the Iron Pot Dumplings 3-6-5 Bar:

• Draft beer: 218 yen
• Hoppy set: 504 yen
• Hoppy refill: 218 yen
• 365 Lemon Sour: 438 yen
• Crispy pan-fried dumplings: 605 yen
• Cheese-filled hot pot dumplings: 770 yen
• Heart sashimi: 438 yen
• Melt-in-your-mouth liver: 438 yen
• Chicken skin crackers: 438 yen
• Shibuya Yakisoba: 768 yen

The total came to 4,835 yen, but we were able to get thoroughly drunk and our stomachs were full, so we were very satisfied with the payment of around 2,400 yen per person

Torisuken Akita Station Front Store

The Hanbei group is a nationwide chain of izakayas (Japanese pubs), but the retro Showa-era atmosphere and menu seem to be original to this particular location

The all-you-can-eat cabbage appetizer is 550 yen, but skewers start from 55 yen, oden from 88 yen, a mega-sized (1L) Toris Highball is 550 yen, and their specialty "Study Skewer" is just 11 yen—you'll be amazed by how cheap everything is

This restaurant also opens at 3 PM on weekdays and 12 PM on weekends and holidays, so you can enjoy a drink during the day. Akita City on weekends is truly a paradise for drinkers

However, when I visited around 4 PM on a Sunday, it was completely full and I couldn't get in. I paid my respects to Akita's daytime drinking culture and vowed to make a reservation next time

While we're at it, let me also introduce "Teuchi Soba Kato," a popular soba restaurant near Akita Station!

I'd also like to introduce a popular local soba restaurant located within walking distance of Akita Station, where you can enjoy handmade 100% buckwheat soba noodles with a strong buckwheat aroma

Located on Chuo-dori Street near the Akita Prefectural Museum of Art, "Teuchi Soba Kato" is a soba restaurant that serves delicious handmade 100% buckwheat soba noodles and has been selected as one of "Tabelog's Top 100 Restaurants."

There are two types of soba noodles: 100% buckwheat soba (country-style soba) and 80/20 buckwheat soba. The dipping sauce is less sweet and has a strong soy sauce flavor and taste, with a strong bonito broth, to complement the fragrant 100% buckwheat soba

Incidentally, this restaurant is also known for its tempura, but on this day I wasn't particularly hungry, so I decided to just have soba noodles

Country-style soba noodles (100% buckwheat): 980 yen

These noodles are thicker and chewier than any 100% buckwheat soba I've ever eaten, and the flavor and sweetness of the buckwheat spread throughout my mouth with every bite

The strong soy sauce and dashi broth pairs perfectly with the soba noodles, bringing out their aroma beautifully. This is an irresistible dish for soba lovers

890 yen (80/20 buckwheat noodles):

With just 20% wheat flour added as a binder, this is completely different from 100% buckwheat soba, and you can enjoy its thinner, smoother texture compared to country-style soba

A woman who seemed to be the proprietress told me, "The broth is quite strong, so it's better not to dip the 80/20 buckwheat noodles completely in it."

Indeed, adding too much dipping sauce weakens the flavor of the soba noodles, so dipping them lightly and slurping them up creates a good balance

summary

In recent years, the area around Akita Station has seen an increase in low-priced restaurants belonging to national chains, competing fiercely with the long-established local establishments

In addition to the three establishments I've introduced, there are many other unique budget-friendly bars, and I hope to publish a second installment of my Akita Station area budget-friendly bar guide at a later date, including the ones I wasn't able to cover

DaiwaConsilio

I'm a former Edoite (Tokyoite) who loves Morioka and the six prefectures of Tohoku, and I'm a big fan of history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and choral singing.
I'll introduce you to interesting things, delicious food, and great places in Tohoku!