Category Archives: Nightlife

Tsubu Tsubu, Nagano City Peace Food

“Peace Food since 1983″ “TsubTsubu Café proudly presents creative dished made with different grains that feature the grain’s best characteristics.” (Tsubu Tsubu sweets menu) If earth tones, vegetables and soft toned conversations sound lovely to you then Tsubu Tsubu is … Continue reading

Posted in Bakeries and Cafes, Nagano, Nagano City, Nightlife, Organic, Places | 2 Comments

9kjikan Café, Nagano City

Straight coffee in a simple setting 9kjikan (rest time) makes simplicity stylish. Their walls are clean, white, and bare with the exception of a pinned up pocket size calendar and post card sized Abbey Road placard. Tables are simple with … Continue reading

Posted in Bakeries and Cafes, Nagano City, Nightlife, Places | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Feisty Fish Feast Finished! Champion Crowned

By Alastair Lomas, Sports and Fisheries Correspondent Crowds waited with baited breath as the umpteenth approxi-annual All-Toyama Sushi Challenge got underway at ‘Sushi Kui, ne!’ in Takaoka on Saturday March 13th. It’s been a while since there has been one … Continue reading

Posted in Nightlife | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Negibouzu Okonomiyaki, Nagano City

Negibouzu’s twig canopied entrance way and rock studded walls hint that it is not a normal okonomiyaki restaurant. Its more standard menu, prices, and tastes, however, indicate otherwise. But if you are looking for teppanyaki grills and okonomiyaki in Nagano … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Nagano City, Nightlife | Tagged | 1 Comment

Eat Ramen Like a Local on Route 19

Yukio Miyazawa throws vegetables and spices by the handful into a giant frying pan, briskly mixes them with noodles and smoothly tosses it all into the air.  Without looking down, he adjusts the stove heat, and the flames settle down … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Nagano City, Nightlife | Leave a comment

Tori Shin YakiTori, Matsumoto

If you live in Matsumoto city you’ve probably heard of the yakitori bar Tori Shin. Getting to the local favorite, however, isn’t as easy. The grilled chicken den is only a three minute walk from JR Matsumoto station but spontaneously … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Matsumoto, Nagano, Nightlife, Places | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sunny Place Café, Matsumoto

Sunny place café’s style and clientele can largely be described as a spillover from Matsumoto’s neighboring high end fashion mall PARCO. Sunny place’s owner says that his clientele is mostly women between the ages of 18 and 23 and their … Continue reading

Posted in Bakeries and Cafes, Matsumoto, Nagano, Nightlife | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Bakery Street Café

Bakery Street is Nagano cities’ only café to spoon ice cream from coke floats, sink into red velvet couches, and perch on 1950s chairs over espresso or sweet potato pastries. The coffees are freshly brewed, but not exceptional. The atmosphere … Continue reading

Posted in Bakeries and Cafes, Nagano, Nagano City, Nightlife | Leave a comment

The Grains and Greens of Roots Cafe, Happo One

By Whitney Conti Roots is the ski in ski out vegan café for non-vegans. Vegans and veg-heads of course also frequent the brown rice and falafel focused lunch spot, but Roots clientele resembles any average ski hill lunch crowd. Children … Continue reading

Posted in Bakeries and Cafes, Hakuba, Nightlife, Organic, Snow and Ice | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Matsumoto City’s Gourmet Cheese Shop & Restaurant

by Whitney Conti Gellee Blanche cheese shop and restaurant displays Camembert boxes like most restaurants would show off wine bottles. Dozens of Camembert wheels line the walls above European trinkets and the French certificates of cheese connoisseur and owner Shomoda … Continue reading

Posted in Beer and Wine, Gourmet, Matsumoto, Nightlife | Leave a comment

5 Foodie Musts in Hakuba

by Linda Monique 1. The Donburi at Kikyouya highlights owner and chef, Masuo Ohta’s 27 years of mastering the art of sushi. 1. Experience the freshest and most mouth-watering sashimi at Kikyouya You only need to look at the decade … Continue reading

Posted in 3 Sight. Feb.Mar. 2010, Hakuba, Nightlife | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Cocktails and Colors of Nagano’s Vietnamese Cuisine, Chao Ngon

Nagano City Dinner 17:30-23:00 (LO 22:00) , Lunch 12:00-17:00 www.chaongon.com Our server, dressed in trendy flowing pants with a threaded head scarf and large pink earrings, reflects a lot of Chao Ngon’s young, fun, and creative atmosphere. She tells us … Continue reading

Posted in Bars and Live Music, Nightlife, SE Asian Cuisine | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Going organic in Nagano

Nagano prefecture may be considered the “inaka” which literally translates as rural but it’s mountains and quiet attract the hip and trendy of the young organic, local movement bustling in Tokyo and thriving in our ken. A lot of the … Continue reading

Posted in Azumino, Hakuba, Matsumoto, Nagano City, Nightlife, Organic | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yama Picks: Best Pizza in Nagano

Pizza: Best Thin Crust, American style, and Organic Pizza in Nagano La Foret. Chikuma City. If you are ready to splurge on taste and money, La Foret combines chalet styled décor, kiln ovens, and international ingredients for imaginative gourmet thin … Continue reading

Posted in 2 Food. Dec. Jan. 09-10, Nightlife, Pizza | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

SoSo Fusion Bar and Restaurant: Saku, Nagano

contributed by Charlotte Ford Where? Saku City What? SoSo is a bar restaurant serving a fusion of Thai, Italian and Japanese food. Why? Contemporary décor, a vast selection of alcohol (including Guinness), amazing homemade food using local produce and no … Continue reading

Posted in 2 Food. Dec. Jan. 09-10, Nightlife, Saku | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Shinano Brewery: Local Brewery Nails It

Shinano Brewery: By Derek Hurst I’d heard about it since I got here—the local microbrewery that apparently had a brew master who apprenticed in Boston.  Famous for miles around, I saw the signs everywhere: the train station, the tourist centers, … Continue reading

Posted in 2 Food. Dec. Jan. 09-10, Beer and Wine, Nightlife, Shinano | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Live Events Bar: Tracks, Hakuba

Community Feature The Live Events bar Tracks Bar, Hakuba There are venues for live music scattered throughout Nagano, but none like Tracks. Tracks’ warm owners and cabin styled interior is unique because it is a venue space built to foster … Continue reading

Posted in 2 Food. Dec. Jan. 09-10, Bars and Live Music, Hakuba, Nagano, Nightlife | Tagged , , | Leave a comment