Showa era Japanese bars and restaurants

When putting together the previous post’s selection of Showa era shops and businesses, I was constantly reminded of the similarly dated bars and restaurants I’ve visited over the years, so this set of photographs nicely compliments the last one.

Each and every establishment was special in its own way, both in looks and ambience, but while there are a few I’ve visited several times, for regulars, they are a part of life rather than just a memorable experience. An element that makes the demise of at least six of them all the more disappointing. Little enclaves of comfort and escape, along with the decades long commitment of the owners, that means when they do inevitably disappear, way more than simply a building is lost.

That said, happily a good few remain, so for now at least they can be enjoyed to the fullest, with these photos providing merely a brief record of a much richer past.