Nakano After Dark: The Food And Shopping District

outside the Filipino restaurant we ate at

around the abandoned looking building there are restaurants

close to empty but we're on the street side of Nakano broadway

the main covered shopping street

bright lights in this shopping street connecting Nakano station and Nakano Broadway

a rather bright alley

After our sumptuous feast at Halo-halo, Filipino and Thai restaurant, we enjoyed walking around the shopping and food district of Nakano. The restaurant is actually in it, and I've even shared that navigating to the restaurant would confuse you as almost all alleys look the same.

On our way to exiting the shopping and food district, a 商店街 (read as shotengai) in Japanese), I took photos of the way because I found it a bit rustic and can imagine old vibes.

Just around the restaurant, there was a building that looks so abandoned. It's so old that veins were on it. I'm not completely sure if this is completely abandoned but in Google Maps, it's marked as permanently closed. This building is named World Kaikan, and it seems so creepy at night.

Continuing our walk, it's normal to pass by people standing on the streets, looking for customers to their restaurants or their shops. Of course, there are also adult-only stores here, girls bar or clubs. It's not advisable to walk alone at night, or you might get hit on (ナンパ (nampa) in Japanese). And my boyfriend walks so fast that he would often leave me so I'm also in a hurry most of the time, but tonight he waited for me and let me take my time so I was able to take photos. Don't worry, it's safe around here. Those guys are completely harmless too.

I didn't take photo of Nakano Broadway, a big establishment near Nakano station, because I already shared it before. It's located at the end of the main covered shopping street, and we came from its side because we're now going back to the station.

This covered shopping street is probably the only super bright street in the entirety of the shopping and food district. The other streets and alleys, which I always love to explore even though I know they're confusing and could get you lost, are always dark but at least there's the moonlight and the lights from the restaurants.

Even when it's a bit dark here, the restaurants around here are really great. There are a bunch of izakayas (in English: Japanese pub where people drink and eat) and all kinds of restaurants serving different cuisines. If you're looking for yakiniku, yakitori, ramen, sushi or anything else, then this food area in Nakano is your best bet. It's not as crowded as Shinjuku and Shibuya so it's really perfect. I even shared having yakiniku at a restaurant named Nikusho Ueno Yakiniku around here. There are so many restaurants to choose from! Don't ask me for recommendations though, even when I'm from this city in Tokyo, I have yet to try all the restaurants here. 😆

If ever you're in for a gourmet treat or a shopping spree, you can find it both in Nakano. The shotengai is just a minute walk from Nakano Station.

Don't forget to checkout the #WednesdayWalk initiative by @tattoodjay.

Thanks for reading!
See you around! じゃあ、またね！

^{All photos are taken using my phone unless stated otherwise.}

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