Kohoku New Town

Kohoku New Town is a large planned city in northern Yokohama. By day, it's filled with families at shopping malls and parks, but at night, snack bars and girls bars light up around Center Kita and Center Minami stations, quietly bustling with local regulars.

The area centers on the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line's Center Kita and Center Minami stations, within walking distance of each other. Commercial facilities and restaurants cluster around the stations, while nightlife spots are scattered in alleys and on upper floors of buildings, with few flashy signs.

Nightlife here is dominated by snack bars and girls bars. Snack bars offer a homey atmosphere with a mama-san and regulars, costing around ¥3,000–5,000 per hour. Girls bars feature young female staff and are more affordable at ¥2,000–4,000 per hour including drinks. Kyabakura and host clubs are almost nonexistent, and concept cafes are rare.

The scale is small even within Yokohama, with about 30–40 venues combined around both stations. It's more for local office workers and residents than tourists. English support is minimal, so it can be challenging without Japanese.

Access is about 20 minutes from Yokohama Station by subway. Last trains are around 11:30 PM, so watch your drinking time. Friday nights are busiest; Saturdays are quieter, and many places close on Sundays.

For first-timers, it's best to start at an izakaya near the station, then hop to a snack bar or girls bar. Reservations aren't needed, but snack bars can be intimidating alone—going with a friend who knows the place helps.