If you are under 20, please refrain from entering.
Also known as lower-street
Shimotori is the covered arcade at the heart of Kumamoto, running south from Torichosuji within walking distance of Kumamoto Castle. The lanes behind the arcade hold the buildings of hostess clubs and snack bars.
The Torichosuji tram stop is the arcade's north entrance, reached by tram from JR Kumamoto Station (flat adult fare 200 yen). Walk south and the arcade continues into Shinshigai, with the Hanabatacho and Karashimacho tram stops close by. Kumamoto Castle and the Sakuramachi bus terminal are both within walking distance.
Kumamoto City plans its centre as 'two cores, three malls': the Torimachi and Sakuramachi cores joined by the Kamitori, Shimotori and Shinshigai arcades, and Shimotori is the one in the middle. Under its roof, clothing shops and restaurants line up, with shoppers by day and drinkers by night keeping it busy all day long.
The night venues gather one street back, in the lanes running east and west off the arcade. Hostess clubs (kyabakura), lounges, snack bars, girls bars and host clubs fill the floors of multi-tenant buildings, close enough to Shinshigai and Hanabatacho to hop between venues on foot. Read the signboard for the name and floor before you go up.
The city centre including Shimotori is a no-touting district under Kumamoto City's ordinance: street touting and waiting for customers are banned, with a fine of up to 50,000 yen for ignoring an order, and the city warns that people led in by touts have been overcharged. Do not follow anyone who approaches you; check the price board for the hourly set fee, nomination (shimei) fee and drink charges before going in. The arcade is a no-smoking zone with daily patrols.
Listed in Lower Street right now: Girls Bar (1 venue). You pay a set fee by the hour, with nomination (shimei) and drink charges on top, so confirm the total with each venue before you sit down.
Lower Street is generally fine for a night out. The main risk is bottakuri, a padded bill at the end. Stick to venues that post their prices, skip street touts steering you into ‘free’ bars, and confirm the set fee plus any nomination or bottle charges before you order.
Payment methods vary by venue. Check the listing and confirm with the venue before booking.
Ranked by listing weight and recent activity
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