By early evening the streets around Shizuoka Station fill with commuters heading home and others heading out, and the bars and restaurants of the downtown area begin to open for the night. Weekends bring live entertainment to some of the smaller bars, where seating is limited and arriving early matters.
Shizuoka suits visitors who want a relaxed drink, some local food and a bit of conversation rather than a long night of large clubs. The sources describe two named bars: one near the Gohuku-cho area, a 10-minute walk from Shizuoka Station, and one in Shimizu, a short walk from either JR Shimizu or Shin-Shimizu. Some bars are used to foreign visitors, and at least one proprietor is reasonably fluent in English.
Where to go out in Shizuoka
1. Freakyshow Bar
A small bar near the Gohuku-cho area, about a 10-minute walk from Shizuoka Station, and described as one of the finest local places to drink in downtown Shizuoka. Its menu is not typical of most Japanese izakaya, focusing instead on an eclectic mix of western and European fare, and the Godzilla Burger and White Russian are recommended. It suits a relaxed evening with food and drinks.
It has limited seating, so arriving early is advisable, and it often features local live entertainment on weekends. All menu items and drinks are reasonably priced with no tax or cover charge, and the proprietor, Toshiyuki Kosaka, is reasonably fluent in English, so visitors will have little trouble communicating with staff.
2. Hippy Shake
A short walk from either JR Shimizu or Shin-Shimizu, this bar caters to foreigners, giving them discounts or sometimes free food. It has a good atmosphere and an inventive menu of original cocktails, and drinks are around ¥500.
3. Fujiyoshi Onsen
For something other than drinking, this coastal onsen has a rotenburo, a unisex communal bath, in beautiful surrounds. It suits an early-evening soak rather than a late night.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not describe typical dinner or going-out times for Shizuoka, or how late venues stay open. What they do indicate is that some bars host live entertainment on weekends and that seating can be limited, so arriving early is worthwhile. Plan around a downtown start near Shizuoka Station, with Shimizu as an alternative if you are on that side of the city.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Sports Day — October
- Culture Day — November
- 7-5-3 Day — November
- Labor Thanksgiving Day — November
- Christmas — December
- New Year's holidays, including December 31 and January 1–3 — late December to early January
- Coming of Age Day — January
- Setsubun — February
- National Foundation Day — February
Frequently asked questions
Where are the named bars?
Freakyshow Bar is near the Gohuku-cho area, a 10-minute walk from Shizuoka Station. Hippy Shake is a short walk from either JR Shimizu or Shin-Shimizu.
Do I need to speak Japanese to go out?
Not necessarily. Freakyshow Bar's proprietor is reasonably fluent in English, and Hippy Shake caters to foreigners.
How much should I expect to spend on drinks?
The sources give drinks at around ¥500 at Hippy Shake, and note that Freakyshow Bar's menu items and drinks are reasonably priced with no tax or cover charge.
Is there anything to do in the evening besides drinking?
Fujiyoshi Onsen offers a rotenburo, a unisex communal bath, in beautiful coastal surrounds.
Decide whether you want the downtown bar near Shizuoka Station or a night in Shimizu, then plan your evening around an early start if you want a seat.