Foreign Friendly

Kumamoto is one of the best spots for nightlife on Kyushu Island. In the downtown area, particularly Sakae Dori, expats can find plenty of haunts where they can enjoy a tipple, grab a spot of food and meet like-minded people. Whether you’re looking for a small cosy pub, a live music venue or something more clubby, there will be something that tickles your fancy. Here’s some of the best foreigner-friendly places. Jeff’s World Bar Something of an institution for expats and locals alike, Jeff’s has been catering for worldwide partygoers in Kumamoto since 1999. It’s located on the 2nd floor of a building in Sannen-zaka dori in the downtown district and now has two rooms, although it’s lost none of the intimate atmosphere and still packs out most weekends and evenings. The bar is free entry and stays open until 2:00 a.m. (extending to 3:00 a.m. on the weekends). Music is mostly a mix of hip-hop and RnB. Look out for special party events around Christmas and Halloween. Address: 2F, 1-4-3 Shimotori, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto 860-0807 Detour A relatively new addition to Kumamoto’s bar scene, Detour was opened in 2019 by expats who had been associated with Jeff’s Bar. It’s…