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You may have visited Kirishima for its hot springs, beautiful scenery, or local food.

You may have enjoyed a wonderful dinner and returned to your hotel feeling satisfied with your day.

But there is another way to experience an evening in Japan.

Sitting in a small local place, having a cup of coffee, enjoying some home-style cooking, and talking with people who live here.

It may not be something you can find in a sightseeing guidebook.

But sometimes, a conversation with someone you meet during your trip becomes one of the memories you remember most.

At Chizuru, we would like to offer that kind of evening too.

You don’t have to drink alcohol at Chizuru

When people hear the words “Japanese snack bar,” they may imagine a place where people drink alcohol and sing karaoke.

Of course, you can enjoy both at Chizuru.

But you don’t have to.

You can have a coffee.

You can have juice.

You don’t have to sing karaoke either.

If you simply want to sit down and talk for a while, that is perfectly fine.

In fact, many of our guests come to Chizuru because they enjoy conversation.

For us, conversation is not something that happens between drinks or songs.

It is part of the time we spend together.

There are surprisingly few places where you can simply sit and talk

There are many wonderful cafés, restaurants, and izakaya in Japan.

But their main purpose is usually to serve food and drinks.

When a restaurant is busy, the staff need to take orders, prepare food, serve other guests, clear tables, and welcome the next customers.

Naturally, it is difficult for someone working there to sit and talk with one guest for thirty minutes or an hour.

That is not a criticism of restaurants or cafés.

It is simply a different kind of business.

A Japanese snack bar can be a little different.

Conversation itself can be part of what you come for.

That is one of the things we value at Chizuru.

Coffee, conversation, and Mama’s home-style cooking

You are welcome to enjoy only a coffee or a soft drink.

But if you are hungry, there may also be some of Mama’s home-style cooking.

It is not elaborate restaurant food designed to look impressive.

It may be simmered vegetables, soup, a simple vegetable dish, pasta, or something else you might find on a family dinner table in Japan.

We think home cooking has a special warmth to it.

It is not only about filling your stomach.

There is also the feeling that someone prepared something for you.

So you can eat, have a coffee, and talk.

If you feel like having a drink, you can have one.

If you feel like singing a song, you can sing.

And if you just want to keep talking, you can do that too.

You don’t have to move from a restaurant to a bar and then to a karaoke place.

Sometimes it is nice to spend the whole evening in one place.

Travel is not only about seeing places

When we travel, we often remember famous sights, beautiful scenery, hot springs, and good food.

But we also remember people.

A small conversation.

Someone asking where you came from.

Someone telling you something about the town.

A laugh over something that was difficult to explain because you didn’t speak the same language perfectly.

Those moments can become part of the journey too.

Kirishima is a wonderful place to see.

But we would also be happy if visitors could experience a little of what it feels like to spend time with people here.

You don’t need perfect Japanese for that.

And we don’t need perfect English either.

Sometimes a smile, a few words, and a little patience are enough to begin a conversation.

The more we meet, the more comfortable it becomes

People do not understand each other completely the first time they meet.

That is natural.

The first time you visit, you may wonder:

“What should I talk about?”

“Do I have to order alcohol?”

“Should I sing karaoke?”

You don’t have to worry about those things.

After meeting someone once, the next conversation is often a little easier.

If we meet again, perhaps we will remember what you drank, what you enjoyed eating, where you came from, or something you told us during your last visit.

Little by little, a place that was unfamiliar can begin to feel more comfortable.

We think that is one of the nicest things about a small local place.

A Japanese snack bar can be more than drinking and karaoke

Chizuru is a snack bar in Kokubu, Kirishima City, Kagoshima.

But we don’t think a snack bar has to be only a place for drinking alcohol or singing karaoke.

Drink if you want to.

Don’t drink if you don’t want to.

Sing if you feel like singing.

Have some home-style food if you are hungry.

And if what you really want is to sit down and have a conversation, that is welcome too.

A café is a little different.

An izakaya is a little different.

A karaoke bar is a little different.

Perhaps Chizuru is somewhere in between.

Or perhaps it is simply Chizuru.

Spend an evening with people, not only places

If you visit Kirishima, we hope you enjoy the hot springs, the scenery, and the wonderful food of Kagoshima.

But after that, if you find yourself thinking,

“I’d like to talk with someone local tonight,”

we would be happy if you remembered Chizuru.

You don’t have to drink alcohol.

You don’t have to sing.

A cup of coffee is fine.

You can enjoy some home-style cooking and spend some time talking with us.

Sightseeing lets you discover a place.

Conversation sometimes lets you discover the people who live there.

We think both can become wonderful memories of a journey.

If you would like to spend that kind of evening in Kirishima, we will be happy to welcome you at Chizuru. 😊