Izakaya Aji-Tora in Fukui

Oasis for Hanshin Tigers fans near Fukui JR Station

Takako Sakamoto Feb 24, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Yellow Daruma Doll displayed at the entrance of Izakaya Aji-Tora. The yellow color of course represents Hanshin Tigers!</p>

<p>Hanshin Tigers-related goods are displayed on the wall...autographs, photos of the Hanshin Koshien Stadium, etc.</p>

<p>Another Hanshin Tigers souvenir above the TV screen</p>

<p>Drinks on the menu have names like Tigers Soda, Baystars Soda, Dragons, Swallows, Giants...all the names of the Central League Baseball teams are here!</p>

<p>Gourd-shaped ornaments on the wall also have autographs of Hanshin Tigers baseball players!</p>

<p>A photo of Hanshin Koshien Stadium (home to Hanshin Tigers) adorns the wall</p>

<p>A painting of Hanshin Koshien Stadium and a Tigers' calendar</p>

<p>Japanese painting of a tiger loitering in a bamboo grove</p>

<p>Inside view of Izakaya Aji-Tora. It's a cozy Izakaya run by a big fan of Hanshin Tigers!</p>

<p>Even a lantern hanging at the entrance represents a tiger with black stripes on yellow!</p>

The other day my friends took me to a very curious izakaya near JR Fukui Station. When I arrived, the first thing I saw were various tigers adorning the entrance, a tiger poster on a wall, a tiger-looking daruma doll, etc. Everything I saw here indicated that this place must be related to Hanshin Tigers, the Japanese baseball team known for having passionate fans. As expected, izakaya Aji-Tora (tiger's taste buds?!) is run by an avid fan of Hanshin Tigers, and his wife. It's a small, cozy place which seats around 30 people on tatami mat floors and at counter seats. Although the place is an oasis for Hanshin Tigers fans, other teams' fans as well as non-baseball lovers are also welcome! The price of a meal is around 3,000 yen including drinks. It's open at lunch time (11:30 to 13:00), too.

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...