Vintage Arcade Cafe & Bar in Nakazakicho
Relaxing retro cafe by day, bar by night – ens waka.
The arcade fusion dagashi cafe and bar, ens waka, is one of the many unique cafe spots in the neighborhood of Nakazakicho. Osakans view Nakazakicho to be for the young and fashionable folk. Located a few blocks east of Umeda (Osaka, Kita-ku), the area is filled with over a hundred of old-school retro themed galleries, cafes, and shops.
I discovered this cafe while searching for the oh so popular owl cafe with a friend. Not only were the staff really nice, but what caught my interest was the dagashi. Dagashi is a Japanese term to describe small, individually wrapped, inexpensive old-school snacks for children. After WWII, sugar was a delicacy and people didn’t have the money to spend or make anything with white sugar, so most of the snacks and treats that were manufactured at this time were naturally sweetened. These days, you can find some dagashi snacks at convenient stores, but it’s rare to find a dagashi shop that is still in business.
While eating dagashi, at ens, you can also enjoy a game of Pacman or other old-school arcade games on the table. I’ve only played Tetris, but I’ve seen many other games on the rack; if you prefer playing something different, just ask one of the staff and they can help.
The fees
If you visit during cafe hours, all of the dagashi will be charged individually or depending on how many you eat, along with the drinks. Though, during bar hours, you can eat dagashi, popcorn, and other small treats for one coin of ¥500! (I always go during bar hours because of the all-you-can-eat dagashi option.) Also, for those who prefer to eat a more hearty meal, I highly recommend ordering the karaage (Japanese style popcorn chicken) set or sandwich set! For alcoholic beverages, I don’t drink, but my friend highly recommended the cocktails that the staff whipped up for her.
Budget:
Cafe ¥800
Bar ¥2,000
Business Hours
Tuesday-Sunday (Closed on Mondays)
12pm-5pm (cafe)
7pm-12am (bar)
∗Thursdays are open for bar-time only
Official Facebook Page
Access
Approximately 5 min walk from Nakazakicho Station (Tanimachi Line) Exit #1
Or, about a 5 min walk from Tenjinbashi-suji Rokuchome Station (Tanimachi Line)
