Underage entry prohibited!? A ramen spot called "Tiger" in front of Keikyu Tsurumi Station in Yokohama that adults will want to visit

I made my first visit to the street Chinese restaurant "Tiger," just a short walk from Keikyu Tsurumi Station. With the rule of no entry for minors and a focus on 500 yen ramen, I explore the adult atmosphere that remains in front of the station.

I went to the neighborhood Chinese restaurant "Tiger," which is just off the station

It takes about a 4-minute walk from JR Tsurumi Station, and if you come from Keikyu Tsurumi Station, you can visit the neighborhood Chinese restaurant "Tiger," located right inside the shopping street "Bell Road Tsurumi."

I visited on a Saturday afternoon. The reason was that I heard there is a rule of "no entry for minors," and I wondered what kind of space is still following that policy.

Although this was my first visit, I chose a weekend afternoon because I wanted to see how the restaurant operates on a regular basis.

A single notice on the old-fashioned exterior; I see, that's what it is.

The appearance is quite traditional. It gives the impression of a neighborhood Chinese restaurant that retains the atmosphere of the Showa era. There was a handwritten notice in front of the shop.

"It is written, 'Our shop is a place where you can smoke cigarettes, so those under 20 years of age are not allowed to enter.' So I understood that minors can't enter. What a kind-hearted shopkeeper.

When I opened the door, a space wider than I had imagined from the outside unfolded.

There are a total of 12 tables, each spaced about 1 meter apart. On a Saturday afternoon, 9 tables were occupied. All the customers were alone. Many people were quietly eating, and the atmosphere in the shop was calm.

On this day, a man and a woman were managing the shop. The man was in the kitchen cooking, while the woman was handling everything from serving to checkout to cleaning up all by herself. There were no loud voices or unnecessary movements; each of them was calmly fulfilling their roles. I felt the rhythm of a shop that has been around for a long time.

Each table has a single ashtray. This might be a rare sight nowadays. On the walls, there is a handwritten menu, and magazines and comics are also lined up. It gives the impression of not just retro decoration, but rather the accumulation of many years that has simply remained.

I felt that the rule against minors entering this shop was not unrelated to the creation of this space. It is a place where adults can spend time as adults.

The most popular item is the traditional "Ramen" for 500 yen.

Before ordering, I asked, 'What is the most popular item?' They told me, 'It’s the ramen at the very top of the menu.' The price was 500 yen, and without hesitation, I ordered the ramen."

The soup is clear, and the noodles are thin and straight. The ingredients consist of naruto, menma, chashu, and green onions. The soup is light and has no strong character. It's a classic Chinese soba.

The naruto in particular had a fluffy texture with a slight chewiness. It may not be flashy, but it's a bowl that's easy to continue eating.

A place that feels like an adult gathering in the quiet of the daytime inside the restaurant.

Visiting for the first time, I felt this is a place that exists in everyday life. There is a rule prohibiting minors from entering, but it’s not intimidating. It's a place where adults who want to eat quietly can naturally gather. Just a short walk from Keikyu Tsurumi Station and not far from JR Tsurumi Station, it's within a distance that can be easily visited while on the move.

On a Saturday afternoon, witnessing each person dining alone, I felt there was an atmosphere where conversation wasn’t necessary.

Even the time spent actually eating ramen wasn't a particularly special experience, but the quietness of the restaurant felt comfortable. This place might not be a "place to consume time," but rather a "place to organize time." I left the restaurant with that thought.

Tiger
Location: 4-23-8 Tsurumi Chuo, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa

Interview and text by SYURI

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