In 2018, Daisuke Hiramatsu opened Hifumiya, a popular spot in Perth known for its freshly made udon noodles. Now, he is preparing to launch Ginza Nana Alley, a dining precinct on Murray Street that will house five different food and drink establishments, with a focus on yokocho – Japan’s alleyways filled with intimate bars and restaurants. Hiramatsu hopes to celebrate alleyway culture and eating with this new venture, which he believes is Australia’s first dedicated yokocho venue.
Ginza Nana Alley will exude laneway energy, with a 70-person space reminiscent of Shinjuku’s Golden Gai or Sakaemachi arcade in Okinawa’s Naha. Colourful signs, noren, and rope curtains will adorn the space, while stools pressed up close to counters will offer guests a front-row view of chefs preparing and serving food. Tables will be closely packed, with Japanese vending machines dispensing cold and hot beverages. The menu will cover a wide range of Japanese cuisine, showcasing the diversity of the country’s culinary offerings.
One of the standout establishments in Ginza Nana Alley will be Ginza Midai, a 12-seat kappo restaurant focused on oden, a Japanese hotpot cooking style. The head chef, Midai Hatakeyama, brings a decade of experience from Ginza Oden Ore-no Dashi to this new venture. Guests can expect dishes like snapper simmered in soy and dashi broth, soba with dried herring roe, and charcoal-grilled skipjack sushi. The restaurant will also offer a selection of hard-to-find sakes chosen to complement the cuisine.
Yakitori Washokudo will cater to yakitori enthusiasts, featuring charcoal-grilled chicken skewers crafted by chef Naoyuki Suzuki. Visitors can look forward to trying cuts of chicken not typically served at Perth yakitori restaurants, such as bonjiri, heart, and gizzard. Onomichi Ramen Mitsuya will introduce onomichi ramen to Perth, showcasing straight egg noodles in a blend of chicken and seafood stocks with pork fat. Tonkatsu Kubota will offer tonkatsu and Japanese hamburger patties with a French-influenced demi-glace sauce, while Monkey & Bird will serve coffee, purin, and castella sponge cake by day, transitioning into a whisky and cocktail bar at night.
With Ginza Nana Alley set to open in November, Perth diners can look forward to experiencing a new and exciting dining destination that celebrates Japan’s food culture and alleyway dining. From udon to oden to yakitori, the precinct will offer a diverse range of Japanese cuisine, showcasing both traditional dishes and foreign influences. Hiramatsu’s vision for Ginza Nana Alley reflects his passion for sharing authentic Japanese culinary experiences with diners in Perth, and the precinct is poised to become a significant addition to the city’s vibrant dining scene.
