A Matsunoya Looks Set to Open in Front of Matsuya at Hanshin Imazu Station Where Yakitori Chindon Used to Be

It looks like the tonkatsu restaurant “Matsunoya Imazu” will be opening in front of the Matsuya at Hanshin Imazu Station.

Here’s where it will be↓

As of November 18↓

↑It’s been two months since the first photo.

Construction is moving ahead for an opening at the end of this month.

Here it is on the map↓

The address is 1F Heiwa Building, 1-34 Tsutokurehacho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

The former Chindon building is currently under construction.

Information Around Matsunoya Imazu

Across the street is “Matsuya,” located inside the Hanshin Imazu Station building.

If you go this way, you’ll find the Kicona pachinko parlor next door, Sakura Okina Inari Daimyojin Shrine, and more. Continue straight and you’ll come out by the Meishin Expressway overpass.

If you go in the opposite direction, you’ll find Hankyu Imazu Station. Beyond the elevated tracks is Imazu Nishi Line; turn left there and you’ll find places like “Sakura Ibuki,” which opened in January, before reaching Route 43.

Opening in Late November

According to the job listing that served as the source, it looks like the opening will be in late November.

It also appears the restaurant will be open 24 hours.

The eligibility section of the job listing said “first-year high school students and above,” which felt a bit unusual.

Finally

Matsunoya is operated by Matsuya Foods, the company behind the Matsuya beef bowl chain. Looking through store information, I noticed quite a few Matsunoya locations near Matsuya restaurants. In Hokkaido, the two Matsunoya locations, the Susukino location and the Sapporo Ekimae location, are actually right next to Matsuya stores. The JR Amagasaki location is the same. The links are to Google Street View.

This Imazu location will also have Matsuya and Matsunoya facing each other, so maybe that’s intentional. Perhaps tonkatsu and rice bowl dishes don’t really compete for the same customers. It feels like they’re opening side by side on friendly terms.