If you go to a Japanese style bar ( nomiya ) alone, please remember that you are entering the living room of most other patrons. Perhaps you could go there a few nights in a row and even buy a bottle of your favorite poison for them to keep in store for you ( bottlekeep ). If the chemistry looks right after a few visits then taking pictures is also much easier.

If the atmosphere doesn't feel right when you enter, better just excuse yourself and head for the next bar. Not all places serve non-Japanese while several cater for the GLBT community.

My virgin foray into this area was back in 1999 when a Japanese salaryman friend got drunk enough at dinner to take me to his sacred jazz dive there. Followed up by a couple of Kabukicho hostess karaoke joints and a Chinese massage ( of the clothed and serious kind ) at 7a.m. I've been totally hooked on Shinjuku ever since.