Best Karaoke
Mar 15, 2009 | 9:25 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 19,077
Q. A.
Wherever your friends are.
There are Karaoke booths all over the city.
If you're alone and want to sing along with someone and don't mind paying for the privilege (and male) you can go somewhere like Roppongi to a 'Hostess' bar with karaoke facilities. There, you will find beautiful women, many of whom will speak basic English, some of whom will be accomplished singers, who will ensure that you always have a drink in your hand, that you always have a hot towel to refresh you as you emerge from the jon and they will encourage you, and accompany if you wish, in this typically Japanese pursuit.
Nothing sadder than entering a karaoke booth on your own to record your efforts.
I know of one young American woman who was eating in a park in Tokyo and was approached by an older Japanese man. He requested that she accompany him to a karaoke booth. He very much enjoyed singing in English and wanted very much for her to accompany him (and, one assumes, to offer the occasional compliment). Since she was broke, had nothing better to do that afternoon, and he was paying, she went along and had a rather... erm, interesting but unsalacious couple of hours. From what I hear, her experience wasn't unique.
Wherever your friends are.
There are Karaoke booths all over the city.
If you're alone and want to sing along with someone and don't mind paying for the privilege (and male) you can go somewhere like Roppongi to a 'Hostess' bar with karaoke facilities. There, you will find beautiful women, many of whom will speak basic English, some of whom will be accomplished singers, who will ensure that you always have a drink in your hand, that you always have a hot towel to refresh you as you emerge from the jon and they will encourage you, and accompany if you wish, in this typically Japanese pursuit.
Nothing sadder than entering a karaoke booth on your own to record your efforts.
I know of one young American woman who was eating in a park in Tokyo and was approached by an older Japanese man. He requested that she accompany him to a karaoke booth. He very much enjoyed singing in English and wanted very much for her to accompany him (and, one assumes, to offer the occasional compliment). Since she was broke, had nothing better to do that afternoon, and he was paying, she went along and had a rather... erm, interesting but unsalacious couple of hours. From what I hear, her experience wasn't unique.
Mar 15, 2009 | 9:40 am
#3
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Mar 15, 2009 | 12:11 pm
#5
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If you're looking for somewhere cheap to sing songs in English with a few friends, then a chain store like "Big Echo" can be OK, with quite a few songs in English (and Korean, Tagalog etc.) available.
If you want hostesses and mizu wari.... better get someone with an expense account to treat you.
If you want hostesses and mizu wari.... better get someone with an expense account to treat you.
Mar 15, 2009 | 2:14 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Reno, NV
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,462
Akasaka is cheaper. Ginza close to Shinbashi Stn is not too bad. Lots of places near Kanai Stn. in Yokohama.
Best place is somewhere someone had already made an investment and you can use their bottle, until you get to the bottom.
To be enjoyable, you need to speak their language or they speak yours.
Best place is somewhere someone had already made an investment and you can use their bottle, until you get to the bottom.
To be enjoyable, you need to speak their language or they speak yours.
Mar 15, 2009 | 4:25 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Posts: 22
Q.
So... I need to look poor (that's true enough) and sit on a park bench?
As long as I don't get picked up by yoko ono.. sounds ok
There are Karaoke booths all over the city.
If you're alone and want to sing along with someone and don't mind paying for the privilege (and male) you can go somewhere like Roppongi to a 'Hostess' bar with karaoke facilities. There, you will find beautiful women, many of whom will speak basic English, some of whom will be accomplished singers, who will ensure that you always have a drink in your hand, that you always have a hot towel to refresh you as you emerge from the jon and they will encourage you, and accompany if you wish, in this typically Japanese pursuit.
Nothing sadder than entering a karaoke booth on your own to record your efforts.
I know of one young American woman who was eating in a park in Tokyo and was approached by an older Japanese man. He requested that she accompany him to a karaoke booth. He very much enjoyed singing in English and wanted very much for her to accompany him (and, one assumes, to offer the occasional compliment). Since she was broke, had nothing better to do that afternoon, and he was paying, she went along and had a rather... erm, interesting but unsalacious couple of hours. From what I hear, her experience wasn't unique.
So... I need to look poor (that's true enough) and sit on a park bench?
As long as I don't get picked up by yoko ono.. sounds ok
There are Karaoke booths all over the city.
If you're alone and want to sing along with someone and don't mind paying for the privilege (and male) you can go somewhere like Roppongi to a 'Hostess' bar with karaoke facilities. There, you will find beautiful women, many of whom will speak basic English, some of whom will be accomplished singers, who will ensure that you always have a drink in your hand, that you always have a hot towel to refresh you as you emerge from the jon and they will encourage you, and accompany if you wish, in this typically Japanese pursuit.
Nothing sadder than entering a karaoke booth on your own to record your efforts.
I know of one young American woman who was eating in a park in Tokyo and was approached by an older Japanese man. He requested that she accompany him to a karaoke booth. He very much enjoyed singing in English and wanted very much for her to accompany him (and, one assumes, to offer the occasional compliment). Since she was broke, had nothing better to do that afternoon, and he was paying, she went along and had a rather... erm, interesting but unsalacious couple of hours. From what I hear, her experience wasn't unique.
Mar 15, 2009 | 4:55 pm
#8
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
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So... I need to look poor (that's true enough) and sit on a park bench?
Seriously, why are you asking about Karaoke places? Are you travelling alone?
Both jib71 and myself have referred to the ubiquitous karaoke booths Big Echo is a chain you'll see everywhere, often a multi-storey building with booths like little hotel rooms on every floor. Once you pay for your cell you can telephone for drinks and snacks, so they are like private rooms in a pub, just sound proofed to help everyone who isn't in with you have a good time. Some of the rooms have whacky interior decor and themes.
Hiring one of these would be an awfully sad and lonely thing to do on your own... but there are plenty of people who do just this.
There are probably 'normal' bars that have public karaoke (this might be what you are used to and are expecting to find). If there are, I've never been to one, and if I did stumble into one I'd likely bash my shins in my haste to stumble out, although it could be worse, it could be somewhere with live Jazz (shudder). The only place with a karaoke stage I've been to was in a Hostess bar.
Good luck finding someone who knows where to find one of these in Tokyo, even better luck in finding someone who'll actually admit they know!
Mar 15, 2009 | 5:01 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Posts: 22
Things to do
Traveling alone? No... But just looking for different and interesting things to do. If we get tired of trekking all over the city.. I'm thinking it may be a fun diversion... and a good way to relax.
Mar 15, 2009 | 5:24 pm
#10
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Location: London
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At night they get more expensive. Whole groups of youngsters, out in the city after the trains stop running and with no hope of affording a taxi home, barricade themselves into these booths for several hours. Sometimes the prices seem extortionate but actually include an 'unlimited' amount of alcoholic drinks. Each place will have its own deals and incentives. However, how you'd work out what those deals are, I have no idea. Just walking past those places and seeing the gaudy adverts plastered all over the glass (and hearing what they pump out) gives me a headache.
Mar 15, 2009 | 5:40 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA/HH/Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,615
In a previous life, I used to spend more time here (well, in the previous location) than I care to admit. I have no idea who's running it anymore, but it's a stage setting, specializing in English songs, and at least used to be a very friendly place.
Mar 15, 2009 | 6:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
The only time I was in a Japanese bar that had a karaoke stage, I was in the company of professors from the sister school of the university where I was teaching at the time. (My student days occurred just before karaoke caught on.) This was apparently their regular place, and it was one of those buildings that seem to be an apartment building for bars. (You know what I mean, those buildings that have floors and floors of little bars.)
Some bars are like private clubs and are accessible only to members or guests of members.
Some bars are like private clubs and are accessible only to members or guests of members.
Mar 16, 2009 | 12:26 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: DFW/SEA
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Posts: 2,045
there's this really cheap place in Yotsuya around the corner from the KFC for 300 yen during the day unlimited ice cream too. ^
otherwise shinjuku has them everywhere.- there's people trying to lure you in so you can negotiate with the prices. just make sure it's nearby. one time followed a guy for 3 city blocks only to get there and find out that we misunderstood his pricing
otherwise shinjuku has them everywhere.- there's people trying to lure you in so you can negotiate with the prices. just make sure it's nearby. one time followed a guy for 3 city blocks only to get there and find out that we misunderstood his pricing
Mar 16, 2009 | 7:03 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ani Ichibanya
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Posts: 6,292
Just for the record, I'd do karaoke every night if Scarlett Johanson was involved. Even with the wig and if I had to eat tonkatsu sando at the same time.
Mar 16, 2009 | 7:27 am
#15
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