{"id":1718,"date":"2015-08-29T00:00:25","date_gmt":"2015-08-29T00:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/discover-coolest-bars-in-tokyo\/"},"modified":"2022-07-11T17:38:39","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T17:38:39","slug":"discover-coolest-bars-in-tokyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/activities\/discover-coolest-bars-in-tokyo\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Tokyo\u2019s Coolest Bars in Golden Gai"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tokyo<\/a>\u00a0is often portrayed as a monument to futurism. The neon-lit towers, cutting-edge technology and subcultures that teem throughout the metropolis have inspired countless science fiction books, films and movies.\u00a0But there is another side to the city. Hidden away behind the bright lights of\u00a0Shinjuku,\u00a0you\u2019ll find a cluster of narrow\u00a0laneways\u00a0housing 200 shanty bars dating back to the 1950s. Known as Golden\u00a0Gai, this unique slice of retro cool will quench your thirst and your sense of adventure.<\/p>\n

Golden Gai\"nightlife-divider\"<\/h2>\n

Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0doesn\u2019t appear on regular tourist maps, but finding it is relatively straightforward. Exit\u00a0Shinjuku\u00a0Station East, make your way towards the\u00a0Hanazono\u00a0Shrine, walk past its arches and you\u2019ll suddenly find modern-day Japan melting away to reveal a cluster of tiny\u00a0laneways\u00a0humming to their own unique rhythm.<\/p>\n

\"Golden\u00a0Golden Gai in Shinjuku, Tokyo\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Retro Cool in Downtown Tokyo<\/h2>\n

The first time you fix your eyes on Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0it\u2019s easy to imagine you\u2019ve stepped into a film set. The six narrow\u00a0laneways\u00a0that make up the area are surrounded by crumbling two-storey buildings and are alive with a chaotic mix of lights and music. As you make your way deeper into the labyrinth-like complex, you\u2019ll find an almost endless mix of hole-in-the wall bars competing for your business and attention.<\/p>\n

While Japan is known for its efficient use of space, Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0takes things up several notches! Most of the bars are nothing more than a narrow doorway, a bar with a few seats (literally, a few) and a bartender to serve the drinks. Even the larger venues struggle to hold more than a handful of people. But what these bars lack in space, they more than make up for with character.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Theme for Every Occasion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The pulsating mix of music, colour and ambiance that spills out of Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0is driven by the 200-strong venues and their friendly rivalries. Every single bar within has its own unique theme to help set it apart from its neighbours and while the punk, jazz and reggae venues are authentically tatty, things get more interesting the deeper you delve.<\/p>\n

By the time you\u2019ve wondered towards the back of Golden\u00a0Gai, you\u2019ll find yourself looking at Halloween-themed bars with an orange floor-to-ceiling glow, retro robot bars, old burlesque houses and impossibly small venues with just enough room for three people, a bartender and a huge chandelier.<\/p>\n

Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0may be hidden away from public view, but you\u2019ll find a steady mix of locals and tourists weaving through the narrow\u00a0laneways\u00a0on any given night. Most of the bars operate on a first-come-first-served basis and the more popular venues fill up quickly and tend to stay that way. That being said, there\u2019s more than enough variety and seating to accommodate the crowds and most places stay open well into the night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whiskey Highballs and Japanese Beers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Some<\/p>\n

Drink options will vary from venue to venue, but Japan\u2019s love affair with whiskey continues unabated in Golden\u00a0Gai and an authentic Whiskey Highball<\/strong> is both a timeless classic and refreshing drink after your walk from\u00a0Shinjuku\u00a0station. Served in a tall frosted glass with a liberal amount of ice, a twist of fresh lemon and soda water, it\u2019s a straightforward drink that Japan has elevated to a fine art.<\/p>\n

While your bartender\u2019s command of English may be limited, the small size of the venues means you can always point to whatever combination of beer or spirits you feel like consuming. Otherwise, just leave it up to your bartender. Many of them have held the same outpost for decades and take genuine pride in their work.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in town for an extended stay, or drinking with a larger group, most venues allow you to purchase a bottle of alcohol outright and will store it for you behind the counter with your name neatly inscribed on the label and a marker to show how much is left.<\/p>\n

Down the Rabbit Hole<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While Tokyo has no shortage of entertainment districts, bars and clubs, none of them offer the casual intimacy of Golden\u00a0Gai. It\u2019s a modern-day rabbit hole that transports visitors into a strange new reality, inhabited by an equally strange cast of bartenders and revellers.<\/p>\n

\"Kanpai<\/p>\n

Even in a city as densely packed and technology driven as Tokyo, these six narrow laneways hold a special, nostalgic appeal. Developers discovered this firsthand during the 1980s economic boom when attempts to raze\u00a0and develop the land were staved off by armed locals who patrolled the area and kept the bulldozers out.<\/p>\n

That sort of militant devotion has been replaced by an influx of new patrons and visiting tourists in recent years and Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0isn\u2019t quite as edgy or secret as it used to be. But if you\u2019re looking for a unique Tokyo story, a great drink and some worthwhile photo opportunities, this unique warren of\u00a0laneways\u00a0and hidden bars in Tokyo\u00a0offer a once in a lifetime experience.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[tabs]<\/p>\n

[tab title=”Best Time to Visit<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-light-up”]Tokyo is a great place to travel to at any time of year and Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0runs 24\/7 most weekends.[\/tab]<\/p>\n

[tab title=”Where to Stay<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-suitcase”]While it\u2019s easily accessible from anywhere in Tokyo, Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0is located within\u00a0Shinjuku. Nearby hotels include the luxurious\u00a0Hilton Tokyo<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Hotel\u00a0Sunroute\u00a0Plaza\u00a0Shinjuku<\/a>, which is conveniently located opposite\u00a0Shinjuku\u00a0Station and the popular\u00a0Takashimaya\u00a0Times Square. For those wanting to try a Japanese sleeper capsule, the\u00a0Capsule Hotel\u00a0Shinjuku<\/a>\u00a0is a good budget option.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[button url=’https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/Tokyo-Hotels.d179900.Travel-Guide-Hotels’ icon=’entypo-suitcase’ fullwidth=’true’] More Hotels in Tokyo[\/button]<\/p>\n

[\/tab]<\/p>\n

[tab title=”Getting There<\/strong>” icon=”entypo-address”]Japan Airlines, ANA and\u00a0Singapore\u00a0Airlines all offer\u00a0direct flights<\/a>\u00a0from Singapore\u2019s Changi Airport to Narita\u00a0Airport (NRT), which is connected to Tokyo via express train.[\/tab]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[tab title=”Visa Requirements” icon=”entypo-book”]Singaporeans do not require a visa to travel to Japan if travel is less than 90 days.[\/tab]<\/p>\n

[\/tabs]<\/p>\n

[button style=’green’ url=’https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/things-to-do\/?location=Golden%20Gai,%20Tokyo,%20Japan’ icon=’entypo-lifebuoy’ fullwidth=’true’]Find more things to do in Golden Gai, Tokyo with Expedia Singapore[\/button]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Feature Image: Shinjuku ward at night \/\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Credits:Getty Images<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Golden\u00a0Gai\u00a0is a hidden slice of retro cool and hole-in-the-wall bars located behind the neon lights of\u00a0Shinjuku.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,70,290,89,66],"tags":[91,31,54,92],"authors":[248],"class_list":["post-1718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities","category-asia","category-city-breaks","category-japan","category-mari-kita-makan-foodie-tips-trips","tag-city-breaks","tag-lx","tag-nightlife","tag-tokyo","authors-mikolai-napieralski","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGolden Gai: The Coolest Bars in Tokyo | Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tokyo Nightlife - Hidden away behind the bright lights of Shinjuku, lies the Golden Gai, a street boasting some of the most retro bars in Tokyo.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/activities\/discover-coolest-bars-in-tokyo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Golden Gai: The Coolest Bars in Tokyo | Travel Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tokyo Nightlife - 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