Karaoke in Japan
The word “Karaoke” stems from the words “Kara” which means “Empty” and “Oke” which means “Orchestra”. If you put those two words together you get the famous word “Karaoke” which has spread all over the world as a staple form of entertainment. Whether you’re alone or not, singing has always been a fun thing to do.
To get your Karaoke in Japan journey started, you’d want to look around for a good Karaoke bar. Most places open at 11:00 AM and stay up until 3:00 AM or even longer if it’s a weekend. A Karaoke Bar is composed of several small booths so don’t be alarmed when you make your pick and find smaller rooms inside, it’s to keep a sense of privacy while you’re singing!
Once you’re inside the Karaoke Bar, a receptionist will be there to set you up with a room of your own. There are a few formalities before you can start singing such as filling up a registration form if you’re a newcomer and providing identification, once that’s done you’ll be prompted to provide the number of people in your group, how long you’ll be singing for, and if you want some Japanese snacks!
As for the fees, it may vary but are usually on a per person and half-hour basis. It can start from 100 yen minimum and can go as high as 400 yen on special holidays and late-night weekends which are considered the “Peak Season” for Karaoke.
Overall, Karaoke in Japan is something you shouldn’t miss out on doing. Karaoke in Japan isn’t only limited to the country, but has brought a lot of joy to places all over the world and nothing still beats the experience of doing Karaoke in its birthplace.