“Friday evening and the lights are dim. Look for the place to go…You are the Dancing Queen…” I go back to the late 1970s when the Swedish pop group ABBA released their single “Dancing Queen.” If you think what I think, this is a classic karaoke song. You can experience the music again old but good This is done by singing your heart out in a private, soundproof room with food and drinks served. This is a popular pastime among locals of all ages and is also very popular with tourists, as seen in the film Lost in translation. Even if you don't plan to take part in singing competitions such as The voicethen it's time for you to experience a real “rock star” performance in Japan by YOU!
Karaoke (カラオケ) was invented more than 20 years ago in Kobe, Japan. Out of Karaoke comes from the word “kara”, which means empty, and “oke” is an abbreviation of “okesutora”, which means orchestra. As karaoke became famous all over the world, the Japanese word “karaoke” was now added Oxford English Dictionary with the definition: When a person sings the lyrics of a popular song to a pre-recorded accompaniment, the voice is amplified for the listener via a loudspeaker system.
Aren't you lucky enough to own a portable karaoke machine for home use? Don't worry because there are karaoke bars near you that may even be open 24 hours a day! In big cities you can visit places like Shidax or Karaoke Manekineko. The facades of both facilities are extremely eye-catching and magnificently decorated, with extremely clean rooms and equipped with top karaoke equipment from the Japanese company JOYSOUND. And here are the steps for you to enjoy the karaoke experience in Japan:
- Turn on your “Rockstar” mode
- Go to your favorite karaoke center
- Check-in at the reception desk (not at the payment counter)
- Are you coming for the first time? In this case, you will need to fill out a membership application that includes minimum information such as full name, phone number, address and signature.
- Announce the number of people in your group. If you go alone, that's okay, that's completely normal. Try visiting a solo karaoke bar called 1Kara in Shibuya.
- Decide how long you want to stay (1 hour, 2 hours, …). If you would like more time, see section 15.
- Decide which service package is best for your group. The most popular package is the “One Hour” package with the “Everything can be drunk” option. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are often included in the price. The average cost per person per hour is ¥1000. Prices depend on the day and time of your arrival.
- Please inform us if you require a smoking room.
- You will receive an invoice with the room number and start/end time printed on it. You don't have to pay until closing.
- If you want a little more excitement, rent a tambourine and a pair of Macara wood tambourines for free!
- Head to the bar and choose your drink from lemonade, tea or juice (sometimes there's even whipped cream!). You can order alcoholic drinks (also called Liquid Courage) to your room.
- Familiarize yourself with your own private karaoke room! The room is extremely clean and neatly arranged. The TV screen is always on. Grab the microphone and get songs from the charging station.
- Sit down and start putting together your playlist. The English shift key is always available on JOYSOUND devices!
- You can order food and alcoholic drinks by contacting the waiter using the telephone available in the room. Additional fees may apply.
- Let's sing! Sing your heart out. The phone rings approximately 10 minutes before the closing time stated on the bill. If you need more time, you can request an additional 30 minutes.
Karaoke is a lot of fun when you sing. Don't be discouraged if you can't read or speak Japanese. Many karaoke bars also have English-language reference books behind the counter. Or if your phone can connect to the network, use translation applications like Waygo. This application helps translate from Chinese, Japanese or Korean to English. Additionally, if you are planning a birthday or anniversary party, many karaoke places also have dedicated rooms that can accommodate up to 40 people. Book today and enjoy it now!
