Map of “Japanese Only” Bars and Restaurants

12 comments

1. I doubt it’s so common that it’s necessary.

2. debito.org has one, but it‘s not really up to date. Especially since he himself got some of the signs removed by talking to the owners. Having a complete accurate and always updated map would be impossible anyway if you ask me. There‘s way too much of these anyway.

   https://www.debito.org/roguesgallery.html

3. That’s a lot of work just for someone to go 5 steps next-door to the next bar in almost all places.

   Would anyone actually go “well first let me pull up this very specific google maps” when there are more than dozens of bars in their vicinity that they can go to no-problem?

   Bars are a dime a dozen, if you find a shitty one, there’s another one nearby.

4. Who hurt these xenophobic bars?

5. Nice try Debito Arudou

6. for whatever it’s worth those signs are usually in port towns and meant to keep drunk sailors out

   and in like 10 years of japan travelling all over i’ve seen about 4 or 5, and all in places i wouldn’t want to go anyway…

   renting as a foreigners? that’s a real issue. “japanese only” establishments are completely irrelevant

7. Hokkaido has had some bad experiences with (presumably drunk & rude) Russian sailors. If that doesn’t describe you, it shouldn’t be too hard to win them over.

8. In Tokyo, I’ve never experienced being denied entry based on my gaijinness in over 20 years of drinking and eating all over the city. I have, on the other hand, had plenty of amazing experiences where being a foreigner may have helped. All in all, if you’re looking for trouble, you’ll find it.

9. yeah, outside of Hokkaido and tippy top of Tohoku you don’t really have to worry about it. It’s cuz of the drunk sailors, and as a former drunk sailor I get it. Now I’m a just a drunk.

   but In my nearly a decade here, I’ve only seen them in Okinawa, and in Okinawa…yeah, I get it.

10. While “Japanese only” signs aren’t really a thing, I’ll say it’s not as rosy as some other posters make it out to be. On social media, and speaking with them, Japanese bartenders are starting to share their shitty experiences dealing with problematic foreign customers.

    And with more tourists, you’ll probably see more pushback. All of these things are pretty commonplace for groups of foreigners–not necessarily tourists–going to bars anywhere in Japan:

    * Being loud, rude, obnoxious, bothering the bar’s regular customers
    * Excessive hitting on staff or other customers
    * Manhandling bottles or trinkets on the bar without asking
    * Taking photos of bottles, staff, or even other customers without asking
    * Whining about seating charges
    * Someone in the group trying to order nothing/”just a water, please”
    * Demanding itemized receipts
    * Trying to split tabs across multiple credit cards etc.

    Some bars are desperate for cashflow and will bend over backwards/look the other way when non-Japanese customers do this kind of stuff. But eventually enough is enough and they might start to deny entry to groups where nobody speaks Japanese or is unfamiliar with the setup. Sure some Japanese customers do the above too, but it’s drastically easier to deal those situations when you at least speak the same language.

    ​

    A good example of this is the “House Rules” posted on the website for Ginza’s famed Bar High Five (in English only). Despite the fact that High Five is the legendary, #1 must-visit bar in Tokyo for a ton of foreign travelers, it’s come to the point these rules sound downright unwelcoming.

11. Can’t say I know of any map or list, but there’s an izakaya in Akkeshi called Yuyu that has a “Japanese Only” sign as well.

12. I’ve been here since the 90s and only seen three ever, and all three places let me in when I spoke Japanese to them.

    Two of these were within 500 meters of a U.S. military base — more an attempt to avoid drunken confusion and miscommunication trouble than anything else.

    This isn’t at all common enough for you to worry about.