Tokyo’s Hidden Local Bars | Shimbashi Nightlife Experience ★ ONLY in JAPAN

Tokyo’s nightlife is full of options but this one in Shimbashi is endangered. Other neighborhoods like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa also have similar issues with their Showa era restaurants and bars. A "Sunakku" or Snack Bar is a Showa-era eating & drinking spot, often small and full of regular customers socializing over drinks and food prepared by a mama-san, the owner who's often very gifted at conversation and life advice. They started in the 1950s and peaked in the 1990s. 🍻 Take the Shimbashi Snack Bar Tour ٩(^‿^)۶ ▶︎ https://experiences.travel.rakuten.co... Snack Bar Alleys / Yokocho are quickly being replaced with new high rises in the cities with improved earthquake protections. Shimbashi’s West has a planned redevelopment around 2030 so we will see some big changes happen. This may be a last chance to go on a snack tour, a part of Japanese culture that has been around since the 1950s. But it's not just redevelopment that's an issue. The aging customer base isn't being replaces with a younger crowd and owners themselves are often in their 70s or older. Snack Bars スナック were a "third place" for Japanese to go after 1) work and 2) home. It’s where many found their spouses! Many found friends and connections. With the digital world upon us, the younger generation isn’t visiting places like this anymore meaning they’ll naturally close as their customers pass on in age. But there’s time to enjoy them, especially for tourists visiting Japan - we tried a guided tour which opened the door to nightlife that is typically closed to foreigners. ⭐️ Matt Alt’s YouTube Channel:    / @altmattalt   An amazing author, reporter and friend! ⭐️ Special thanks to Rakuten Travel Experiences for collaborating with me, introducing me to the great mama-san! Japanese “Snack” Bar Hopping Tour for Real Local Nightlife in Shimbashi, Tokyo! ⭐️ Thank you to Igarashi-san for the help and introductions to the mama-san, to understand the history behind the Sunakku. I believe and support her passion to protect Snack Bar culture around Japan. She's been to over 850 Snacks around Japan! ▶︎ https://snackyokocho.com/ 00:00 Start 01:11 Tokyo's Shimbashi Overview 01:43 Inside Snack Bar no.1 03:42 1980s: why she started a Snack Bar? 05:12 Shimbashi Redevelopment 05:59 Snack Bars were Social Media in 1980 07:14 Back Street Alley Tour 08:13 Inside Snack Bar no.2 09:20 History of Karaoke started HERE 10:39 Matchmaking for Singles? 12:20 Our Impressions of Snack Bars 14:20 She visited 850 Snack Bars! 15:33 Inside Snack Bar no.3 17:20 Future of Alley Snack Bars / Yokocho If you'd like to support the ONLY in JAPAN series and these stories around the country, join the Postcard Club from Japan on Patreon   / onlyinjapan   I'm grateful for our many community member's support to make content like this. ありがとうございます m(_ _)m #tokyo #shimbashi #onlyinjapan