Golden Gai night district

At Golden Gai, there are about 200 small bars, in a few rows of ramshackle houses that look like post-war days. In contrast to the towering skyscrapers around, most of the buildings here are at most two stories tall. The bars here tend to be very local. While more and more bars are starting to accept new patrons, Golden Gai is where most visitors to Tokyo will come across ichigen-san establishments, i.e. places that are open only to patrons. To avoid possible awkward situations, look for an English sign or menu outside the bar.

It should be pretty obvious which bar is foreigner-friendly. Being polite and having a few Japanese sentences on hand will also help. Of course, going to the Golden Gai area does not necessarily mean you have to go to a bar to drink. If you're looking for a good meal, try Ramen Nagi, which serves a delicious and non-fishy bowl of sardines ramen. The space here is extremely cramped, which adds to the feeling of . You'll need to watch your feet up the narrow stairs to the store. Another note when visiting Golden Gai: if you want to go to a bar, always be prepared to budget more than you think you'll need as many of the bars here tend to attract a more upmarket clientele. Also, be prepared to give up personal space for a few hours. This is your chance to get close to the locals and experience a nostalgic trip back in time.

Website : http://goldengai.jp/