Snakku

Though bars with hostesses exist in many countries, their number in Japan is staggering. The writer of these lines sees this phenomenon as the modern incarnation of the CHAYA of olden times, where the customer would drink sake and eat light foods while the GEISHA fill his glass, sing, dance - entertain him. In most SNAKKU sex is not part of the menu, which makes many foreigners wonder what so many Japanese men find so attractive that they are willing to pay exorbitant prices for simple drinks and company. The are many answers to this question, depending on the personal view of the person you ask.

So what is a SNAKKU like? In most cases, this means a small room with a counter and a few small very low tables surrounded by either sofas or little box-like cushioned chairs. Sometimes the place has a tiny kitchen, and sometimes there is none and food-if there is any-comes from behind the counter. The top woman in the SNAKKU is the MAMA-SAN, who either owns or manages it.

Upon entrance, each guest is likely to receive a hot or cold towel (depending on the season), and then one or more of the women will join the group and start pouring drinks. Unless a special request is promptly placed, whiskey or even cognac will come in the form of MIZUWARI, heavily diluted in water. Little snacks and sweets will keep arriving at the table, but the bill is very unlikely to be itemized. These days KARAOKE is an inseparable part of the scene, and while one of the guests is singing, the others will be flipping the pages of the song list, looking for the next one they'll sing when their turn comes. Paying attention to the singer or not, at the end of the song everybody will clap their hands.

NOTE: SNAKKU don't post a price list and unless you visited the place before with somebody else, there is no way of telling what the bill will be. While some places are relatively on the reasonable side, the prices at others are outrageous! If you are on your own and your budget is limited, you are much safer in any IZAKAYA or bar that posts a menu. Let your local hosts introduce you to their favorite SNAKKU.

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