What Are Snack Bars? Features, Prices, Hours, and More

What is a snack bar?

Before we go over all the fun stuff about snack bars, let's learn what exactly snack bars are.

 

▶Customers are served across the counter

Snack bars await you with female employees who serve you across the counter while drinking and chatting together, but don't have an emphasis on creating a pseudo-relationship, unlike hostess clubs. This means there is no such thing as a nomination either. The whole point of going to a snack bar is to sit down and chill with everyone in the bar.

 

▶Many snack bars have a cozy and welcoming atmosphere

Snack bars are abundant in areas far away from the city side, meaning they are establishments for locals to provide a place that's like home.

 

▶The owner is called mama

Snack bar owners are called "mama." A mamas is essentially the manager, responsible for running the bar and training the staff as well as taking care of inventories, but also serve the customers. Since the overall vibe of each snack bar is heavily determined by the mama's presence, whether you like the bar or not will also comes down to it.

What are the differences between snack bars and girls bars?

You might think that snack bars and girls bars are similar since both establishment types have females to interact with customers across the counter. However, there are some major differences as listed below:

 

 

▶Location

One of the biggest differences between snack bars and girls bars is that snack bars are much more community-based because they exist in residential areas, not just downtown. Girls bars, on the other hand, are typically located in nightlife districts and near train stations in the city side with a big population, like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro in Tokyo, as well as Namba and Umeda in Osaka. Go to a snack bar if you reside in a rural area to hang out with locals, and go to a girls bar in the city if you want to swing by after work.

 

▶Ambience and customer types

Snack bars and girls bars have very different types of ambience. Snack bars have evolved as a venue for social gathering, hence the rather relaxed mood and middle-aged male customers from areas nearby. Girls bars are for men in the city side who wish to drink with young girls, mostly after work.

 

▶The presence of a mama

While snack bars are owned by mamas, girls bars are run by managers who don't serve as staff members. Girls bars are usually owned by big companies that also operate bars. That said, the overall mood of a snack bar is heavily influenced by the mama herself.

 

▶Business hours

Snack bars open in the evening and close around 2 a.m., whereas girls bars operate from around 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Customers at a snack bar can go home straight once the bar is closed, and those at a girls bar can stay until the next morning, even if they miss the last train.

How to have a good time at a snack bar

So, how do people spend their time at a snack bar? Let's dive into this topic.

 

▶Chatting with the mama and female employees

The whole point of going to a snack bar is to talk with the mama and female staff. The Mama may already be talking with a customer upon your arrival, so you will likely be talking with another girl. This can spark up conversations that you won't have at other places, even at home or work, to let out what's been bottling up in you.

 

▶Chatting with other customers

Talking with other customers can also be fun. In fact, many customers are close to each other and will be happy to chat with you, even becoming drinking buddies. The mama and employees may also help customers talk to each other. Chatting with strangers is definitely a strong suit of snack bars because they are locally-based.

 

▶Singing karaoke

You can use a karaoke machine for approximately 200 to 500 yen per song. Even if you're hesitant at first, your singing skills won't matter, so see what songs are available to start your show. You might even excite others with how some songs are nostalgic.

How much will I pay at a snack bar on average?

Now it's time to learn the pricing system so you won't be short on your budget.

 

▶The basic fee is divided into two types

There are two types of basic fees at snack bars: the table charge and set fee. The basic fee covers your seating, separate from drinks, food, and karaoke.

 

 

Table charge

The table charge costs around 1,000 to 3,000yen/hour. Feel free to ask the mama for the exact details upon your first visit.

Set price: all-you-can-drink included

Some bars may include an all-you-can-drink option as part of the table charge. In this case, the price usually goes up to 3,000 - 8,000 yen/hour. You also have the option to enjoy the house bottle with no additional payment. A house bottle contains an alcoholic beverage prepared by the bar.

 

▶Other fees

Most likely, you will also need to pay the following fees:

 

 

Drinks: 500 to 1,000 yen

You will need to pay for every drink you order if the all-you-can-drink isn't covered. Even if it's included in the set price, you still need to pay about 500 - 1,000 yen for any beverage that isn't part of the plan.

Drinks for mama/staff 500 to 1,000 yen

Drinks for the mama and employees cost 500 - 1,000 yen. It's quite common for customers to pay for the drinks as they genuinely want to have fun with them. 

Bottle-keep

Bottle-keep refers to bottles that customers purchase, usually champagnes or shochu. As the name suggests, you can keep your bottle for the next time you visit, in case you don't finish or even open it. You can also share the bottle-keep drink with the mama and employees. You can buy a bottle drink for a few thousand yen, but it can go up to a few hundred or even thousand yen depending on the brand.

Food (light snacks): 1,000 yen and above

Food items are also available, usually from 1,000 yen. The typical food menu includes light snacks like nuts, potato salad, pickles, and seasoned eggs, and maybe some light meals.

Karaoke: 100 to 300 yen/song

As mentioned earlier, many snack bars have a karaoke machine. You can sing one song for 100 - 300 yen. Some places may also sell a set of five to ten tickets, with each ticket for 100 - 300 yen. Some bars may include the karaoke fee as part of the set fee.

Extension fee

You are required to pay an extension fee if you decide to stay longer than the time indicated. This usually costs the same price as the set fee, but some bars will charge 1.1 or 1.5 times the price. Also, keep in mind that you will pay for a 30-minute extension instead of 1 hour, depending on the bar.

Tax/service: 10% - 30%

Nightlife establishments typically charge a service fee of 10% - 30% of the total payment, separate from tax. However, many snack bars make an exception, so you may end up paying only the tax. Feel free to check with the mama beforehand to ask for details.

 

▶Expect to pay about 5,000 - 15,000 yen

With all the prices we discussed, you can expect to pay 5,000 - 15,000 yen in total. You won't have any issue having fun as long as you have 20,000 yen for your first visit. Prices will add up with all the drinks and food you order because, as we mentioned, drinks cost about 1,000 yen at the least. Be sure not to go over your budget and ask questions to the mama or hostesses if you need to.

The unspoken rules at a snack bar

Now that you may be down to go hit the area, you should keep in mind the unspoken rules of snack bars, especially if you've never been to one.

▶Get along with other customers

Don't pick a fight with other customers. Doing anything that can cause trouble at the bar can have you banned from the place. Be a gentleman, and you'll be just fine.

 

▶Do not use the karaoke machine all by yourself

Be mindful of the karaoke machine, as other customers will want to sing as well. It is also advised to sing songs that match the mood of the bar, although you won't be expected to do so as a newcomer. If you're not sure what to sing, the karaoke machine has a function to search up songs that were selected before.

 

▶Exchanging contact with the mama or female staff isn't generally allowed

Sharing contact information with the female employees is common at hostess clubs and girls bars, but not at snack bars. In fact, it is prohibited in most places. Be sure to check the rules of the bar if you still want to share your info.

 

▶No sexual harassment or touching

Sexual harassment and touching are strictly prohibited. While this may be common sense, you will be surprised that some drunk customers actually do it. Chances are, your words may make others uncomfortable, even if you don't mean to. Topics like relationship status, sexual experiences, and body types are a huge no-no, and the mama can put you in trouble. Once again, you may be banned from the bar in the worst case, so be respectful.

Summary

At a snack bar, you will have a fun time interacting with the mama and female employees who will serve you alcohol across the counter in a rather cozy ambience. The fun will spike up further if you get along with other customers. While the payment depends on what you order, whether it's drinks or food, you will have a decent time if you have about 5,000 to 15,000 yen, which includes the set fee. Be sure to check YOASOBi CHOCOLAT to find the perfect snake bar for you in the nightlife districts you explore.