Where to go: Rock Bars

Tokyo has a vast selection of bars stemming from the workers’ love for alcohol. One of my favorite bars is PSY, a cozy, dark rock bar with a loud selection of music: that you, the customer, can choose from! Not to mention, PSY is the place you want to go if you miss your last train because it is open until 6am.

Cheap, good music, and friendly staff—what more could you ask for? Free drinks? Well, PSY has you covered, show up during a celebration or event and chances are you may be getting a free glass of whatever is being poured around. The bartenders are encouraged to drink on the job (not unusual in Japan) and if there is birthday party chances are they may be tipsy enough to refill your drink on the house. (Though don’t go there expecting to be cheap! Pay for your drinks, but if the alcohol is flowing and happens to not cost a yen, I wouldn’t say anything to discourage that vibe.)

Fellow drinkers are an interesting lot, with the occasional smatter of foreigners (they obviously know where to go for good music!) and every time I’ve gone I’ve had lively conversation even though I can’t say much in Japanese besides konnichiwa. At the end of the night, you too may add a few words to your vocabulary such as: newhalf (transsexual). A word completely useless in everyday life, but definitely accompanied by funny conversation at PSY.

PSY is located in Shinjuku, near McDonalds on Kabuki-cho. It’s across from the owl ramen stand, a great place for a short meal to sober up.

What are your favorite type of bars? I'm planning to make a trip in the future to an Alcatraz-themed bar in Roppongi...which I will be sure to record here.