7bars to visit in Tokyo when you miss English conversations

photo by Carlos Gracla

With good foods, lots of sightseeing spots, advanced public transports, Japan is recognized a great tourist’s destination. But there is some downsides about Japan, of course. The worst thing about Japan would be that people don’t understand English. The literacy of Japanese people is 99%. They are well educated but somehow not very confident in foreign languages. So, foreign residents residing in Japan often end up being frustrated with a language barrier. This column is about bars in Tokyo where you can forget about speaking Japanese and enjoy English conversations as much as you want.

HUB Shibuya

One of 35 shops of a British pub chain in Tokyo area. This place is popular among people from overseas as an easy to drop by casual dining bar. They show major sports and games on TV so that visitors can enjoy quick beers and friendly charts with the other customers. Other than variety of beer selections, light meals such as shepherd’s pie or fish and chips are attracting good reputations. Some foreigners have commented they took it strange that a British style pub is showing baseball games. Well, that is Japan after all.

HUB Shibuya
B1 Fiesta Shibuya, 3-10 Udagawacho, Shibuya Tokyo
03-3462-5881

R2 SUPPER CLUB

Located in Roppongi, the best liked suburb by foreign tourists and residents, this place is a typical cool bar in Tokyo. Most of bar staff are foreigners, ordering food and drinks in English should not be a problem here. Actually, you might have less opportunity to speak Japanese. Top class customer services and friendly conversations with bar staff are also highly appreciated. One of the former visitors here posted her episode that she had a little surprise from the shop when she visited there on her birthday. You can relax in chic atmosphere and enjoy your drink at rather quiet early evening or weekday nights. Delicious light meals are also available. The pricing is rather high, but this place is worth visiting at least once while your stay in Tokyo.

R2 SUPPER CLUB
7-14-23, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
03-6447-0002

AGAVE

This place is located in the basement of a building one block away from Roppongi junction. This place is named after agave, Mexican origin monocots, that is a main ingredient of Tequila. As you can see from the name, this is a famous tequila bar which has 400 selections of tequilas, gathering a huge number of fans from all over the world. You can ask the bar staff to advise a best tequila drink for you. There are many foreign people residing in Tokyo among the customers here to have a great chat about their favorite tequila. Visit here on weekdays if you prefer having a drink in rather quiet atmosphere.

AGAVE
Clover Building B1, 7-15-10 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
03-3478-0414

Bar Quest Roppongi

This is the first Australian bar in Roppongi. Customers of all nationalities, not just Australians, visit here to enjoy everyday music events, sports and games on TV screen or other events in the bright pop looking bar. With great variety of drinks, you can also enjoy Australian beers that are rather rare in Japan. Weekends are typically busy with partying here. Majority of bar staff and customers are English speakers, you will have no difficulties here to have a friendly chat in English. This is a great stand-up bar that you can quickly stop by on the way home from work.

Bar Quest Roppongi
No.2 Rene Roppongi Bldg. 3F, 5-3-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
03-5414-2225

THE FooTNiK

If you are from U.K, like watching soccer and feeling homesick, this little bar in Ebisu is the place for you. The FootNik was opened under the owner’s passion to create “a place where people from all over the world can interact through the language of Football”. In this genuine British style pub, you can enjoy watching soccer games on the TV screen the middle of the bar, with a chilled beer in your hand straight from the bar tap. It looks just like a scene of a pub in U.K. Many of business person working in surrounding suburbs visit here. This is the place a sport game that many players kick a black and white ball is called “football”.

THE FooTNiK
Asahi Bldg 1F, 1-11-2 Ebisu, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo
03-5795-0144

What the Dickens!

With casual pricing and variety of drinks, everyone can enjoy live music of jazz, rock, oldies and others everyday in this British style night club. Bands’ members paying here includes all different types of people such as language teachers and local residents who love music. Fans and friends, Japanese, non-Japanese, or people just passed by, all enjoy a great time here. Chill out here with a glass of stout, ale or lager in your hand and enjoy live music.

What the Dickens!
4F Roob 6 Bldg, 1-13-3 Ebisu Nishi, Shibuya, Tokyo
03-3780-2099

Paddy’s Junction

The irish pub located in Shinjuku 2-chome. With tap beers including famous Guiness in addition to variety of bottled beers of the world, you can enjoy traditional Irish pub meals uch as fish and chips or Guiness beef pie. The secret of high popularity of this place is not just delicious foods and drinks, but great customer services are also very much appreciated. One of the former visitors has commented that he forgot the time and stayed there for a few hours after visiting there for just a quick lunch. This little pub in the neighborhood is very popular among people from English speaking countries.

Paddy’s Junction
2-13-16, Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
03-6273-1755

Cheers!

After all, you don’t have trouble to find a place to enjoy a chat in English as long as you are in Tokyo. Roppongi seems to be favored on top of other suburbs. All the bars have very busy nights at weekends. Visit these bars on weekdays for chilling out and on weekends for parties. Have a great night, everyone!