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Bars and nightlife
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Though less boisterous than when the American GIs were passing through town on their way to the Vietnam War in the 1960s, Yokohama has no shortage of lively drinking holes. The west side of Yokohama Station comprises the main
nightlife
area, but the area around Chinatown and across to Kannai Station also has a sprinkling of bars. Summer brings the
beer gardens
: both Lumine department store (near Yokohama Station) and the
Star Hotel
sport the rooftop variety, or there's a real garden next to
Yamate Jubankan
.
Cape Cod , 2F, 1-4-2 Tokiwacho. Relaxed, spit-and-sawdust bar with an international crowd and reasonable prices, especially for big beer drinkers - a litre pitcher costs ?1000 during Happy Hour (5-8.30pm). They can rustle up cheapish bar snacks and there's also a dartsboard. Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight. Gas Panic , Jackmall East, 4-8-1 Minato Mirai (tel 045/680-0291). Roppongi's grungiest but ever-popular nightclub has hit Yokohama. The music is the standard, crowd-pleasing mix of techno, hip hop, pop and good old rock'n'roll. There's no cover charge, and drinks cost ?300 all night on Thursdays and from 6-9.30pm other nights. Open Thurs-Sat 6pm-5am; Mon-Wed & Sun to midnight. The Tavern , B1, 2-14 Minami Saiwai-cho. This British-style pub, popular with local expats, is a good place to kick off an evening in the nightlife district west of Yokohama Station; turn left out of the station to find it opposite the Daiei store. There's live music on Tuesdays, half-price drinks for women on weekdays (6-7pm) and the sort of bar food that will appeal to homesick Brits. Daily 6pm-1am.
Windjammer
, 215 Yamashitacho. Another expat haunt, which crosses between cocktail lounge and jazz bar with live bands nightly. Note that there's a music charge (Mon-Fri & Sun ?300, Sat ?500). Mon-Sat 7pm-5am, Sun 6pm-midnight. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Japan,
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