Bar Quasimodo — Restaurant in Kyoto

Refused service because I am a foreigner.

My recent visit to Quasimodo left me feeling disheartened and excluded. Upon entering, I was promptly declined service solely because I am not Japanese, even though I have lived in Japan for years, contribute to its society as a full-time worker, always try to respect local culture and customs, and have spent years mastering my ability to speak and write Japanese. This discriminatory act not only left me shocked but also deeply saddened.

It's imperative to understand that actions such as being loud or causing trouble, which the owner mentioned, should be judged on an individual basis, rather than based on ethnicity or nationality. As someone who has lived in Japan for years, I've witnessed a diverse range of behaviors among Japanese individuals as well. Therefore, denying service to someone based on nationality is not only unjust but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes.

It's crucial for establishments like Quasimodo to recognize the damaging effects of systemic discrimination. Just as it would be unacceptable for certain restaurants in Europe or the US to only serve men or white people, it's equally unacceptable here in Japan. Can you truly try to imagine how would it make you feel if you were refused service at a bar where other people are having a good time, just because of something that you cannot change?

I am not penning this review out of anger, but out of a genuine desire to advocate for inclusivity, empathy, and educational knowledge about systemic discrimination. Discrimination based on ethnicity or nationality only serves to make individuals feel inferior and unwelcome. I hope the bar takes this feedback seriously and implements measures to ensure that all patrons, regardless of their background, are given a fair shot (no pun intended). You can always deny them service because of their actions, but please give them a chance to show you that who they are as a person is not the same as "random loud foreigner" who visited the week prior. Just as you would not want to be refused service when you are in need of something (whether food, drinks, lodging or company), just because someone who happens to belong to the same group broke...

Walked in with my girlfriend and immediately got an unwelcoming vibe. The place had only two customers and the bartender (who apparently was also the owner). Before we even sat down, he curtly told us it was “cash only”—a strange welcome that , in hindsight, was the first sign that we were not welcome.

When we sat anyway and asked for a menu, he coldly handed one over. I ordered a drink, and when he turned to my girlfriend, she politely declined. His response? “One drink per person.” She explained she didn’t want to drink, and he simply said, “Sorry, next time,” took the menu away, and effectively kicked us out. To top it off, he claimed they were closing at 10 PM—it was 9:30—but online, their posted hours said they closed at 11.

This man’s rudeness and obvious xenophobia was shocking - unlike anything we’ve experienced in Japan, or anywhere for that matter. I advise any tourists to steer clear of this bar if they want to avoid such horrible treatment. Would give 0...

If you had a good experience at this bar, just know you’re likely the exception, and you’re unfortunately supporting a business run by a racist owner. We tried visiting and were immediately denied entry with just a shake of his finger (we can only assume now based on our appearance as foreigners). My partner speaks almost fluent Japanese and was often praised by locals for it, yet when he greeted the owner and said we were a party of two (in Japanese), the owner rudely replied in english “No foreigners.”

The bar was completely empty, even after being open for over an hour. Having seen reviews now, I see people say it’s about a “vibe check,” but it’s clearly just a cover for obvious discrimination??? I wish it were just a case of an older man being particular about his english communication being limited, but it’s just not. If you choose to support it, that’s your decision, but if we had seen reviews like this beforehand, we wouldn’t have even...