ASOBIBAR 渋谷横丁前店 — Restaurant in Tokyo

Scammy and disappointing experience. Be cautious.

Visited Asobibar in Shibuya with my sharehouse friends for a farewell night out and ended up having one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve had in Japan.

We paid the 4,500 yen entry fee (oddly, our female roommate was only charged 800 yen), which gave us access to nomihoudai (all-you-can-drink), darts, Nintendo Switch, and other bar games. There was also a small shisha lounge available for an extra charge. It seemed like a decent deal at first.

While sitting alone at one of the bar’s plastic tables waiting for shisha service, the table wobbled and a couple of used steam stones from the previous group rolled and left a small burn mark. The hookah hadn’t even been cleaned yet, and I hadn’t received any new setup. I was a bit tipsy and on my way to the bathroom when I was suddenly stopped by staff and told I owed 30,000 yen for "damaging property."

Despite the table still being fully usable and the mark being minor (something that likely would’ve happened even if I was sober), I was pressured to pay on the spot. I handed over 20,000 yen in cash and was asked to put the rest on my credit card. In the moment, I complied, but afterwards it became clear I had been taken advantage of.

I went to the police the next day and was told it’s a civil matter, so I’d have to deal with the bar directly. Sadly, that means there’s no real way to get that money back.

This could’ve been a fun and easy night out, but instead I walked away feeling scammed and extremely disappointed. Be careful if you decide to visit this place, especially if alcohol is involved. The staff may take advantage of the situation.

I will not be removing this review until I have been fully compensated for the 30,000 yen I was...

This was the second asobi bar I've been to, and it never ceases to amaze me how popular and bumping and effective these places are. Literally 50/50 girls and guys, mostly attractive people, all local Japanese, hanging out. This could never work in the US. This is also a great place to really get a feeling for how local Japanese young people actually treat foreigners. Not people that can kind of speak English, not people with interest in travel, just locals. And it's not always nice! In fact it's pretty damn hard, and a lot of people don't want to talk to you, and throw out canned English phrases that only vaguely make sense in a mildly condescending manner, like "Have a nice day" at 12am. I can speak N4/N3 Japanese, but I get the feeling here that that matters way les than what I look like, because my attempts at speaking went pretty unnoticed, especially by the staff. Speaking of, getting in was pretty long and drawn out. I had asian friends with me, none of whom spoke Japanese, but the staff would only speak to them even though they couldn't understand, even though I was trying to communicate. We all ended up with the yellow communication not good wrist bands, to my slight embarrassment, but what are you gonna do. I still fux with this...

NOT FOREIGNER FRIENDLY!!

The place is mostly for Japanese people to find short term partners.

❗They overcharged us way more than what the Japanese pay to get in.

21 Female entering this place was an experience!

The first time we went here we got guided by a nice guy. Got in for 1500¥. Had a great time with an all you can drink bar⭐ and talking to people(even if they have nefarious motives).

Second time we return we get guided by a new guy who speaks English and tells us the price has changed to 3500¥! We are confused and ask what's up and he says it has changed and shows us an Instagram post. We believed him and paid the full price.

Fast forward to this week where me and the friend go back again. Were guided by a Japanese guy and he is about to sign us up for a membership until the English speaking guy stops him and makes us pay 3500¥ again. Weird.

In the bar I talk to other girls and turns out they have been paying 1100¥ every time they go!

The English speaking guy has been making us pay three times as much every time. Not an honest business practice. Very malicious...