Hello! I’m Akari, a behind-the-scenes staff member at Snack Alley!

In “The Tumultuous Snack Bar Chronicles of a Himono Woman,” I, a homebody with no connection to snack bars, dive into the world of snack bars at Snack Alley. This chaotic journey (or should I say a road trip?) is from the perspective of a complete newbie to snack bars. I’d be thrilled if I could convey the atmosphere of snack bars to those who have never visited one! ✨

You can check out “The Tumultuous Snack Bar Chronicles of a Himono Woman Vol.1” here. You can check out “The Tumultuous Snack Bar Chronicles of a Himono Woman Vol.2” here.

Last time, I encountered a challenge familiar to anyone making their snack bar debut: choosing the right snack bar.

Being naturally indecisive, I had no idea how to pick one out of the countless signs I saw. Snack bars are a world where you can’t see inside, so does the sign become the deciding factor?

Determined to make my choice based on the signs, I started wandering around the streets, and to my surprise, I found it incredibly fun! The neon signs, of course, but also the names of the bars—each one unique. Could this name come from the mama’s own name? Maybe the katakana names are based on her favorite words?

While I was pondering all this, Igarashi, who was walking beside me, started giving me a lecture on snack bars. “Snack bar signs are fun because you can even imagine the mama’s vibe and age just from the sign. Of course, sometimes the inside is different from what you expect, but I’m usually spot-on, haha.”

I had never looked at snack bar signs like that while walking through nighttime alleys and backstreets. Thinking that each of these places has likely put thought into their names makes the night scene feel even livelier.

But as someone who has never entered a snack bar, I still had no idea which one to choose, so I just kept wandering. The fact that you can’t see inside is probably what makes it intimidating for beginners. I totally get why most people make their snack bar debut with a boss leading the way.

So, I decided to rely on Igarashi. Suddenly, her eyes sharpened like a hunter. How does Snack Bar Girl Igarashi read the signs…?

Please stay tuned for the next installment! (I’ll do my best to post every Thursday!)

I’d be so happy to share the real snack bar experience with those who have never been! Even though it’s a bit chaotic, I’m giving it my all, so please stick with me!

Akari’s Profile

• Snack Bar Experience: Newbie (1st year, in her thirties)
• Hobbies: Traveling, relaxing at home with food, and sleeping

How about going to Snack Bars with Akari？