Hello! I’m Akari, part of the backstage crew at Snack Yokocho!

“The Clumsy Snack Bar Chronicles of a Dried-Fish Woman” is the story of how I, someone who loves spending time at home, stepped into the unknown world of snack bars. It’s a tale of my clumsy yet growing experiences! I’d be thrilled if I could convey the charm and atmosphere of snack bars to those who have never been, all from the perspective of a total beginner✨

Now, being the indecisive person I am, I couldn’t decide which snack bar to visit… How does Igarashi even find these places? The one she chose was hidden deep in an alleyway, impossible for a beginner to locate. As we twisted through narrow paths and ventured further, a small sign appeared in a quiet corner. The place seemed completely cut off from the everyday hustle and bustle—like a secret hideaway snack bar. I could barely keep up, but Igarashi was enjoying the maze-like alleyways like a hunter. Internally, I sighed in relief, thinking, “I’m glad I didn’t have to find this myself…” Yet, at the same time, I was filled with anxiety about the unknown world that awaited us.

Before me stood a sign that resembled a chocolate bar. Standing there, my heart raced as I wondered what kind of world lay beyond the door. I hesitated, unsure how to even open it, when suddenly, Igarashi pressed her ear against the door.

Thinking to myself, “This seems suspicious…” I watched her curiously, and with a smile, she explained, “If you listen through the door, you can get a sense of the atmosphere inside. For example, if you hear karaoke, you can guess the age group of the customers based on the song. If you hear laughter, you can imagine it’s lively inside. This is one way to enjoy snack bars!”

Internally, I was impressed, thinking, “Wow, Igarashi has visited 850 snack bars across Japan!” But honestly, I knew I couldn’t imitate her so quickly… it seemed suspicious after all (haha).

Once Igarashi finished her “listening” time, we finally decided on this snack bar! The moment to open the door had arrived. I prepared myself to savor this milestone of my first snack bar experience, but then, out of nowhere, Igarashi suddenly said, “Wait a minute!”

Huh? What’s happening now? With a mix of excitement and anxiety, what would Igarashi do next…?

Stay tuned for the next episode! (I’ll do my best to update every Thursday!)

To everyone who’s never been to a snack bar, I’d be delighted if I could share the real experience with you✨ I’ll keep stumbling my way through, so please stick with me!

Profile of “Akari” Snack Bar Experience: Freshman, 1st year (in her thirties) Hobbies: Traveling, relaxing at home with food, and sleeping

How about going to Snack Bars with Akari？