Hello! I’m Akari, the behind-the-scenes staff at Snack Yokocho!

“Diary of a Clumsy Snack Bar Girl” is the story of how I, someone who loves spending time at home, step into the unknown world of snack bars and grow through my experiences, even amidst the chaos! I hope to share the charm and atmosphere of snack bars from the perspective of a beginner to those who have never been.

You can find past articles here.

This is already the 9th installment of the series! This time, I’ll be reflecting on my first snack bar experience! Honestly, for someone like me who loves relaxing at home, going to a snack bar feels like a surprising leap of progress. I used to cherish my time lounging around watching movies or surfing the internet, but now I find myself thinking, “I want to go to a snack bar again!” Life is full of surprises!!

At first, just opening that tiny door made my heart race, and it truly felt like embarking on an adventure. The snack bar itself was an unknown world, and I had no idea what to talk about… But little by little, I started to feel the “atmosphere” of the snack bar (though I’ve only been once, haha).

My biggest discovery was that snack bars are genuinely places where you can connect with strangers. Usually, I don’t have many opportunities to talk to new people, and I tend to be a bit shy, so I was nervous talking with the regulars at first… But there’s a vibe in snack bars that says, “It’s okay, everyone can become friends!” and conversations flow naturally. The mama always greets us with a warm smile, and the regulars are friendly and kind. It’s a place where I can relax and be myself, which is rare to find!

Then there’s the unavoidable “snack bar karaoke.” At first, I was really nervous about it… Singing in front of strangers is much scarier than going to karaoke with friends. But encouraged by the mama and the regulars, when I finally grabbed the microphone, the whole bar clapped in support, and I took the plunge! Even if I missed a note or got off rhythm, no one cared! In fact, everyone enjoyed it together, and afterward, they all praised me, saying, “You did great!” 😭 But I learned that I should keep a karaoke list handy; otherwise, I might get thrown off if suddenly called up, so I need to prepare one by next time.

Karaoke with friends is fun because you share your favorite songs and get hyped up, but snack bar karaoke offers a completely different dimension of enjoyment. There’s no pressure to “sing well”; the goal is just to enjoy the atmosphere together!

Thus, as a homebody, I’m feeling how much new experiences I’m having at snack bars, and I’m slowly growing. I’m still a beginner, but I hope to enjoy many more encounters at snack bars!

Stay tuned for the next installment; there may be new challenges waiting for me!

Profile of Akari
Years in snack bars: 1st year newbie (in my 30s)
Hobbies: Traveling, relaxing at home while eating, and sleeping.