Pool in Japan
- Thread starter Pjaze
- Start date
One upside of a visit in June is that you can play or watch the Japan Open. Its a great event with all the big name players from around Asia. It shouldn't take up too much of your time because it is only a 2 day event and the finals ends in the afternoon/evening of the 2nd day if you end up watching the whole thing. I'll more than likely be playing in it again this year.
I'll be in Shinjuku on the 9 and 27 Jun, used to play at Bagus past few times while am there but i think it's too expensive and lighting in those rooms are way too dim to play for any long period of time. Thanks to this recommendation on this thread, i would have new places to check out this time. Am keen to go to the one in Shibuya, it'll only take me about half an hour to get there from my hotel. Sweet.
Funniest jokes are always rooted in truth.
Coming from America, where we get everywhere in car...
I swear that I looked at the subway map and decided I'd probably end up a homeless person living in a Japanese subway station until my credit cards got cancelled.
A little bit of correction, this year, the Japan Open has been pushed back to July.
Just got back from Cue's at Shibuya, Sunday and tables are full, waited for about 15 minutes and a table opens up, old cloth but well maintained, seating are too close to the table i was playing on. Well lit and reasonable rates, paid 1500JPY for 3 hours of play . They have few good players there, difficult to ask for a game if you don't speak Japanese, will head there again next time when am in town. Much better and cheaper then Bagus.
Nice. I'm glad you had a good experience. I had trouble getting a game at Cue last time I was there and I speak Japanese, you'll probably have better luck at Risk or Stella.
Are table rates similar to cue? How about the table conditions? Might try these 2 place you mention next time. Am not looking to gamble or what, just a sparing partner to play for table time is fine .
Yea, they are both 600 yen/hour/person, I believe. Stella has the best tables. Drinks might be a little expensive. In Japan, people almost never play for table time because everyone usually pays separately. Just bet 500 yen per set and it should be equivalent to playing for time (people will probably be open to playing for 500-2000 per set).
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So for 2 person it would be double? Drinks in Cue are from vending machine = Cheap. It's a little smokey in there, does all poolrooms in Japan allow smoking indoors?
I've never seen a non-smoking room in Japan and I have been to quite a few
Hmmm, thanks for the info. How do people react usually when approached for games?
Like Masayoshi said, it'll be hard to set up a game if you don't speak Japanese. Also depends on the place, as players who like to play for money tend to concentrate in certain pool halls (Cue in Shibuya isn't one of them). If you head to Stella and talk to the owner he'll try to set you up with a regular for some cheap sets. If you're looking for some action though, you're better off hitting the tournament trail. I play in the weekly Saturday 9-ball tourney at Stella and they get a good turnout (20+ players) with a lot of strong A players and a few pros mixed in as well. If you're interested let me know. Or if you are in Shibuya and looking for someone to play with, just pm me and I'll convince the wife to let me out of the house.
Cheers,
Vic
Cheers,
Vic
Try talking to the guy working the front instead of the people themselves. That usually gives better results. If you speak slowly they should understand words like gamble (gyanburu), set (setto), race to X, etc.
Honestly, people here are pretty wary when an unknown foreigner comes in and asks for a money game becuase it just doesn't happen that often. Recently, there have been a few cases of Filipino hustlers rolling through and leaving bad impressions on people as well.
Masayoshi, are you playing the Japan Open and All-Japan this year?
Masayoshi, are you playing the Japan Open and All-Japan this year?
I'm probably going to play the Japan Open if work doesn't get in the way. I'll be tagging along with the Tohoku pros. I'm not playing near as strong as I was last year, but it should be fun. Are you planning on playing it this year?
Doubt I'll play the All Japan. Not really interested in shelling out 100,000 for flight, room and entry just to get crushed by Kijima or someone of his caliber in a qualifier, lol. If I ever end up opening my own pool hall, I'll probably join the JPBA and play the All Japan.
Okay, sure thing. Even if I don't play , I drop by Tokyo every once in awhile and will look you up if I can (I generally play the stella weekly when I'm intown as well)