Pool in Japan
- Thread starter Pjaze
- Start date
What part of Japan are you headed to? There's a couple of pool halls in Tokyo named "bagus". I know of 2 in shibuya, but it's difficult to give directions on how to get there. I also know of 2 in Yokosuka and 1 near Yokohama. That being said, they're everywhere.
Just remember the Japanese call girl that went out of business ... nobody had a Yen for her! :sad:
At this stage its only a 2-3 week trip with my only definite stop being tokyo.
I found http://www.bagus-99.com/billiard/store/kawasaki.html - on google maps, looks like the place? It is quite a distance out of tokyo though (Near Haneda Airport)
Is there many bars with pool tables in tokyo?
I found http://www.bagus-99.com/billiard/store/kawasaki.html - on google maps, looks like the place? It is quite a distance out of tokyo though (Near Haneda Airport)
Is there many bars with pool tables in tokyo?
there's good pool scene in Japan and a lot of good players. but there's pool almost anywhere around the world. i suggest you focus more on the best FOOD when going to Japan. they have a lot that you can only find/taste there. have fun on your trip! :thumbup:
Don't go to Bagus, they have great tables and everything, but you will almost never find players there. The best players rooms are the smaller places with weekly tournaments. Also bigger places like CUE in Shibuya and Rosa in Ikebukuro are also worth checking out.
Here are some links to my favorite rooms in Tokyo:
http://pool-darts-stella.com/
http://www.pool-risk.com/index.html
http://www.pool-lupin.co.jp/
http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~rosa/
https://www.google.com/search?q=ビリヤードCUE&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#mldd=1
All of those except CUE serve alcohol, I believe, but I would call them pool halls with bars rather than bars with pool tables. There are only a few places I am aware of that would be considered bars with pool tables, but they are quote difficult to find.
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Masayoshi-san, Where were you when I needed this advice in the past?
I agree. Don't go to Bagus, at least the sites that I visited (one in Shibuya and one in Ginza). Expensive, an hourly drink minimum, no players. I think Mully once wrote that the Bagus in Ikebukuro was OK, but I never made it there. I never found a good pool room. I wish I had known about these. Unfortunately, I was recently laid off from my job and don't have the opportunity to travel to Japan like I used to.
I also agree with arp to concentrate on the places to eat. I would have thought that raw fish is raw fish, but it is way better in Tokyo. I loved the food in Japan and miss it already. Japanese chefs are artists in preparing meals. The food is beautiful to look at and flavors match from one course to the next. Amazing.
Also, if this is likely to be a one time trip, take a weekend and go to Kyoto. IIRC, there are 17 World Heritage sites in that city. Most towns would be happy with one. I used to take my American friends on tours of Kyoto and have been there 4 times. My Japanese friends typically have only been there once.
You'll have a great time. I am jealous.
I agree. Don't go to Bagus, at least the sites that I visited (one in Shibuya and one in Ginza). Expensive, an hourly drink minimum, no players. I think Mully once wrote that the Bagus in Ikebukuro was OK, but I never made it there. I never found a good pool room. I wish I had known about these. Unfortunately, I was recently laid off from my job and don't have the opportunity to travel to Japan like I used to.
I also agree with arp to concentrate on the places to eat. I would have thought that raw fish is raw fish, but it is way better in Tokyo. I loved the food in Japan and miss it already. Japanese chefs are artists in preparing meals. The food is beautiful to look at and flavors match from one course to the next. Amazing.
Also, if this is likely to be a one time trip, take a weekend and go to Kyoto. IIRC, there are 17 World Heritage sites in that city. Most towns would be happy with one. I used to take my American friends on tours of Kyoto and have been there 4 times. My Japanese friends typically have only been there once.
You'll have a great time. I am jealous.
The tables and the players in most of the Bagus placrs suck! Nice tables, but because they're not players rooms, they rarely change the rag. Go to Cue in Shibuya for sure. If you can get a taxi ride, go see Noayuki Oi at Flannel, Sun Billiards in Uryasu, Duck, Freaks, or Early Times in Koshigaya. And, bring me back some hard RD tips please!
Dave
Dave
Great advice guys, just what I was looking for thanks.
And don't stress, food is pretty much at the top of my list of reasons for going to japan, pool is not even on the list, but I know I will crave it once I get over there and haven't held a cue for a few days.
Tokyo-Dave, I will bring some RD tips back, can you come pick them up from Perth Western Australia though
?
And don't stress, food is pretty much at the top of my list of reasons for going to japan, pool is not even on the list, but I know I will crave it once I get over there and haven't held a cue for a few days.
Tokyo-Dave, I will bring some RD tips back, can you come pick them up from Perth Western Australia though
?
I was there in november and can say...
You better have a guide!
I played a bit at the room where they hold the tokyo open(i hear).
Gold crown 4s, clean equipment. I had a wonderful time and could never find that place again on my own.
You better have a guide!
I played a bit at the room where they hold the tokyo open(i hear).
Gold crown 4s, clean equipment. I had a wonderful time and could never find that place again on my own.
Youre fukked!
Haha! Surely you read japanese?!?
:rotflmao:
Haha! Surely you read japanese?!?
:rotflmao:
"Biriyado no omisei dokko desuka?" At a local police box will take you far. It means "where is there a billiard shop (or club)" police boxes are little sub stations and can be found near any major train station.
Foods to try:
Shabu shabu
Yaki niku
Tonkotsu ramen
Tako yaki
Oden
Yaki tori
And of course the sushi!
Have fun!
Dave
Foods to try:
Shabu shabu
Yaki niku
Tonkotsu ramen
Tako yaki
Oden
Yaki tori
And of course the sushi!
Have fun!
Dave
Its useful to have a smartphone with navigation handy (specifically google maps), then all you have to do is copy paste the address and look up the train directions.
Don't worry about not speaking Japanese at the pool hall. There are no dangerous rooms in Japan as far as I know. At the very least, you might get put on a table and ignored. If you are lucky and look like you have game, somebody might offer to play a set or two. Most places have a marker board handy, so you can just write something simple like race to 5= ¥2000 and they will understand.
Hey Pjaze,
Like Masayoshi said, bars with pool tables are rare here, so you'd probably end up in a pool hall practicing by yourself.
I'm in the Tokyo area and would be happy to get together for some pool or food or whatever if you're up for it. If you have half a day to kill, we could even hit up a weekend tournament.
Black-balled stopped by here last year and we had a great couple hours of pool fun. (Thank you so much for the milk duds, by the way, they're the absolute nuts!)
Vic
Like Masayoshi said, bars with pool tables are rare here, so you'd probably end up in a pool hall practicing by yourself.
I'm in the Tokyo area and would be happy to get together for some pool or food or whatever if you're up for it. If you have half a day to kill, we could even hit up a weekend tournament.
Black-balled stopped by here last year and we had a great couple hours of pool fun. (Thank you so much for the milk duds, by the way, they're the absolute nuts!)
Vic
Sounds good victor, I am not sure when I will be coming but will definitely be keen to meet up.
At this stage I am either taking holidays in may/june and heading over.. Or waiting for my project to finish and I will head over in September/October. Any advice on the best time of year to visit?
At this stage I am either taking holidays in may/june and heading over.. Or waiting for my project to finish and I will head over in September/October. Any advice on the best time of year to visit?
Good to hear fro you again.
I have been missing it over there and i recently applied for a job that would require travel over there occasionaly. I didnt get it though.
I have been missing it over there and i recently applied for a job that would require travel over there occasionaly. I didnt get it though.
Pjaze,
Personally, I would recommend September/October as a good time to come.
If you're going to come in May/June, you should avoid the first week of May, which is a week of national holidays and trying getting around will end up becoming a crowded, sweaty mess. Also, the rainy season begins around mid-June, so it gets very wet and humid around that time (which makes the tables play a little tougher).
Black-balled, too bad on that job... hope you'll make it out here again eventually.
Vic
Personally, I would recommend September/October as a good time to come.
If you're going to come in May/June, you should avoid the first week of May, which is a week of national holidays and trying getting around will end up becoming a crowded, sweaty mess. Also, the rainy season begins around mid-June, so it gets very wet and humid around that time (which makes the tables play a little tougher).
Black-balled, too bad on that job... hope you'll make it out here again eventually.
Vic
I agree about September/October over May/June. I prefer later in September. Closer to August can be hot/humid. There are also holidays on 9/16 and 9/23 this year. Collectively, they are sometimes called Silver Week, but they not in the same week this year. I have been in Japan during that week. While my friends warn about difficulty traveling that week, I did not have problems if I reserve a few days in advance. There is a Grand Sumo Tournament starting in Tokyo on 9/15 lasting for 2 weeks. None of my Japanese friends like Sumo, but I really got hooked.
I have not had problems getting around Japan, even on my first trip which was a vacation. My wife and I bought a tour book about Japan, which had plenty of great advice to help us figure it out. Trains and maps are more reliable than taxi cabs where English speaking skills can be limited/non-existent.
I have not had problems getting around Japan, even on my first trip which was a vacation. My wife and I bought a tour book about Japan, which had plenty of great advice to help us figure it out. Trains and maps are more reliable than taxi cabs where English speaking skills can be limited/non-existent.
