Tucked behind a windowless door, in the corners of buildings or up a narrow staircase in parts of Japan lie once mysterious sunakkus, or snack-bars. Once an unusual place even for residents to frequent, these establishments are rapidly becoming a top tourist attraction.
Since shedding their shadowy history, Japan’s modern snack bars have been transformed into cozy, retro hideaways. Rife with decades-old traditions and jammed with Karaoke equipment, tourists love discovering these secret spots.
Once deemed locals-only spots hidden from tourists, Japan’s famous snack bars traditionally catered to late-night patrons. Crammed into small spaces in the business district, they enticed businessmen with delicious local food treats and the doting attention of the resident ‘Mama.’ Nowadays, the clientele frequenting snack bars is a wide demographic, and even tourists have started discovering these quirky spots.
The Transition From A Shady Past
Like prohibition necessitating American speakeasies, Japanese snack bars came about due to a ban on their own: working women in Japan’s red districts. Post-war depression forced thousands of women into the sex trade, but anti-prostitution laws of the late 1960s changed that.
As Japan aggressively cleaned up its red districts, many women took wooden boxes or rolling carts to the streets, selling homemade snacks and drinks to businesspeople. Eventually, these small snack trays and carts became cozy, independently run storefronts.
A Legacy of Hidden Locations and Secret Passwords
Snack bars increasingly claimed spaces to set up shop permanently. As white-collar workers were the primary customers of snack bars, these shops slowly became late-night establishments, serving salarymen after long work days. Late-night hours were optimal, as women running snack bars had children and wanted to open for business after their kids were asleep. This practice earned many snack bar owners the nickname “Mamas.”
With snack bars operating on the fringes of legal business, most establishments had hidden locations with closed doors. With time, caring and affectionate Mamas began to draw in a new clientele: hard-working female entrepreneurs looking to offload their frustrations to an understanding ear.
Japanese Locals Love Unwinding in the Snack Bars
While businessmen still frequent snack bars, patrons will find men and women looking to talk to Mama about their day. They are a place to unwind after a hectic day, enjoy tasty local treats, and forge new friendships.
Though snack bars were customarily male spaces, it was only a matter of time until they became sought-after hideaways for night owls seeking someplace different. With the help of Japan’s ubiquitous Karaoke machine, humble snack bars soon catered to all clientele, even tourists.
Tasty Local Recipes Make for Great Snacks
These bars evolved, but one thing stayed the same — the snacks. Many establishments still utilize the same traditional recipes from their early days. Snack bars offer a wide range of local favorites, such as spicy rice crackers, various Japanese chips, and delicious dried seafood snacks, a popular treat in Japan. Each snack bar usually serves its specialty alongside other frequently rotating selections.
While the system varies from snack bar to snack bar, it is similar to the Spanish tradition of tapas bars — guests do not pay for small plates of food but purchase beverages. Local knowledge is important, however, as not every stand operates the same way. As the Mamas retire or leave the trade, a younger generation of male and female entrepreneurs steps up, bringing new traditions.
Top Reasons To Check out Japan’s Snack Bars
The snack bars provide a friendly, unassuming atmosphere that coaxes customers out of their comfort zone. Learning simple things, such as saying “cheers” — “kanpai”— allows tourists to interact more with the locals. Snack bars are not late-night exclusive anymore, either, with more and more snack bars pulling in afternoon tours of tourists looking to experience a different Japanese history.
Visitors love the atmosphere of the nostalgia of the snack bars, the juxtaposition of a somewhat shady past recreated in a modern speakeasy feel. It is a great way to experience an exciting history and enjoy the local snacks.
How To Find Japanese Snack Bars
Even though there are more than 100,000 snack bars across Japan, it can be challenging to snuff them out. Some remain in the shadows, behind unmarked or closed doors, or in easily missable areas. To find your new favorite, book a guided tour or connect with locals for recommendations, as they likely know the best spots.
Once Intimidating, Now Welcoming
With the revitalization of Japanese snack bars came increased interest. First, from locals who had always been too intimidated to knock on a closed door, and eventually (as word spread), tourists began to poke their noses into the once-taboo locals. Now, even guided culinary tours take in the quaint snack bars, allowing visitors to sample tasty local snacks and learn about a previously hidden history.
