What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Japan? It could be anime, samurai, capsule hotels, high-speed bullet trains, insane vending machines, or its futuristic architecture.
Well, if this is what you think – you are sort of right. But being the birthplace of Karaoke, Japan holds a special place for it as well.
If you want to have a great karaoke experience while visiting Japan in your next trip, there are certain things which you should be aware of. Let’s see what they are:
1. The Right Place
You are in Japan and you want to try karaoke. The first step is to find yourself the perfect Karaoke place. You will find Karaoke boxes in restaurants, bars, and festivals occasionally. There is a wide array of Karaoke chains to choose from in Japan. Just make sure which one suits you the best – things like price per hour for members and non-members, surcharge during weekends are some factors you would want to look into before picking the place.
2. The Right Block
There are many different kinds – some blocks are quite spacious (can hold about 63 people!) while some are only for a solo ride. Some serve you Continental menu, some don’t. You have the option to choose. Some Karaoke boxes allow pets as well, so you can confirm forehand if you want. Again, watch for the price. Some boxes charge extremely high and some, next to nothing.
3. Be Ready with A Song List
Karaoke machines in Japan have a lot of songs stored in them. You will find any song you want – generally in four languages, viz., Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean. Looking for the perfect song might take a long time and when you have got yourself a paid room which charges you by the hour, wasting time to rummaging the web for songs is not that bright an idea. So, every time you come across a song which you find worthy of getting featured in your next Karaoke endeavor, save it on your smartphone.
4. Master the Electronics
Seriously, nothing is more frustrating as much as drawing a blank when it comes to “operating” the electronics. The much-dreaded remote control needs a little bit of exploring, or rather fidgeting with it. They’re not that difficult to figure, to be really frank. But let’s be honest, having knowledge about karaoke system beforehand is good. Another fluke which you might not appreciate when you are new is too many wires. So we would like to give you a review of best karaoke microphone for a smooth ride.
5. Go Solo
The Japanese call it “Wankara”. It is the latest in Karaoke, where there is room for only one person. There might be times when you just can’t get that song right. It might take some more trials until you hit the sweet spot. Meanwhile, your friends/partner will be bored to death. To save them the agony, try going solo for once, and enjoy the freedom of being your weird self. What’s better? They cost way cheaper.
So now that you have become quite well-informed about karaoke (probably more than anyone you know), I am sure you will make the most out of it. Besides, who knows? You can even start a singing career after this.
About the author:
Ronald Ross is a culture aficionado and loves to explore different cultures around the world. His love for culture also coincides with his enthusiasm to travel to exotic places and get to know their own people. Ronald resorts to singing as a leisure activity and is a regular contributor to several travel and music blogs. Checkout his blog www.loudbeats.org for a better experience.
