ekoda konpa

Make sure to come before happy hour ends to save some money!
Ekoda Konpa is very near to Ekoda Station. The owner is amazing. She will make your stay lively and enjoyable. There are not many seats and the atmosphere is both refined and energetic, but very quiet. Neither the owner nor her assistant speak any English. There is no English menu. This is a place many locals go to.
You are required to buy a snack with one of your drinks. The snacks will run you about 500 yen and they are standard Japanese bar snacks, such as jerky, nuts, and pocky– nothing substantial. They are overpriced. The drinks are about the same, making your minimum charge about 1000 yen if you come alone. Once your snacks run out, or after about an hour passes, you will be pressured to get another. When your drink empties, either buy another or make your way out. Because there are few seats available, this place isn’t the sort of place you can expect to have a long conversation in for hours. However, the lack of tables and the sociable owner means that this is one of the best places to be introduced to new people, especially if you understand some Japanese. Mama-​san will make you feel welcome and show you off to everyone! She also LOVES to make lewd jokes, and if she thinks you’re getting too drunk, she’ll slide you a glass of water and command you to drink.
Probably the most exciting (and famous) drink at this bar is «Ekoda no Yoru,» an 80 proof cocktail served in a martini glass filled almost to overflowing. Your glass is so full in front of you that instead of lifting it, you are encouraged to lean over the glass and sip directly from it, hands free. The drink is strong and amazing! Get it if you can.
A couple of hours at Konpa will easily run you into the 4000 – 5000 yen range if you have two or three drinks plus snacks (I believe there’s also a seating charge), so it isn’t a place you can go to every night. However, it’s an iconic experience if you’re staying in Ekoda.