OK, I’ve got a backlog of things I need to post, but first:

Hostess bars in Japan aren’t the sex dens people make them out to be. They’re basically bars with more personalized service, sort of like your own personal bartender. You are limited in what you can drink (you better like whiskey!) and you get just a little snack of some sort, plus they help encourage you to talk and have a good time. Perhaps they’ll get you to sing a little karaoke. But on the whole it’s just a fun little bar. It’s even better when the hostess who’s taking care of you is a friend, too! =)

Next post: Notting Hill observations.