{"id":2172,"date":"2025-09-19T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T15:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/?p=2172"},"modified":"2025-09-19T08:00:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T15:00:41","slug":"kyoto-karaoke-joint-is-like-a-dystopian-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/?p=2172","title":{"rendered":"Kyoto karaoke joint is like a dystopian city"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Step inside\u00a0\u201cNeo-Kyoto\u2019s most flourishing karaoke facility in 2221\u201d.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyoto<\/strong> is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed shrines and temples, but hidden in the streets of the city is a secret gem known only to locals, and it\u2019s called Jankara<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The unusual name sparks curiosity in and of itself, but that curiosity grows even further when you step inside Jankara, as it\u2019s like a whole other world. An abbreviation of \u201cJumbo Karaoke Hiroba<\/strong>\u201c, Jankara is a karaoke chain<\/strong>, with the world \u201chiroba\u201d (literally meaning \u201cbroad place\u201d) embodying the chain\u2019s commitment to providing large, spacious karaoke rooms with lively atmospheres.<\/p>\n

The rooms are like nothing you\u2019ll see at any other chain, with some representing public baths<\/a>, complete with showerhead-style microphones, and others evoking the look and feel of a courtesan brothel. Although 200 Jankara branches exist across Japan, there are none in Tokyo and the majority are found in the Kansai region in and around Kyoto<\/strong>, where locals like our reporter Ikuna Kamezawa guard them as locally-kept secrets.<\/p>\n

\"\"Image: Press release<\/em><\/p>\n

When Ikuna visited a branch near Kyoto University though, she couldn\u2019t resist sharing the news as it was such a unique facility. Called \u201cJajaan-Kara Kyodai Box<\/strong>\u201d, with \u201cjajaan\u201d meaning \u201cta daa\u201d and Kyodai being the shortened form of Kyoto Daigaku (Kyoto University), this Jankara variant is said to be \u201cNeo-Kyoto\u2019s most flourishing karaoke facility in 2221<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u25bc The neo-Kyoto vibes take you straight to the year 2221 as soon as you arrive at the dystopian facade.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Stepping through the doors makes you lose all sense of the everyday as you\u2019re swept up into a neon paradise.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The vibe is more like a sci-fi horror movie, especially as there are no staff around, due to the use of automated reception and payment systems.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u25bc Surrounded by neon signs, you\u2019ll feel like the sole survivor in an underground city.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u25bc The toilets are hidden behind doors that look like they lead to mysterious chambers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What makes this branch particularly unique is the fact that it contains a special\u00a0\u201cKyoto University Dormitory Student Collaboration Room\u201d on the second floor.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ikuna was keen to see what the Kyoto Uni dorm room looked like as it was created in collaboration with the university itself. The route to get there was slightly unnerving, though, as it involved dim dystopian hallways, where she felt that scary beings might jump out at her along the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when she had to remind herself that this was a karaoke joint, so the only other people she would encounter in these scary hallways would be other customers, who were tucked away in karaoke rooms of their own.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At the end of the hallway, she could see a handmade bust, like something you might see at a school festival.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Approaching it, she smiled in surprise when she found it was Sephiroth from the Final Fantasy franchise<\/b>. According to the handwritten sign beneath the bust, this was \u201cDorm Leader Sephiroth<\/b>\u201c, so Ikuna vowed to be on her best behaviour.<\/p>\n

\u25bc You do not want to get on the wrong side of this dorm leader.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Stepping cautiously past Sephiroth<\/b>, Ikuna opened the door behind him and found herself in a Kyoto Uni dorm room.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The room\u2019s official name is \u201cKyoto University Student Hangout Room\u201d, and judging by all the graffiti on the walls, which are actually messages left by visitors, a lot of \u201cstudents\u201d have hung out here.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With pens provided, visitors are encouraged to write on the walls, specifically on the \u201c\u5bc4\u305b\u66f8\u304d\u30bf\u30c6\u30ab\u30f3\u201d (\u201cyosegaki tatekan<\/strong>\u201c), a large homemade signboard traditionally seen around university campuses, especially Kyoto University.<\/p>\n

\u25bc<\/strong> The yosegaki tatekan<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cYosegaki\u201d refers to collective writing, where multiple people contribute their messages to a single board, often for support, encouragement, or shared commentary, and it includes the expression of opinions, satire, jokes, and slogans, standing as a symbol of student free speech and activism.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25bc This sign instructs visitors that \u201cthose who use this room must write\u201d on the yosegaki tatekan<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Give students free rein to write whatever they please, and you\u2019ll inevitably come across the word for boobs (\u201c\u304a\u3063\u3071\u3044\u201d [\u201coppai\u201d]) somewhere.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Peering around the room, Ikuna found lots of items that made it feel like Kyoto uni students would really gather here, with books on the shelves\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u25bc \u2026and a guitar with plushies that looked to have survived the end of days.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u25bc With her futuristic pink hair, Ikuna looked right at home in this dystopian dormitory.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

After gazing at everything around her, Ikuna\u2019s eyes came to rest upon a karaoke machine, reminding her that she was actually in a karaoke room.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With every karaoke room you get access to the drink bar, so Ikuna decided to make her way there for a drink before settling in.<\/p>\n

\u25bc Visitors can enjoy \u201c\u7121\u9650\u98f2\u201d (\u201cmugen in\u201d) or \u201cinfinite drinks\u201d during their stay.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Returning to the room, she used the tablet to check out the food menu, where she was tempted to order herself a \u201cBig Bang Curry\u201d, which serves 3-5 people for 2,980 yen (US$20.34)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Instead, though, she chose to keep the Kyoto uni student theme going with \u201cKansai-style broth udon\u201d (390 yen), a simple and easy meal favoured by students.<\/p>\n

\u25bc The udon was delicious.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As she lived out her dreams of being a Kyoto uni student, time flew by and Ikuna found herself with barely any time to sing a tune. So if you\u2019re thinking of following in her footsteps, she recommends giving yourself at least three hours to fully enjoy everything the room has to offer.<\/p>\n

\u25bc After leaving the room, and waving farewell to Sephiroth, she took a peek up on the third floor, which she says felt like a futuristic spaceship.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

There are other rooms exclusive to this branch as well, including one that looks like a dystopian pub, complete with darts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With so many cool rooms available, a visit to Jankara will spoil you for all other karaoke joints, especially after seeing what the branch near Kyoto University has to offer. So next time you\u2019re looking for a place to escape from the world outside, you might want to look out for a branch in your area. Who knows what you\u2019ll find waiting for you inside!<\/p>\n

Site information
\n<\/strong>Jajaan-Kara Kyodai Box \/ \u30b8\u30e3\u30b8\u30e3\u30fc\u30f3\u30ab\u30e9 \u4eac\u5927BOX\u5e97
\nAddress: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku, Tanaka Monzencho 29
\n\u4eac\u90fd\u5e9c\u4eac\u90fd\u5e02\u5de6\u4eac\u533a\u7530\u4e2d\u9580\u524d\u753a29
\nOpen 24 hours every day<\/span>
\nWebsite<\/a><\/p>\n

Photos\u00a9SoraNews24 unless otherwise stated
\n<\/em>\u25cf Want to hear about SoraNews24\u2019s latest articles as soon as they\u2019re published? Follow us on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Step inside\u00a0\u201cNeo-Kyoto\u2019s most flourishing karaoke facility in 2221\u201d. Kyoto is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed shrines and temples, but hidden in the streets of the city is a secret…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rss"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2172\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catbradley.io\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}