# Dopers in Japan - where do you hang out?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-japan-where-do-you-hang-out/175148>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 14, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-japan-where-do-you-hang-out/175148 "2003-05-14T06:40:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-japan-where-do-you-hang-out/175148/1 "2003-05-14T06:40:59Z")

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I recently took a short trip to the US and realized how much I missed being able to talk in English. Are there any places in Japan (preferably Tokyo area) where I can go and easily find English-speaking people to talk to?

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**Author:** ![cankerist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@cankerist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cankerist)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-japan-where-do-you-hang-out/175148/2 "2003-05-14T07:16:15Z")

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Don’t know about Tokyo, but from my experience down here in “Japan’s Kitchen”, Osaka, I would recommend trying one of the so-called ‘Irish’ pubs, such as the ‘Pig and Whistle’ or ‘Dubliners’ if you have them in Tokyo. If you get there before around 9pm, you can meet a huge number of English-speaking expats and travellers who are actually still able to speak. Good Luck!

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**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-japan-where-do-you-hang-out/175148/3 "2003-05-14T07:39:28Z")

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Hmm… this question makes me realize just how infrequently I get out of the house.

There’s Roppongi, though pretty much everyone there is either drunk or charging over 10,000yen/hour to listen. Still, the sports bars or British/Irish pubs can be good places to make friends over a few beers.

Tipness fitness clubs have a lot of English speakers, but randomly strking up conversations there tends to make it look like you’re trying to pick someone up.

Metropolis and Tokyo Notice Board both advertise a lot of hobby, interest and sports clubs that usually have a mix of foreign and Japanese members, and might be good places to meet with people and have fun.

If you’re into mountain biking as well as recumbent biking, [tokyocycling.com](http://tokyocycling.com) lists some organized rides out near Fussa.

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-japan-where-do-you-hang-out/175148/4 "2003-05-14T16:47:45Z")

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Thanks for the replies. I found a long list of Irish pubs in Tokyo - on the Embassy of Ireland web site, of all places. The message boards look promising too.

I don’t have a mountain bike but I’ve been looking for an excuse to get one. I might give it a try.

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**Author:** ![Tsubaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Tsubaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsubaki)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-japan-where-do-you-hang-out/175148/5 "2003-05-15T00:12:38Z")

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If you’re looking to buy a mountain bike, we deliver!