The last time I was in Shinjiku I stumbled upon a row of bars each with a unique colorful character. ”Golden Gai” (Golden district) is an area in Shinjuku adjacent to Hanazono Shrine and renowned with its more than 200 small bars as the place where writers, poets, manga artists and directors, actors and staff of film and theater get together, drink and talk all night. Each establishment in Golden Gai tends to have a different theme and caters to a different crowed of the artistic type. The small bars tend to be rather friendly places with a real international feeling attracting people from all over the world and Tokyo to discuss their latest projects.
The origin of Golden Gai was a black market in front of the east entrance of Shinjuku railway station, which opened soon after the end of the WWII on August 15, 1945. The black market gradually turned into a district of outdoor bar stalls, but they were ordered to close by the Occupying Forces in 1949. The stalls then moved to the present Golden Gai area, which was then an empty lot overgrown with weeds and crossed by a street-car line. “Shiki-no-michi” (Four seasons alley), the walkway adjacent to Golden Gai, is the trace of railway.
The bars don’t open their doors till 10pm but stay open till the early am hours. During the day Golden Gai is very photogenic. In fact the area is down right colorful. Looking at these images it’s hard to imagine how raunchy and ramshackle the place is. Golden Gai is a dive bar paradise and is very unique.
