How much does karaoke cost in Japan?
Short answer: for two hours on a weekday evening in a tourist district, expect roughly ¥2,000 per person in room charges, plus about ¥400–500 for the drink most chains require you to order. Daytime is much cheaper. The long answer is below, and every number on this page comes from the chains' own websites.
Two hours, weekday evening (per person)
| Cheapest we found | ¥760 |
|---|---|
| Typical (lower quarter) | ¥1,600 |
| Median | ¥2,000 |
| Typical (upper quarter) | ¥2,515 |
| Most expensive we found | ¥4,080 |
Based on general (non-member, non-student) rates at 148 stores in the tourist areas listed on this site, entering at 7pm on a weekday. Room charge only — drinks are extra.
Free time (flat rate, daytime)
Free time plans in the same areas run from ¥680 to ¥3,270 per person, with a median of ¥1,580. If you are staying longer than two hours, this is nearly always cheaper than paying by the half hour — just check what time the block ends before you commit.
What else you will pay for
- One drink per person — roughly ¥400–500, required at most chains.
- Drink bar — self-serve soft drinks, sometimes included, sometimes a few hundred yen extra.
- Nomihodai — all-you-can-drink alcohol, added on top of the room charge.
- Weekend and holiday surcharge — expect noticeably higher rates than the weekday figures above.
Ways to pay less
- Go in the afternoon. The daytime and evening rate bands are often more than double apart.
- Take free time if you are staying more than about two hours.
- Check the branch, not just the chain. Two branches of the same chain in the same ward can differ by thousands of yen.
- Students: the student rate (学割) is often far below the general rate. Whether a non-Japanese student ID is accepted is up to the individual store, so ask at the counter before you assume it.