Karaoke Manekineko Ueno
Manekineko is a budget karaoke chain with a branch near Ueno Station that offers some of the cheapest karaoke in central Tokyo. The building has multiple floors of private rooms ranging from compact two-person boxes to larger party rooms holding up to 20. Standard rates run 200-300 JPY per 30 minutes during the day and 400-600 JPY after 7 PM. The real deal is the free-time plan after midnight: around 1,500 JPY for unlimited singing until morning, with soft drinks included. The song library covers Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese tracks, with a respectable English selection of pop, rock, and classic hits. Rooms come with tambourines, maracas, and the standard Japanese karaoke equipment: dual microphones, a touch-screen song selector, and a scoring system. The facilities are clean and maintained, with drink bars on each floor. Food can be ordered to the room from a simple menu. Many tourists use Manekineko as an affordable place to wait out the gap between last train and first train.
Where to stay near Karaoke Manekineko Ueno
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
A clean, standard Japanese karaoke building with private rooms and touchscreen song selection. Nothing fancy, but reliable and cheap. The midnight free-time plan attracts last-train refugees.
Private rooms mean you set the atmosphere yourself. The building is clean and functional.
Whatever you choose to sing
None. People come in everything from suits to pajamas, especially late at night.
Budget travelers, groups wanting private entertainment, anyone stranded after the last train
Cash and credit cards accepted
Price Range
Daytime 200-300 JPY per 30 min, evening 400-600 JPY per 30 min, free-time plan ~1,500 JPY (midnight-5 AM), drinks from 300 JPY
Daytime ~$1.30-2/~1.20-1.80 EUR per 30 min, free-time ~$10/~9 EUR
Hours
24 hours daily
Insider Tip
The free-time midnight plan is the best value in Tokyo if you missed the last train. Bring your own snacks from the convenience store next door; the in-house food is overpriced. The English song selection is on a separate page of the menu system.
Full Review
Manekineko Ueno is not exciting, glamorous, or unique. What it is, reliably and consistently, is cheap karaoke that works. And in a city where a night out can easily cost 10,000 JPY, that reliability has its own appeal.
The branch near Ueno Station occupies multiple floors of a building on a side street. Check in at the ground floor counter, choose your room size and plan, and take the elevator up. Rooms range from small (barely fitting two people and a table) to large (comfortable for a group of ten). All come with the same equipment: touchscreen controller, two microphones, a TV screen, and a scoring system that rates your performance.
I went with three friends on a Friday night, choosing a medium room and the two-hour all-you-can-drink plan at about 2,500 JPY per person. The room was clean, the air conditioning worked, and the song system was responsive. The English selection was decent: current pop hits, classic rock, some country, and a surprisingly deep selection of 80s and 90s tracks.
The drinks from the all-you-can-drink plan were standard: draft beer, highballs, chuhai, soft drinks. Quality was fine if unremarkable. The food menu offered basic snacks like edamame, fries, and chicken nuggets at prices higher than the convenience store next door.
The real value play is the midnight free-time plan. For about 1,500 JPY, you get a room from midnight until 5 AM with unlimited soft drinks. Many budget travelers use this as a cheap accommodation alternative, singing for an hour then dozing on the room's bench seats until the trains restart. It's not comfortable, but it's warm, safe, and cheaper than a capsule hotel.
The Neighborhood
Manekineko is near Ueno Station, within the commercial zone that includes Ameyoko market and numerous restaurants. Convenience stores are right next door.
Getting There
JR Ueno Station Hirokoji Exit, walk 2 minutes east. The building is on a side street near the main shopping area, marked by the chain's cat logo.
Address
6-16-7 Ueno, Taito-ku
Other Venues in Ueno
HUB Ueno
British-style pub chain popular with locals and visitors alike. Offers cheap drinks, a relaxed atmosphere, and English menus.
Warrior Celt
Irish pub near Ueno station serving Guinness and pub grub. One of the few international-style bars in the neighborhood.
Pasela Resorts Ueno Koenicho
Upscale karaoke chain with themed rooms, cocktail service, and a large English song library. Open late on weekends.
Big Echo Ueno-Hirokoji
Major karaoke chain branch with affordable rates during off-peak hours. Popular spot for after-work groups and late-night singing sessions.
Bar Rage Ueno
Compact standing bar near Ameyoko with rotating craft beer taps and highballs. Draws a mix of salarymen and backpackers from nearby hostels.
Tachinomi Takioka
Legendary standing bar near Ameyoko where dishes start at 100 JPY and drinks from 200 JPY. Cash only, no seats, and perpetually packed with locals after 5 PM.