Hijouguchi

No need for an emergency to check out this Shinjuku bar

Photos by Tom Boechat

A few weeks ago, we ventured into Shinjuku for the first anniversary celebration of Hijouguchi. After our cab drove in circles for a while, we finally stopped for directions, but as the name of the bar translates to “emergency exit,” that wasn’t much more help than the tiny illustration of the area’s grid of unnamed streets on the flyer.

Finally, after two convenience store stops—the second just for beers, since we weren’t getting any more inebriated sitting in the back of a taxi—we got out and walked around until we spied a crowd near an entrance. A few minutes later, we were inside Hijouguchi, and greeters handed us a round of bubbly on the house.

The bar has two rooms, each with a different feel. The main area faces a stage that hosts local artists and musicians, and has a nice counter bar at the rear. When we arrived, said stage was occupied by a Japanese comedian—but standup wasn’t exactly what we were out on the town to find, so we moved our way to the second area, accessed via a short hallway. This space is smaller, with the center occupied by a 360-degree bar and a short-order kitchen. To find out what’s on offer, all you have to do is glance up at the chalkboard menu.

Finally, it was time to get to the drinks, which on this night were pegged at a festive ¥700, some discounted slightly from their usual prices. On ordinary nights, most drinks are under ¥1,000, with a select few martini and wine options a bit more. The drink menu is less of a menu, really, than an ingredient list with all the standard mixers present and accounted for.
Already tipsy from the conbini brews, we were ready to test the bartender’s skills with a few crazy combos: shochu and pineapple juice, for starters, followed by a cassis with cranberry cocktail, for alliteration’s sake. Pucker up for the latter, if you’ve got the cranberries to order one.

Both drinks were tasty, but it was time for the main course, which we decided would be best in the form of a round of tequila sunrises, then another of tequila tonics. Both suited us well. The only item our prix fixe course for the floor needed now was a vegetable entrée, so we finished with a few Bloody Marys. We had spent more time than we intended, but we accomplished what we had set out to do, and were late for our next engagement. Exiting through the back door marked with an ambiguous “Hijouguchi” sign, we breathed a sigh of relief at not setting off any emergency alarms.

2-12-16 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku. Tel: 3341-5445. Open Mon-Sat 7pm-5am. Nearest stn: Shinjuku-Sanchome, exit C8. ¥500 cover charge. www.hijouguchi.com

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