Drinking age-limit

[Tollen]

hey
im planning a two week trip to tokyo next year but unfortunately it's about a month before my 20th birthday so i'l still be 19.:(
I was hoping to have a few drinks whilst i'm there and go to a few bars in the evenings. now i do know that the age-limit's 20 but i was wondering how strictly it's enforced, some have said not at all and some say it is so was wondering what everyone's experiences are recently?
would it be difficult to go to bars/pub/nightclubs or would it be fine?
any help would be great guys :-)
thankies

[Numark]

There is another thread about this same thing right now... basically no, you don't have to worry, i drank while in japan at 19 and I never got carded, neither did my friends. It is a lot more lax than other places, like the U.S., from what i've experienced, and if you have to, you can always pull the "gaijin card" and pretend you didn't understand, and they'll just make you leave, but I never even had to do that. Just be respectful and don't get wasted and cause a ruckus and everything will be cool. Have fun!

[nice gaijin]

nightclubs are more likely to card you. Stick to izakaya and all-ages clubs. You could probably even get liquor at a convenience store. Try not to overdo it.

[moffeltoff]

So ,which clubs,bars etc. would you recommend for someone not yet of drinking age in Kyoto?
Is it in general easier to get alcohol for foreigners if theyｴr accompanied by some Japanese?

[made of stone]

This is an age-old subject.

Please have the courtesy to use the search function on the forum, or at least browse the older posts, and all will be revealed!!

So, no replies on this (duplicate of dulicate!!) thread from me!

made of secrets (waiting to be shared with those who care to bother to look!) :blush:

[Tollen]

There is another thread about this same thing right now...

yeah i noticed this after posting but thanks for the info anyways, makes things a lot clearer

and yes nice gaijin; my plan isnt to go and get wasted every nightbut im going with a friend and it would be nice to have a few drinks in a bar of an evening which seems very possible so im looking forward to it even more now:relief:
thanks for the input guys, even if my lack of ability to search as irksome :cool:

[maushan3]

For a Japanese person: most probably get carded.

A gaijin: not a problem at all. You shouldn't have a problem doing Izakayas, combinis and the like. Nightclubs, well, I haven't been to any, but Japanese people tell me that for gaijin it is not a problem.

Just make sure you don't wear a school uniform when drinking, lol.

Mauricio

[amazingjapan]

Nice information:) tnx

[moyashi]

15 and older by my last visual!

lolo, now isn't that interesting :)

hard up kids can buy a beer at the local vending machine :P

Carding hardly happens and more than likely to check out some hot chicks picture :P

[Petenshber]

Sad how people consider fun to be more important than respecting rules,
can't even wait two weeks.

[Glenski]

For a Japanese person: most probably get carded.

According to my wife (Japanese), women often get let in without any ID inspection.