FUSSA, Japan — You’ll never get a cold shoulder in this little place.
Located in the heart of notorious “Bar Row” near Yokota Air Base, Boom Boom brings a touch of class to an otherwise seedy area. There’s a nonthreatening feel to it that puts you at ease the minute you walk through the door.
“It’s like a living room in here. It’s relaxing,” said manager Jeany Demillones, who used to work on Yokota and has lived in Fussa since 1989. “People can come here after a long day of work, grab a drink, play darts. They talk to us and we make friends with them.”
Boom Boom opened almost three years ago but it’s had to make some adjustments since, Demillones said. Hours were moved up because of Yokota’s 1-6 a.m. nightly curfew on Bar Row, and drink prices were lowered to keep up with area competition.
She admits customers do get misconceptions because of the bar’s name, all-female staff and pink neon sign out front. But these women run a tight ship, policing the premises without benefit of a bouncer.
“There are a lot of places like that, it’s not like that here,” she said. “We’re bartenders; we’re not takeout girls. I tell them, ‘We sell drinks, not us.’
“If there’s a problem with a drunk or unruly person, us girls kick ’em out ourselves.”
The American-style bar isn’t exactly spacious, but it offers plenty of elbow room. Lounge-style seating enhances the low-key, friendly atmosphere.
The setting is conducive to conversation, perhaps a great place to bring a date after dinner off base.
And if you feel inclined, sign a $1 bill, tack it over the bar and join the hundreds of others who have left their mark on this great nighttime getaway.
To see previous After Hours reviews, go to: stripes.com/afterhours.
Boom Boom, Fussa, Japan
Hours: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. weekdays and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Closed Monday.Drink prices: Almost all are 500 yen, except for specialty drinks, which go for 700 to 1,000 yen. The bar takes American dollars at a $1-to-100-yen exchange rate.Cover charge: None.Food: Delivery can be arranged from a Japanese establishment next door. Fried chicken, fries, yakitori, yakisoba and sashimi (raw tuna) are among the choices, all affordably priced.Entertainment: Two electronic dartboards are always in use. No live music, but hip-hop plays overhead. Karaoke is available. Patrons can bring in DVDs for “movie night” every Sunday. Clientele: Mostly Americans from nearby Yokota Air Base, with a few Japanese regulars, ranging in age from early 20s to late 30s. Atmosphere is mellow.
Dress: Casual.Location: It’s about a 10-minute walk outside Yokota’s Fussa Gate. Cross Highway 16 and head for “Bar Row,” taking a right onto Akasen-dori. It’s just past the Chicken Shack on the right. Telephone: 042-553-2722
