Also known as shiki-and-mizuhodai
Shiki and Mizuhodai are residential areas along the Tobu Tojo Line in Saitama, with a scattering of snack bars and girls bars around the stations for a low-key night out.
Around Shiki and Mizuhodai stations, the daytime is quiet residential, but at night the lights of snack bars and girls bars begin to flicker on. The crowd is mostly local regulars, with no flashy neon for tourists.
Shiki Station is an express stop on the Tobu Tojo Line, about 30 minutes from Ikebukuro. Mizuhodai Station is a local-only stop, one station from Shiki. Both have small plazas in front with restaurants within walking distance.
The nightlife centers on snack bars and girls bars. Around Shiki Station there are over 20 snack bars and a few girls bars. Mizuhodai is smaller, with about 10 snack bars and a few girls bars. There are almost no kyabakura or host clubs.
Prices are reasonable: snack bars charge 1,000–2,000 yen cover, girls bars around 1,500–2,500 yen per 30 minutes. These are local prices, not tourist rates. English is not expected, but if you speak Japanese, you can enjoy a homey atmosphere.
Access: from Ikebukuro, take the Tobu Tojo Line express to Shiki (about 30 min). For Mizuhodai, continue one stop on a local train. Last trains to Ikebukuro run past midnight, but bars close early, so start around 10–11 PM.
Dress code is casual. Karaoke is common in snack bars, so singing a song helps break the ice. Many places are cash-only, so bring plenty of yen.
Shiki and Mizuhodai runs on table-service venues: kyabakura (hostess clubs), girls bars, and snack bars. You pay a set fee by the hour, with nomination (shimei) and drink charges on top, so check each venue’s all-in price before you sit down.
Shiki and Mizuhodai is generally fine for a night out. The main risk is bottakuri, a padded bill at the end. Stick to venues that post their prices, skip street touts steering you into ‘free’ bars, and confirm the set fee plus any nomination or bottle charges before you order.
Popular services in Shiki and Mizuhodai include girls bars (flat drink charge, conversational setting), karaoke snack bars, and hostess clubs with shimei nomination options.
Visa / Mastercard / JCB accepted at most venues
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