JOYSOUND is a top karaoke brand in Japan, offering over 360,000 songs, including more than 45,000 anime songs and 40,000 foreign language songs (as of September 2024). With numerous locations across Japan, JOYSOUND provides you with the latest karaoke experiences wherever you go. Whether you're looking to relax after exploring Japan, need WiFi to look up some local information, or want to add excitement to your night, why not enjoy Japan’s karaoke culture with a cold beer at a nearby karaoke spot?

Find JOYSOUND company-owned karaoke places
Find another karaoke places JOYSOUND is available( Japanese only )

1. Find a Karaoke Spot

While walking around, look for signs that say "カラオケ" "Karaoke" or "卡拉OK" – that's where you'll find a karaoke place. You can also use the links below to find the best karaoke experience.

Find JOYSOUND company-owned karaoke places
Find another karaoke places JOYSOUND is available( Japanese only )

2. Check in

Most karaoke venues have a reception desk at the front where you will be warmly greeted and helped with the service. Even if you don’t speak Japanese, many JOYSOUND locations offer helpful communication tools like picture menus or translation devices, making it easy to enjoy karaoke.

3. Choose Your Room and Time

For a quick break or a simple taste of karaoke culture, we recommend the tourist package, which offers a fixed time and includes drinks. For example, JOYSOUND company-owned stores offer the following tourist packages.

At stores without tourist packages, prices are usually displayed per person in 30-minute or hourly increments. Check with the reception for the rates.

Example:
A case of singing for two hours on a 200-yen per 30-minute course:

1 person, 2 hours: ¥200 × 4 = ¥800 + food/drink fees
3 people, 2 hours: ¥200 × 4 × 3 = ¥2,400+ food/drink fees
*Note: Nighttime and weekend rates are often higher.
*The room size is often determined based on the number of people.

Some places offer "Free Time" where you can sing for a fixed price during non-peak hours, typically ¥1,000–2,000. While some venues may limit singing time during busy periods, Free Time is a great value for those who want to sing longer. Additionally, many karaoke venues in Japan offer an all-you-can-drink (Nomi Hodai) system. There are both alcohol-included plans and soft drink-only plans, so be sure to ask at the reception. Drinks may be served via a beverage station or through direct orders.

4. Get to Your Room

After check-in, a staff member will assign you a room, usually printed on your receipt or check-in sheet. Some venues also offer fun gear like tambourines or maracas – just ask the front desk, "Do you have tambourines?" and make your karaoke even more exciting!

Most karaoke boxes in Japan use soundproof private rooms, so you can sing, dance, and enjoy yourself with friends or family (or just by yourself) without worrying about disturbing others. Once you've found your room, step inside and get ready for your personal karaoke entertainment space.

5. Order Food and Drinks

Your room will have a karaoke machine and a control pad for selecting songs. But before you start singing, why not order some food and drinks first? There are usually two ways to order:

Phone Order:

Select the items you want to order from the food and drink menu in the room. Use the phone on the wall to place your order by simply picking up the receiver and holding it to your ear, which will connect you directly to the front desk. Refer to the following table to make your order. Since the menu often includes items in alphabet letters, feel free to order in Japanese if you'd like.

Order Pad:

Some locations provide a tablet or pad dedicated to food and drink orders. You can use this to place your order without needing to call. Many venues offer foreign-language options on their order pads.

Your food and drinks will typically be brought to your room within a few minutes.

6. Sing and Have Fun!

Now, it’s time for your karaoke experience to begin! On the JOYSOUND control pad, you can search for English or another language songs by pressing the "Language" button (varies by model).

If you want to sing Japanese songs, press the 'Japanese Songs' button to access JOYSOUND's recommended tracks in categories like 'J-POP,' 'Anime Songs,' and 'Enka,' which you can sing with Romanized lyrics. If you can read Japanese, try selecting songs in Japanese as well. While someone else is singing, you can search for and choose the next song you want to sing.

How to use JOYSOUND control pad

While you're singing, the staff might bring the food and drinks you ordered. When that happens, try saying 'ARIGATO! (Thank you!)' with a smile!

7. Wrapping Up Your Entertainment Time

When your time is almost up, it’s time to gather your belongings and leave the room. Head back to the front desk to settle your bill. Some places also offer self-checkout machines. If you’re unsure about the payment process, just ask the reception staff.

If you’re too caught up in the fun and your time is running out, the staff will call your room. If you want to keep singing, you can ask, "ENCHO DEKIMASUKA? (Can I extend our time?)" and if it’s not busy, many places allow extensions in 30-minute increments.

Once you’ve finished paying, your entertainment time comes to an end. Let’s return to the bustling streets of Japan. The excitement from karaoke might make the streets you haven’t seen for a few hours look even more appealing.

And then, you’ll realize you’re thinking, 'Singing is fun! I want to sing more!'

JOYSOUND is a leading karaoke brand in Japan, created by XING, Inc, a pioneer in music entertainment and content, and a subsidiary of Brother Industries. Established in 1992, JOYSOUND started the first digital karaoke service in Japan, transforming the industry from physical media (cassette tapes, CDs, laser discs) to digital MIDI format songs, delivered via a broadcasting network. This allowed users to quickly access the latest songs as soon as they were released.

Brother Industries’ venture team transformed this analog market by developing an innovative technology that digitizes songs into MIDI format and implements a network for broadcasting new releases. This allows users to quickly access and sing a vast array of newly released music. This trend has expanded with the growth of high-speed networks and continues to spread worldwide. In Japan’s commercial karaoke market, JOYSOUND now boasts an industry-leading catalog of over 360,000 songs (*1), offering not only Japanese music but also tracks from around the globe for everyone to enjoy.

*1
As of September 2024, based on our research.
The 'Hi-Res Audio' logo is used under license with the consent of the Japan Audio Society. The music has been converted to high-resolution quality through acoustic processing from CD-standard source waveforms.

Karaoke Song Ranking Loved by International Visitors in Japan

The unique karaoke culture of Japan is cherished by music enthusiasts worldwide. Here, we present a ranking of the top songs that international visitors enjoy singing at karaoke venues across Japan. From nostalgic classics to the latest chart-toppers, explore our top 20 picks that span a wide range of genres. Discover your favorite tune or find a new song to conquer in your next karaoke session!