KangarooCourt

Kangaroo Court Decision (KCD) sits on 5th Street in Shinjuku Golden Gai, boasting a collection of over 200 gins from around the world—including Japanese craft labels—crammed into a counter bar with just five stools. Rows of bottles with exotic labels fill every inch of the shelves, making it feel like a world atlas rendered in glass. What truly sets KCD apart from the other 299 bars on the strip is its rotating "day-master" system: one night you might find yourself across the bar from a professional ghost storyteller, the next from a film buff or seasoned traveler, each one ready to talk until dawn about music, movies, the supernatural, or far-flung places. A cover charge is included with free-flowing snacks, keeping the entry barrier low even for first-timers. Don't know your gins? Just ask—whoever is pouring that night will happily steer you toward a perfect pour. If you're looking for a place to begin your Golden Gai evening, this is a fine decision.