Lecan

On Golden Gai's 5th street in Shinjuku sits a bar called 'Lecan (Provisional)' — and that tentative name is already refreshingly honest. The space was once home to the legendary snack bar Lecan, where manga artist Abe Yaro spent 37 years as a regular and which he has openly credited as the origin of his hit manga 'Midnight Diner.' The original Lecan closed in February 2024 following the illness of its mama-san, Mariko Haga, and a new chapter began that same spring when the venue reopened under the name Lecan (Provisional). According to the bar's official X account, a rotating cast of staff takes turns behind the counter every evening from dusk onward, and the bar runs its own quirky original events like an in-house lucky-draw 'gacha.' It honors the spirit of its predecessor while forging its own identity. Whether you come knowing the history or simply wander in off the street, this is a bar that tends to leave an impression.