Sonna-Kanji

Mar Sonna-Kanji sits in the 5th alley of Shinjuku Golden-Gai, opened in March 2011 on the very spot once occupied by "Baa Maeda," the legendary literary bar where Akiyuki Nosaka, Nagisa Oshima, and Koumitsu Tanaka used to drink shoulder-to-shoulder and argue through the night. After the iconic mama, Takako Maeda, passed away in 1991 and the original bar closed, this new chapter began in its place. The interior has been refreshed and the vibe along with it — staff have been described by visitors as "easygoing and easy to talk to." With just six seats in total, the counter draws strangers into conversation almost effortlessly. Open every night from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m., no days off, with an average spend around 3,000 yen. No need to be weighed down by the history — just push open the door if you're looking for someone to talk to tonight.