Single Person Karaoke

Just a short walk from the neon mayhem of Shinjuku Station’s west exit is a curious little karaoke spot called Wankara Shinjuku-Nishiguchi. If the name makes you giggle, that’s just the beginning. This place is all about solo karaoke. That’s right. One microphone. One person. One little booth. And all the glory.

Wankara stands for “One Karaoke” and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Unlike your usual karaoke boxes where five sweaty friends pile into a room and scream-sing their way through Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” off-key, Wankara invites you to step inside your very own karaoke cubicle and belt it out with zero witnesses. It is a no-judgment zone. Just you, your favorite songs, and a mic that does not care how flat your high notes are.

Each booth is compact but comfy. Picture a private recording studio with a stool, a mic, headphones, a touchscreen song system, and a window so you don’t feel like you’re singing in a submarine. You even get a light-up “ON AIR” sign above your door that adds just the right amount of superstar energy. The walls are thick enough that you can really let it rip without worrying about someone outside raising an eyebrow.

And let’s be honest. Karaoke is fun but also mildly terrifying when you’re doing it with a group. You think you’re ready to perform that Mariah Carey ballad until you hear your voice crack mid-whistle note and your friends start filming. Wankara solves this problem. It is the ideal rehearsal space to fine-tune your performance before the big night out. Practice your timing. Test out those backup harmonies. Even experiment with J-pop if you’re feeling adventurous. Nobody’s listening but you.

You can book your booth in 30-minute increments and pricing is surprisingly affordable. The selection of songs spans Japanese hits, English classics, K-pop, anime anthems, and deep cuts from the early 2000s. It is a glorious time warp and a confidence booster wrapped in one.

Wankara is also popular with shy singers, tourists who want to try Japanese karaoke without the pressure, and anyone just needing a little midweek stress release. Singing your heart out for half an hour might be the best therapy Tokyo offers for under 1000 yen.

So next time you’re wandering around Shinjuku with a tune stuck in your head and no stage to sing it on, step into Wankara. You’ll walk out a better singer. Or at least a braver one.