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Without Google Maps, or any guidance from locals, you’ll need luck and patience to find Shinka – a bar where you’ll find yourself in deep water before you’ve had a single drink.
UNDER THE RADAR IN OSAKA TEXT BY NICOLAS CROZE PHOTO BY ESKIL ROLL
T
o find the elusive Shinka bar, also called the Submarine Bar, you’ll first need to navigate a maze of small streets and dark alleyways in one of Osaka’s typical residential areas. In fact, Shinka is so hard to find that you could easily walk straight past if you didn’t know exactly what you’re looking for. The only sign marking the entrance is a single gloomy light bulb in a dark and desolate alley. Though it has been serving locals for more than 15 years, the Submarine Bar is a well-kept secret. Osaka is packed with many hard-to-find quirky clubs and bars – which is all part of the excitement.
74 BLUE WINGS MAY–JUNE 2017
Designed to resemble a vintage submarine, the interior is authentic down to the tiniest detail. There is no musical backdrop and the silence is broken only by the occasional hushed conversation at the bar’s sole available table and constant mechanical hum that puts you in a comfortable daze. Shinka offers patrons the chance to feel they’re “drowning their sorrows” at the very bottom of the sea. Even the bartender maintains a respectful silence, focusing intently on chopping ice and serving beverages prepared with immaculate precision. Here, you are guaranteed not only a totally unique conceptual experience, but also the world’s best gin & tonic.
WHAT TO EXPECT •S et up: Like a submarine – a narrow space that seats five people at the bar and ten in total. •A mbiance: Calm, relaxed, and a bit claustrophobic. •A t the bar: The bartender prepares every drink with military precision. The gin & tonic is unparalleled. •C lientele: You never know what you’ll find at the bottom of the sea. •S oundtrack: No music, just a low mechanical hum. •D rinks: Local beer and high-quality classic cocktails. Reasonable prices. •H ighlight: A creepy diving suit inhabits the bathroom.