Lock n' loll

When I wasn't busy dodging burgers like the one below in Kyushu last week, I was off in Beppu finding the best bar on this side of the Pacific. A short walk from the port, Hit Parade is an intoxicatingly bizarre blend of Japanese and Western culture. 3600 yen (3000 for women) gets you in the door, which is a steal once you see what's inside. Waiting when you get to your table is a bottle of Suntory whiskey and a rockabilly waiter ready to show you to the all-you-can-eat buffet. Throw in several sets of live American 50s music from the house band The Hit Paraders, plus SEVEN HOURS of nomihodai (all you can drink), and you've found a recipe for a great night out in southern Japan.

Accurate delivery of American rock lyrics? Not so much. A fun time anyway? You betcha.


the joint


the grub


the tunes