Adanami

Karaōke within a used bookstore, very reasonable rates and BYOB. The remote control system is a fairly modern touchscreen-​based remote. There’s even a shop down the end of Brewer St. selling Japanese alcohol and other drinks for the complete experience.
Used bookstore also has a decent selection of books to read if one arrives early.

Back-​room Karaōke? Of a bookstore? That’s new.

Not that I’ve been to all that many karaōke spots in London, but this is one of the first places I went to, and is still my favorite spot!
Its a second hand Japanese bookstore, within an ex-​launderette, and with karaōke rooms in the back! I can’t say much about the bookstore, but everyone else seems thrilled with the selection there.
What I can vouch for are the karaōke rooms in the back! I can’t quite remember how much it costs per hour, I think it undercuts a few of the major chains. Reservations require a deposit up front (I believe you have to go to the store to do this). The rooms are really cramped, but what better way to spend time with a bunch of people, screaming at the top of their lungs, than to be squished up against one another?
This place is awesome for a number of reasons:
— good selection of English and Japanese songs
— BYOB (they have a mini bar fridge for you to keep your stuff cool, and there’s a Co-​Op around the corner)
— You can bring your own snacks and hot food, as long as its nothing too strong smelling
Definitely one of the best finds I’ve stumbled into!

This place is a pretty cool find* for anyone traipsing down Brewer Street.
The tatty, un-​modified exterior — of what was presumably a dry cleaners back in the day, going on the name — is not designed to invite random bypassers inside. Being a Japanese-​only manga and bookstore, this place will mean little to most people — including myself. But the set-​up — floor to ceiling bookcases creating a mini-​warren of Nihon literature, animé and periodicals — is worth popping in to for the experience alone — very ‘dépaysant’, to borrow a phrase from across the channel.
The also seem to do a good line in NTSC /​imported games, which could come in handy. To some people. Somewhere. At some point…
* If your kanji is up to scratch. Which mine is most certainly not. I just like looking… ~_~

Small second-​hand Japanese book shop with karaōke boxes in the back located in this ex-​launderette (the shop sign still states it is a launderette!) in Soho.
A wide rage of japanese novels, manga and magazines as well as various Japanese dictionaries.
Books are piled high and it is a little cramped. Second hand manga and novels are also grouped into set by volume and sold at bulk prices if you want to try and buy a whole series.
The selection is not that new and lots of the newer manga are not available. Great for finding parts of old series or picking up one off books.
A great place to visit if you study Japanese and would like some cheap old-​school non-​electronic dictionaries or books to practice with.
Staff are always friendly; don’t be intimidated!
I haven’t tried the karaōke box Epoch that they rent out by the hour per room, but it seems popular enough with students.