8-Bit Cafe & 16 Shots
For the first episode of Points, we visited two fantastic videogame-themed bars, 8-Bit Cafe and 16 Shots.
About 8-Bit Cafe
Beyond the Famicom, Super Famicom and vast library of games (yes, you can play them!), the 8-Bit Cafe has lots of other goodies to look at, from full collections of manga to kitschy plastic robots. Game nerds can also geek out at the showcase filled with oddball gaming peripherals and autographed carts.
Fairly quiet during the week, 8-Bit Cafe does get a bit busy on weekends. Be warned that there are private events held there from time to time, so you might not be able to get in.
Aside from the usual coffee/tea, the cafe does serve booze and a small selection of food suitable for a light dinner.
Hours
Mon, Wed-Sat 7pm-5am
Sunday 3pm-1am
Closed Tuesdays
Website: http://8bitcafe.net (Japanese)
About 16 Shots
I know that you want to call it “Sixteen Shots”, but the owner insists that it be called “Jyuroku Shots.” This tiny bar has enough space to seat 6 people comfortably, or maybe 8 or 9 if you’re really friendly with your drinking partners. While listening to game music and watching old video game commercials, you can chat about games old and new with the owner and the friendly regulars .
There’s also a small collection of consoles to play with, including a Famicom Box and a Pioneer LaserActive running PC Engine games. Be sure to check out the old gaming magazines and video game memorabilia around the bar. Look carefully and you’ll see a very special autographed Famicom.
Hours
Mon-Thurs 9pm-4am
Fri/Sat 8pm-5am
Closed Sundays
Website: http://16shots.jp/i/ (Japanese)
These places are just a few minutes walk away from each other, so if you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to visit both!
August 23rd, 2007 - 4:46 pm
[...] Tokyo Game Bars Published August 23rd, 2007 Pop Culture , Japan , Games Check out the first episode of the newly launched Points series for GameVideo.com, where Jason DeGroot — a gamer, performer (as 6955), and game company [...]
December 9th, 2008 - 2:07 am
[...] Walk three blocks over to 2-chome close by. There, squeeze yourself into the slot called 16shots to talk about good old video games, as the info on mixi states. So true! A bar consists basically of a long counter, elaborately decorated with games of the 80’s and other game memorabilia. It bears its name from the famous gamer, Takahashi Meijin, who was able to shoot 16 times per second in the Adventure Island game from the late 80s, as owner ‘Jyuroku’ explains in Jason DeGroot’s awesome Point videocast. [...]
December 9th, 2008 - 2:29 am
[...] 隣の二丁目に向かって3ブロックほど歩くと、16SHOTSという、MIXIの紹介にある通り古き良きビデオゲームの思い出を語り合える空間に滑り込むことができる。このバーは80年代以降のゲームグッズで埋め尽くされたお店。店長の佐藤十六さんは、店の名前の由来は80年代後半に発売されたゲーム、高橋名人の冒険島で知られる高橋名人の有名な16連射（毎秒16回の速さでコントローラーのボタンを押した）であるとジェイソン・デグロートさんの素晴らしいウェブサイトPoint Videocastで明かしている。 [...]