On my recent trip to Japan, I got to experience the Tokyo Ice Bar owned and operated by Absolut (yes, the vodka people). Now it probably wasn’t a smart idea to visit something called the Ice Bar when Japan is experiencing cold weather but I just totally had to check this place out.



First off, you have to reserve your space. On their website you have to essentially put yourself on a guest list – but what you’re actually doing is reserving a 45 minute timeslot to enjoy the place. I guess they don’t want you getting hypothermia and since the place is not that big they want to accommodate as many people as possible. So my homegirl and I reserved a 7:30pm slot. It wasn't that difficult to find the place, but you totally can't tell from the outside what to expect when you pass through the doors.



Well when you walk in you’re greeted (in a warm room) by the front desk staff. You pay your cover charge ($35) and are fitted with this poncho (alien) thing and some gloves. Then you walk through a door and you find yourself all of a sudden in the Arctic.


Now the $35 cover might sound steep, but you’re essentially paying for the poncho, the gloves and a free first cocktail – served to you in a glass completely made of shaved ice. I tried drinking the cocktail with my bare hand and didn’t feel too bad. I thought about licking the glass to see what would happen, but then I thought how embarrassing it would be to be in the ice bar with your tongue stuck to something? Oh, and the drink was mighty tasty and (of course) I forgot what it was called.

The music? Well I think it’s a canned stereo (or maybe satellite radio) that plays this electronica stuff over some speakers. I don’t think you can really be in there for the dancing. This is more of a mingle situation. And please, no one wants to hear jokes about how you were trying to pick up someone and they gave you the cold shoulder. Believe me, the guy behind the bar has heard them all.

Overall, I thought the Ice Bar was a great experience. In your own research I encourage you to also look up the Ice Hotel (yes, Ice Hotel). Prepare to be amazed. There are quite a few Ice Bars in the entire world. As I was researching where they were located I found out that there is an Ice Bar in Orlando, FL. The first Ice Bar in North America.

Here’s the official site, so you can find out more information about the Ice Bar and its current locations.