When I first came to Japan, one of my biggest worries was whether it would be difficult to live here as a Muslim. Would I be able to find halal food? Would there be places to pray? To my surprise, I’ve discovered that Japan is more Muslim-friendly than I imagined—even in karaoke!
For many Indonesians (myself included), karaoke is a favourite pastime. So when I heard that Manekineko Karaoke in Yotsuya Sanchome, Tokyo offers halal food, I had to check it out.
The karaoke rooms were spacious and modern, complete with big screens and good sound systems. Like most karaoke venues, ordering food and drinks is part of the fun. But here’s the exciting part: they serve halal-certified dishes! The restaurant follows strict halal preparation methods, even using separate cooking equipment to avoid contamination.
The highlight for me was finally being able to try ramen. Normally, ramen in Japan contains pork, so I’ve never been able to eat it. But Manekineko’s halal ramen was safe—and absolutely delicious. It was one of those “bucket list” moments I’d been waiting for.
Another pleasant surprise was discovering that the karaoke venue also has a prayer room for Muslim guests. During our session, when it was time for Dhuhur prayer, the staff kindly directed me to the room. It was such a relief to be able to enjoy karaoke without worrying about missing prayer.
For Muslim students or travellers, this was a great discovery. Halal-friendly spots in Japan are growing, and Manekineko Karaoke is one I’d definitely recommend.
My takeaway: Japan continues to surprise me with how welcoming it can be. At Manekineko Karaoke, I didn’t just sing songs and eat ramen—I felt right at home.
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