From the various karaoke places you can find here in Hungary, Doremifa-ya is probably one of the youngest; however, this aspiring place, being a really authentic Japanese karaoke club, is also one of the best you can find at the same time. Not only are the karaoke machines imported from Japan, but the walls are adorned with ukiyo-e paintings and the place is filled with ikebana flowers, transforming the whole establishment, and giving the feeling of being in Japan.

Doremifa-ya opened its doors at the beginning of this year, and enjoys great popularity amongst its visitors, with good reason. Under Dob Street 51, the place is within five minutes walk from the Király Street stop if you take the trams No. 4 or 6. Besides the convenient location, the low room renting prices also make this place an excellent choice. The wide variety of discounts especially encourage the young ones to go here, as they can sing for half the price with a student ID in their hands. Those feeling too embarrassed can even come alone, using the so called “Ohitorisama” discount, which also nets a 50% discount.

Doremifa-ya is open from noon until midnight, giving you ample time to impress (or depress) your friends with your singing. Renting a room before 6 o’clock costs 3000 HUF (half if you make use of any of the above mentioned discounts), and 5000 HUF after that time until midnight. There are two kinds of karaoke boxes you can choose from: there is the EU room and the Japanese room. So if you don’t feel like sitting on the floor, you can go for the EU room and all the comfort it offers.

The appeal of Shota Goto-san’s establishment does not only stem from the great atmosphere that the Japanese environment provides, there is something else that makes Doremifa-ya even more unique: the wide variety of songs you can choose from. As the only place in Budapest where you can sing Japanese songs to your heart’s content, Doremifa-ya puts itself in a totally different league. You can sing your favorite Ayumi Hamasaki songs, JPOP songs popularized by Japanese animation films, choose from the songs of Visual Kei bands, or if you are familiar with and feel a bit nostalgic you can even select indie bands from the 1990s like: WANDS, Janne Da Arc, Luna Sea, or whatever you fancy.

If you have been searching for the original karaoke experience, Doremifa-ya is definitely the place you want to check out! As this place is a karaoke box, not a bar, please keep in mind that they don’t sell any food or drinks here; however, you are free to bring in whatever you want to share with your friends.

Also, don’t forget to use the link for room reservation: doremifaya.hu/reservation

Location: 51. Dob utca, 1074 Budapest

Open: every day from 12:00 – 24:00

By László Kelemen for XpatLoop.com