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The Honch"The Honch" is a bar district directly across the street from the Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan. Local stories say the main street that makes up the honch is Honchu Street, and once had a sign marking it. There is no known official spelling. "Honch" is the generally accepted spelling. Over time the sign is said to have been stolen so many times by US Navy Sailors stationed in Yokosuka that the city gave up on keeping it (this is unlikely, given the general lack of street signs in Japan). This area is rather infamous in the US Navy. Local Sailors stationed there bring back wild stories of the area to other duty stations, and Sailors stationed as far away as Misawa (a several hour train ride) have been known to take leave just to come down to Yokosuka and party. The honch is home to dozens of different bars, eateries and nightclubs. Most take either US dollars or Japanese yen. These establishments typically range from standard Japanese style bars to American oriented hang outs, catering to the Sailor dollar. Additionally, there are several "buy-me drinkie" bars located in the area, typically staffed by filipina women. These bars offer the guest a "host" to sit with you and keep you company, as long as you continue to buy her drinks, generally about $20 each. There are also a number of "Japanese-only" bars in the area, very confusing to the US military members in the area. These typically cater to the local Japanese businessmen who wish to drink and socialize in a place without the typical "rowdy" Sailor or Marine. Some of the more well known establishments in the honch include: Popeye's - A very "low-rent" bar blaring heavy metal music and known for its shabby interior. Popeyes is located close to Shiori station, at the edge of the honch. It's owned and operated by a local Japanese man named "Tak," who has owned and operated the "heavy metal skid-row" since 1978, according to a sign on the wall. Tak is equally known for his un-Japanese like rudeness and attitude. Additionally, he's been known for drinking along with his customers and often closing the bar early when he becomes too intoxicated to operate it. He has been helped in recent years by his daughter. While prices are typical Japanese fair, Popeye's notoriously makes extremely strong mixed drinks (a whiskey and soda is typically 80 percent whiskey). Popeye's has recently taken to giving cards out to partons who successfully drink a large amount of Habu-sake. Buffalo's - the most well known bar, and the first place you see upon entering the honch. Well kept and quite large for a Japanese bar. Including spacious seating and a video jukebox. Buffaloes is known for its variety of "Chu-hi" drinks. Buffaloes also serves food. New Tokyo - A bar across the street from Buffaloes, New Tokyo has many old arcade classics under glass tabletops and a wide variety of pool tables. New Tokyo serves food. The Carib - The most well known "buy-me drinkie" bar on the Honch, it has a reputation for the very rambunctious hosts, and famously employed a transvestite hostess for a period, much to the drunken surprise of many a Sailor. The Carib is technically slightly outside the Honch area, close to the Yokosuka-chuo station.
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