The World Moves Towards "Standing Bars" Without Stopping ── The Background and Globalization of Japan's Standing Bar Boom

Table of Contents

1. Background of the Standing Bar Boom Resurgence

2. Low Investment × High Turnover Business Model

3. Driven by Young Women and Inbound Tourists

4. Regional Revitalization and Vacant Property Rejuvenation

5. Global Standing Culture

6. Challenges and Sustainability

7. Outlook for 2030

8. Conclusion
   
   

1. Background of the Standing Bar Boom Resurgence

1-1 Revival of the Reiwa-era "Kakuuchi"

Standing bars, rooted in kakuuchi※1, declined in the late Showa period but have resurged in the 2020s. Particularly in urban areas, the opening of standing bar establishments in 2023 saw the highest growth rate within the food and beverage sector, with a 15% increase compared to the previous year⁽²⁾.

1-2 Three Social Factors

1. Short-Time Happiness Needs
   The behavioral shift to "wanting to keep stay time short" became established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
   
   

2. Cost-Saving Mindset in an Era of High Costs
   The pricing, with no seat fees or charges and drinks starting at 300 yen, resonated with the younger generation struggling with stagnant real wages.
   
   

3. Flexible Store Design
   Standing = space-saving, allowing for reduced rent and operation with a minimum of two staff members⁽³⁾.
   
   

2. Low Investment × High Turnover Business Model

Standing bars require an initial investment of one-third that of seated establishments and have simpler operations. By introducing cashless exclusive lanes and self-pouring machines, the labor cost ratio can be reduced to the 10% range. There are increasing cases where municipalities provide subsidies as a strategy to revitalize shuttered shopping streets.

3. Driven by Young Women and Inbound Tourists

• Rising Female Ratio
  According to a Toyo Keizai Online interview, the female customer ratio at a certain standing bar chain in Tokyo rose from 25% to 38%⁽¹⁾. The spread of "Instagrammable wooden barrel tables" and "craft gin" on social media was a contributing factor.
  
  

• Foreign Tourists
  From 2024 onwards, stores that introduced English menus and mobile ordering saw a 1.2 times increase in customer spending. The standing bar experience is gaining high ratings on Tripadvisor as a "Japanese bar."
  
  

4. Regional Revitalization and Vacant Property Rejuvenation

In the example of Fukuoka City's Daimyo area, the city provided subsidies (up to 2 million yen) for utilizing vacant stores, leading to the concentration of four craft beer standing bars. The number of visitors increased by 12% compared to the same period the previous year⁽³⁾. Short-stay standing bars generate "bar hopping consumption," creating a ripple effect on surrounding restaurants.

5. Global Standing Culture

In these countries, "short time, low cost, high interaction" is a common theme. The Japanese-style standing bar system (prepayment, allowing food to be brought in, etc.) is being applied to the operation of overseas bars.

6. Challenges and Sustainability

1. Crowding and Manners
   Complaints about customers spilling onto the streets while standing have been increasing year by year. Stores are now designing pathways that consider pedestrian flow and using mobile alerts to keep waiting lines indoors.
   
   

2. Staff Fatigue
   Due to standing work and continuous high-turnover service, shifts are shortened and higher hourly wages are offered to maintain competitive recruitment.
   
   

3. Sustainability
   An increasing number of stores are reducing waste by introducing sake sold by weight and reusable cups.
   
   

7. Outlook for 2030

• Digital Tourism Collaboration
  A "Stamp Rally NFT" for touring standing bars has been trialed to encourage repeat visits by inbound tourists.
  
  

• AR Menu Display
  Apps with AR features that display recommended snacks when hovering over a beer are becoming mainstream.
  
  

• Multinationalization
  "Hybrid Stands," where foreign owners in Japan blend their own standing bar culture, are emerging as global community hubs.
  
  

8. Conclusion

Standing bars have evolved into a communication platform that enriches urban downtime, beyond just "cheap and fast." The standing bar culture originating from Japan continues to diversify as it intersects with standing cultures worldwide, and by 2030, it is expected to integrate with smart tourism infrastructure. As small hubs supporting local economies, the future of standing bars is still expanding.

Reference Articles (with links)

1. Toyo Keizai Online "Why Young Women Increased in Standing Bars After COVID" (2024/3/5) toyokeizai.net

2. PR TIMES "National Restaurant Opening Ranking Report ver4" (2025/6/5) prtimes.jpre-view.jp

3. Drum-Company "Standing Izakaya Management Techniques: Success Rules for Creating Popular Stores" (2024/5/23) drum-company.net

4. Omise Craft "Why Attention is Focusing on the Standing Bar Business Model Now" (2024) column.omise-craft.com

5. Food & Wine "Meet Pintxos, the Spanish Secret to Effortless Entertaining" (2025/6) foodandwine.com

6. Coffee Intelligence "Italy's iconic €1 tradition faces a new chapter" (2024/11) intelligence.coffee

7. OpaqA Coffee "Diverse Coffee Rituals: The Italian Espresso Culture" (2025/1) opaqacoffee.com

8. PUB CCC Introduction Article "Korean Pocha Culture Expands to Ho Chi Minh" (2025/6) nishivietnam.com

9. Leisure Studies "Vertical drinking in the night-time economy" (2023) tandfonline.com