Big Echo
ビッグエコー
Japanese Karaoke: A Unique Culture
🎵 What is Japanese Karaoke?
Unlike Western karaoke where you sing in front of an audience, Japanese karaoke is practiced in "karaoke boxes" - private soundproof rooms where you can sing freely with your friends without fear of judgment.
The essence of Japanese karaoke: "It doesn't matter if you sing well or badly, no one judges you!"The emphasis is on shared fun and participation, not performance.
Big Echo: Japan's Karaoke Leader
Big Echo (ビッグエコー) is Japan's largest karaoke chain with over 400 establishments nationwide. Operated by Daiichikosho, this chain guarantees standardized quality and experience across all its locations.
🎤 The LIVE DAM System: Premium Technology
Big Echo uses the "DAM" system, considered the premium choice in the Japanese market. Key advantages: exceptional audio quality, numerous official artist videos (本人映像), and the latest models (LIVE DAM Ai) include voice commands and a high-precision scoring system.
Your First Visit to Big Echo: Complete Guide
📝 1. At the Reception (Uketsuke - 受付)
The reception is your first point of contact. Look for signs saying "フロント" or "受付". The staff will ask you some essential questions.
💳 MANDATORY and Recommended Membership
Important: Membership registration is usually mandatoryon your first visit. An ID (passport) will be required.
Advantage: Registration is free or very cheap, and member discounts apply immediately! There's no reason to refuse.
👥 Number of People
⏰ Desired Duration
Minimum: 1 hour, billed in 30-min increments
🎫 Important Ticket/Receipt
After providing this information, you will receive a ticket with your room number, start time, and end time. Keep it carefully! It will be essential for final payment.
🥤 "One Drink Order" System - MANDATORY
Essential Rule: Each person MUST order at least 1 drink. It's not optional; it's a condition to benefit from the displayed rate.
This drink will be charged in addition to the room price. Additional budget to plan: ¥200-500 per person minimum.
💰 2. Complete Price and Promotion Breakdown
Understanding Big Echo's pricing structure will allow you to optimize your budget and take advantage of the best available offers.
⚠️ Billing System: Key Points
- • Billing: Per person, in 30-minute increments
- • Minimum duration: 1 hour (2 x 30-min increments)
- • One Drink Order: +¥200-500 per person mandatory
- • Variable rates: Depending on day, time, member status
📅 Off-Peak vs Peak Hours
🎫 Customer Status and Discounts
🕐 Special Plans: Free Time vs Hourly
📊 Smart Calculation:
✁ERecommendations:
💡 Concrete Example: Group of 4 People
Economical Scenario (Wednesday 3 PM):
Expensive Scenario (Saturday 9 PM):
💰 Difference: ¥6800 - Choosing the right time can halve the bill!
🎮 3. Mastering the Denmoku: Your Control Center
🌍 FIRST PRIORITY: Change the Language
Action N°1: As soon as you enter the room, grab the Denmoku (touch remote) and look for the globe 🌍 or flag icon to switch to English, French, or another available language.
This simple action will transform your experience from frustrating to enjoyable! All functions become instantly understandable.
🔍 Optimized Song Search
- • Song Search: General search
- • Artist Search: By artist name
- • 英数 (Eisu): Alphabetical sort A-Z
- • Genre: By musical style
- • Ranking: Popular songs
🎛️ Essential Audio Controls
- • Music Volume: Music Volume
- • Mic Volume: Microphone Volume
- • Key Control: Key Control (+/- for your voice)
- • Tempo: Song Speed
- • Echo: Reverb Effect
📋 Practical Functions
Advanced Experiences: Big Echo Like an Expert
🎭 Special Concept Rooms
📽️ Dual Projector Rooms
Two large screens create a spectacular immersive experience. The cinematic atmosphere completely transforms the singing experience!
👑 Princess & Themed Rooms
Rooms decorated according to special themes (often in limited collaboration with anime, movies, or brands). Perfect for special occasions!
💡 Tip: Ask at the reception which special rooms are available. Note: they may have time restrictions.
🎉 Party Packages: The Perfect Group Solution
The "Party Courses" combine fixed singing time (usually 3h) + food platter + nomihoudai option. An ideal hassle-free solution for groups!
Generally Included:
- • 3h of guaranteed karaoke
- • Appetizer/snack platter
- • Nomihoudai option +supplement
- • Uninterrupted service
Advantages:
- • Fixed price known in advance
- • No order management
- • Perfect for birthdays
- • Guaranteed festive atmosphere
🎤 Hitokara: The Art of Solo Karaoke
The "Hitori Karaoke" (一人カラオケ) or "Hitokara" is perfectly normal in Japan! Many come alone to practice, relax, or simply enjoy their personal time.
Why Try It:
- • Practice without judgment
- • Relaxation and stress relief
- • Discovery of new songs
- • Moment of total freedom
Big Echo Advantages:
- • Special solo rates
- • Welcoming staff
- • Rooms adapted for 1 person
- • No social pressure
💭 For the shy: Starting with hitokara can be the perfect way to discover karaoke before trying it with a group!
Glossary of Essential Terms
受付 (Uketsuke)
Reception, welcome desk
会員 (Kaiin)
Member, subscriber
学割 (Gakuwari)
Student discount
ワンドリンクオーダー制
Mandatory one-drink minimum system
飲み放題 (Nomihōdai)
All-you-can-drink
フリータイム (Free Time)
Free time package
延長 (Enchō)
Extension, prolongation
デンモク (Denmoku)
Karaoke touch remote
一人カラオケ (Hitori Karaoke)
Solo karaoke
本人映像 (Honnin Eizō)
Official artist video
Ordering In Your Room: Complete Guide
📞 Ordering Methods: No Need to Go Out!
Contrary to what you might think, you don't need to leave your roomto order. Everything is done from the comfort of your karaoke box!
📞 Wall Phone (Traditional)
Most rooms have a wall-mounted phone that connects you directly to the reception.
📱 Tablet/Digital Interface (Modern)
Recent establishments use tablets or interfaces on the Denmoku.
🍹 Detailed Drink and Food Options
🥤 À la Carte (Individual)
🍺 Drink Bar (Self-Service)
🍻 Nomihoudai (All-You-Can-Drink)
🍽️ Complete Food Menu
Light Snacks (¥300-600)
- • Fries (フライドポテト) - Karaoke classic
- • Edamame (枝豆) - Salted soybeans
- • Peanuts and savory snacks
- • Onigiri (おにぎり) - Rice balls
More Substantial Dishes (¥600-1,200)
- • Japanese Pizza - Unique style
- • Yakitori - Chicken skewers
- • Fried Rice and various noodles
- • Japanese Curry - Comfort food
📦 Outside Food and Drink Policy
Varies by location: Some Big Echo locations allow outside food/drinks (持込可 - Mochikomi-ka), while others strictly prohibit it.
⚠️ Mandatory check: Consult the specific branch's website or ask at the reception BEFORE making your purchases!
🗣️ Useful Phrases for Ordering
すみません (Sumimasen)
"Excuse me"
これをお願いします (Kore o onegaishimasu)
"This, please"
お会計お願いします (O-kaikei onegaishimasu)
"The bill, please"
ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)
"Thank you very much"
Session End and Payment: Complete Process
⏰ The Final Countdown: Automatic Notification
10 minutes before the end: Your room phone will ring automatically. This is your official signal that time is running out!
The staff will inform you that there's little time left and ask if you wish to extend.Don't panic - it's a standard and friendly procedure.
⏳ Session Extension (Enchō - 延長)
How to Extend
延長お願いします
(Enchō onegaishimasu)
Simply say this phrase when the phone rings, and the staff will take care of the rest!
Practical Details
- • Extensions in 30-minute increments
- • Availability depends on subsequent bookings
- • Confirmation of the new end time
- • Automatic adjustment of your bill
💳 Detailed Payment Process
✅ Payment Steps
Gather Your Things
Pack your belongings and find the ticket/receipt received at reception.This ticket is essential!
Return to Reception
Go to reception with your ticket. Staff will calculate your total bill.
Bill Calculation
Total = Room time + Drinks/food consumed + Any extensions
💰 Accepted Payment Methods
- • Cash (現金) - Always accepted
- • Credit cards - Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex
- • IC Cards - Suica, Pasmo (transport)
- • QR Codes - PayPay, Line Pay
- • Debit cards (at some locations)
💡 Payment Tips
- • Cash recommended - Always accepted
- • Foreign cards - Generally OK in cities
- • Tips - Not necessary in Japan
- • Receipt - Ask if needed (レシート)
🗣️ Useful Phrases for Session End
終わります (Owarimasu)
"We are finishing"
延長お願いします (Enchō onegaishimasu)
"Extension, please"
お会計お願いします (O-kaikei onegaishimasu)
"The bill, please"
カードで (Kādo de)
"By card"
Karaoke Etiquette: The Golden Rules of Harmony
👥 Group Harmony: Essential Rules
🎤 Share the Microphone
Never monopolize! Make sure everyone gets a chance to sing. This is the golden rule of Japanese karaoke.
👏 Be an Excellent Audience
Actively encourage! Applaud, use the free maracas/tambourines, and create a positive atmosphere for the singer.
🚫 Don't Steal the Spotlight
Don't sing over someone else, unless explicitly invited. Let everyone have their moment of glory!
🔄 Avoid Immediate Repetitions
If someone just sang a song, wait before singing it again. Vary styles and artists!
🎵 Choose for the Group
Alternate between your personal tastes and songs everyone knows. Popular hits create a great atmosphere!
⚠️ House Rules: Must Be Respected
English Speaker's Guide: Find Your Repertoire!
🇫🇷 French Music: Reality and Tips
Let's be honest: The DAM catalog contains few French songs compared to English and Japanese music. But don't despair!
✅ What you'll probably find:
Classics:
- • Édith Piaf
- • Jacques Brel
- • Serge Gainsbourg
- • Charles Aznavour
Modern:
- • Daft Punk
- • Stromae
- • Christine and the Queens
- • Mylène Farmer
Pro Tip: Check the catalog on clubdam.com before your visit to prepare your list of available French songs!
🎌 Try J-Pop with Rōmaji Rubi!
Magic Function: The "ローマ字ルビ" (rōmaji rubi) display the Latin phonetics of Japanese lyrics, allowing you to sing in Japanese!
⚠️ Important Limitation
Warning: This function usually only appears on the Denmoku screen, not on the big TV screen. Use it as a "training tool" or memory aid!
💡 Recommended Strategy
Start with simple and repetitive J-Pop songs. Anime and drama theme songs are perfect for beginners! Your Japanese friends will be impressed.
🌍 International Music: Your Comfort Zone
The English catalog is huge! Pop, rock, R&B, classics... You'll be spoiled for choice.
Safe Choices:
- • The Beatles
- • Queen
- • ABBA
- • Michael Jackson
Modern Pop:
- • Taylor Swift
- • Ed Sheeran
- • Adele
- • Bruno Mars
Group Vibes:
- • Don't Stop Me Now
- • Sweet Caroline
- • Bohemian Rhapsody
- • I Will Survive
Practical Information
🕒 Hours
💳 Payment Methods
📍 Location
ℹ️ Good to Know
✨ Why Choose Big Echo
Largest Network in Japan
400+ establishments guarantee quality and accessibility
Premium DAM System
Exceptional audio quality and 300K+ songs
International Welcome
Multilingual interfaces and staff accustomed to tourists
Options for Everyone
From solo hitokara to group party courses
Authentic Culture
Japanese karaoke experience in its essence
🎵 Services
📊 In Numbers
💡 Expert Tips
🕐 Optimal Timing
Morning and early afternoon for the best prices. Avoid Friday-Saturday evenings to save money.
🎫 Strategic Reservations
Book in advance on weekends. Become a member on your first visit to save immediately.
💰 Budget Optimization
Nomihoudai is cost-effective from 2-3 drinks. Free Time is economical for 2h+ sessions.
🎵 Cultural Preparation
Consult clubdam.com before your visit to prepare your French playlist and discover J-Pop.