post-beer garden apocalypse

in osaka – and i’d presume in other parts of japan too – rooftop beer gardens are popular in the warmer months. they offer all you can eat and drink for about 3300 to 4000yen, and are lots of fun cos you just sit there with friends and enjoy yourself on the roof where it’s nice and cool. all the people at the beer garden are nicely drunk, so the atmosphere is really lively and relaxed too.

 

i’d been to beer gardens several times before, but yesterday we witnessed a post-beer garden apocalypse for the very first time. these events begin from 5.30 till about 9pm; everyone has to leave by 9, and the staff will all gently shoo us out.

when we exited the building, the sight that greeted us seemed like the aftermath of a terrorist attack – there were people sprawled on the floor dead drunk with their friends gathered around them, some trying to revive them, others playing a fool and drawing on their faces. puke was on the floor in various spots.

just in this narrow view above are already two terribly drunk people – there were quite a lot more. apparently there were people being sick in the men’s room from about 6.30pm (and had clogged up the sink); there were also ladies throwing up in the toilet when we were leaving. one of the japanese people in our party said that this is something that would only happen in osaka and not tokyo. haha. i’ve seen people unconscious on the floor before on nights out, but never have i seen so many of them at one single place so early in the night. it was crazy! i’m curious as to why this had never occurred before when i’d been to beer gardens though. perhaps it’s really early in the season so people’s tolerance for alcohol is a little on the low side?