Karaoke Box

A karaoke box (カラオケボックス, karaoke bokkusu?) is a common type of karaoke establishment commonly found in Japan. Karaoke boxes consist of multiple rooms containing karaoke equipment, usually rented out for time periods. A typical karaoke box establishment contains 10–20 (or more) such rooms as well as a main karaoke bar area in the front. Karaoke box establishments often sell refreshments.

The term karaoke box is primarily used in Japan and Hong Kong. In Taiwan and China, karaoke box establishments are commonly known as KTV (an abbreviation of karaoke television), videoke in the Philippines, noraebang (노래방) in South Korea (literally meaning singing room), and phòng karaoke in Vietnam (which means karaoke room). It is also common to simply abbreviate it as K in Hong Kong Cantonese, often when used as a verb, for example 去K歌 (to go K songs) or 去唱K (to go sing K). In Vietnam, karaoke is used as a verb as well: đi hát karaoke (go sing karaoke).

• Lobby of a karaoke box in Japan

• Entrance to a karaoke box in China

• A karaoke box in a skyscraper in Shinjuku, Tokyo, featured in the movie Lost in Translation.