Tokyo's night is a hundred small rooms, each doing one thing well. The guide is which rooms.
The districts#
| District | What | For |
|---|---|---|
| Shinjuku: Golden Gai | 200 bars with six seats each, small cover charges | The classic Tokyo bar night |
| Shinjuku: Omoide Yokocho | Yakitori and beer under the tracks | Early evening, the start |
| Shinjuku Nichome | Japan's biggest gay district, open to everyone | Friendly, late |
| Kabukicho | Neon, touts, izakaya, host clubs | Walk through once; drink elsewhere |
| Shibuya | Clubs, a young crowd, the crossing | Dancing until the first train |
| Ebisu, Nakameguro | Cocktail bars, wine bars, canal-side | Grown-up, couples |
| Koenji, Shimokitazawa | Live houses, dives, vintage | Music people, cheap |
| Ginza, Yurakucho | Cocktail bars; standing bars under the tracks | Elegant, then the opposite |
| Roppongi | The foreigner strip; big clubs | Skip, or go knowing the scams |
How a night works#
An izakaya first (small plates, drinks, a table charge of a few hundred yen with a tiny dish). Then a tiny bar: Golden Gai's have cover charges posted at the door, a few hundred to a thousand yen, and six stools; the ones with English signs welcome visitors, the ones without may be regulars-only, and a shake of the head isn't rude. Then the last train, around midnight, or the decision to stay out: karaoke, a 24-hour izakaya, a manga café, a capsule hotel, the first train at 5.
Dress#
Neat. Clubs in Shibuya may refuse sandals or shorts; everywhere else, clean and understated. What to wear in Tokyo. Clubs card everyone; bring your passport.
The scams#
Kabukicho and Roppongi touts: a man offers a bar with cheap drinks or company, the bill arrives at twenty times the number, or you wake up with your card drained. Never follow anyone who approaches you on the street. Pick your own bar, read the cover charge, pay as you go. Is Tokyo safe? covers the rest.
Also#
Jazz clubs in Shinjuku and Shibuya, standing sake bars in Ebisu, a yakatabune dinner boat, the Sumida at night, late ramen everywhere. Things to do in Tokyo, for couples, for young adults.
With a Tokyoite#
The bar with no sign, the regulars-only door that opens for a local, the izakaya that isn't on any list: Tokyo's night is a hundred times better with someone from here. Post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend can take you.
A Tokyo night out? Go with someone who knows which door.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best area for nightlife in Tokyo?
Shinjuku, for range: Golden Gai's two hundred tiny bars, Omoide Yokocho's yakitori alleys, Nichome's gay district, and the big neon of Kabukicho. Shibuya for clubs. Ebisu and Nakameguro for a calmer, grown-up night.Is Tokyo nightlife good for foreigners?
Yes, if you go where Tokyoites go: izakaya, Golden Gai, Shibuya's clubs, Koenji's live houses. Roppongi is the district built for foreigners and the one with the most scams. A few tiny bars are regulars-only; the sign or a shake of the head tells you, and it's not personal.What time do trains stop in Tokyo?
Around midnight to 1am depending on the line, and start again around 5. Plan your night around the last train home, or commit to staying out until the first one: karaoke, a 24-hour izakaya, a manga café or a capsule hotel fill the gap. Taxis exist and cost real money across town.What are the nightlife scams in Tokyo?
Touts in Kabukicho and Roppongi inviting you into a bar with cheap drinks or women: inflated bills, spiked drinks, card fraud. The rule is absolute: never follow anyone who approaches you on the street. Choose your own bar, check the cover charge on the menu, and pay as you go if unsure.
