Tokyo Nightlife Tips by kdoc13

Nightlife Spot: Roppongi

Roppongi is one of the more welcoming places in Tokyo for gaigin (Non Asian looking foreigners, particularly Americans). The area tends to be where those looking to come together go for fun.

I had a great time and met many Japanese friends at a club called Gas Panics, and regularly ate dinner in the area. (It is home to the Tokyo Hard Rock Cafe, a Western Style Ribs joint and other good restaurants).

It is actually easy to get to if you are on the Ginza Line, just keep going west and look for Roppongi as a stop. When you get out of the station, look for a building with a striped awning called "almond" when you see that, you are there!

In addition to clubs, Kareoke bars, restaurants and the usual sort of thing, there is the typical Japanese sex stuff. Chances are you will meet up at some point with a girl who just loves to give a massage, or the Australian ex-pat who works as a doorman for a strip club for the Yakusa. It is not a bad area, in fact I felt safer in Roppongi than I did in most places in the US of A, but if you don't go looking for trouble it won't find you.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: For Gas Panics, dress nicely, but not too nicely, it is a dance club. Remember this isn't an American club where you have to skank yourself up to go to. No no no, instead go by the picture as a guide for Gas Panics and places like the Hard Rock. If you are going someplace else, this rule of thumb may not be appropriate.
Address: Minato-ku
Directions: Near Roppongi Crossing in Ropongi

Nightlife Spot: Shibuya

The picture here is of Shibuya crossing, this is a light day at the worlds bussiest intersection.

Why should you go there? This is the place where some of Japan's top models wear the latest fashions, or where you will likely find a club that has Japan's next major J-pop group. It is also where CD and DVD collectors can find the best deals from small back alley shops. Plus, some of the best world restaurants are found in the area. Sydney Blue is an Australian type cafe, Sonamu has Korean, Le Cafe Blue has good French food.

Don't Miss! Hachiko. It is a dog statue. The dog apparently waited for its master at the station each night, and when the master died, it continued to wait there for him. Very Japanese, and a central meeting spot for the locals.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Adult Spot
Dress Code: It is going to vary from place to place. Keep in mind that most Japanese (even the freaky ones) when they go out dress at the very least in what is considered Business Casual. Many places (like Le Cafe Blue) will probably be better to wear a suit to.
Address: Shibuya-ku
Directions: Take the subway to Shibuya-ku, or take a taxi with the destination of Shibuya Crossing
Website: http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/cityguide/tokyo/shibuya/index.html

Nightlife Spot: Shinjuku

Shinjuku is home to the red light district in Tokyo. There are no two ways about it, that is where go for the ho's. Believe me when I tell you that I did not know this before I stayed there. That being said, it is kind of fun to watch the guys getting nervoud trying to approach one. While Japan loves its sex, there is still the repressive about actually doing it.

The area itself has three sections. Don't worry though, because you can still find a McDonalds on every corner!

Shinjuku East: This is where most of the shopping is done. Check out My City or one of the many other stores that line the area. Be warned though, if you have to walk by the station you will get flooded with people.

Kabuki Cho: This is where you go to see the pretty ladies that charge for their services. Not for the kittens, but interesting to see once.

West Shinjuku: The largest concentration of Skyscrapers in Tokyo. It is the business district and unfortunately where I had my office. Hard to get to, because it is a bit of a walk, and addresses are impossible to find.

Other Areas: Not to be missed is Takashimiya Times Square. This is a shopping complex which is more modern than the old My City. The top three floors are places to go to to have fun.
Shinjuku Park. If you know what Cos-play is you will enjoy the sights in the park. If you don't know what it is, bring a camera. You will see people in Costumes looking for other adults who are similarly inclined, to play with (thus Cos-play).

Leave a Comment

Theme: Adult Spot
Dress Code: In most places, it depends where you are going. But in Kabuki Cho, the red light ladies don't care about dress code.
Address: Shinjuku-ku
Directions: Taxi to Shinjuku Crossing (or station) or by subway to Shinjuku-ku
Website: http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/cityguide/tokyo/shinjuku/index.html

Nightlife Spot: Ginza

The most expensive area in the world! No kidding. One of my business associates and I went for dinner at a restaurant in the Ginza and had two drinks each and shared some tempura. The bill was 90 bucks!

The Ginza is home to a lot of shopping, dining, and drinking places (albeit mostly shopping from what I saw) and they are all expensive. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed every bite of food I ever had there, probably moreso than in other areas of Tokyo, I just didn't have the money to afford it on a daily basis.

The shopping can be interesting, SOny has a store there which showcases some interesting items. Jewelry is plentiful in the area but a bit pricey.

The place in the picture was the movie theatre I loved to visit. you buy your ticket on the ground floor and take an elevator up to the theatre you are in. See my tips page for viewing movies in Japan for more information.

Dont miss real Kabuki theater at Kabuki-za Theatre, near the Higashi ginza station. It is fun for those who like a little culture on their trips.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Most places will require at least business casual from the foreigners, some places though will require a suit.

Also, don't feel bad if someone tells you a place is for Japanese only. This means either that you don't meet their dress code or that they cater to a select business crowd which you are not a part of.
Address: Chuo-ku
Directions: The Ginza Subway line runs mostly south of the center of Tokyo. If you are in Hatchibori or someplace east of the Tskiji Fish market, hop on that line and go west to the Ginza (or Higashi ginza) exit. Or take a taxi.

Nightlife Spot: Odaiba

The Odaiba district is near the seaside and is considered Tokyo's "Futuristic Shopping and Nightlife Area". It is also a really great spot to take a date in Tokyo. It is also a man-made island, which should be impressive enough!

Besides the shopping, there are plenty of places to see and eat at. It also had the most impressive movie theatre I have ever been to in my life!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Dress Code: Depends where you are going. Most Japanese people dress at least Business Casual, so you will feel out of place in jeans and a T-shirt. Some places will also be better visited in a suit.
Address: Minato-ku
Directions: You can access Odaiba by Rinkai Line to Tokyo Teleport Station or by Yurikamome to Daiba Station. Yurikamome is an elevated, unmanned train that departs from Shinbashi Station.

Nightlife Spot: Karaoke

As I often do while traveling, I love to hang out with the locals. I hooked up with a few while shopping for Utada Hikaru CD's in Shibuya. They suggested we go and sing Karaoke.

Karaoke isn't just an evening of entertainment, it is an event. And everyone participates. I don't like singing. In fact, my singing scares children and animals. But that doesn't matter. The whole point of Karaoke is to get completely drunk and entertain your friends. Me drunk is enough normally to be entertaining, but add music and an evening of classic adventure is at hand!

In many places there are options. First there is bar Karaoke. This is starting to get a little more hard to find. You basically go, get drunk and sing to a whole bar. More common now is Room Karaoke. This is kind of like what you see in "Lost in Translation" where you have a private room and you and your friends all sing and drink together.

You can tell the real pro's at Karaoke by the way the sing. It is all about entertaining those you are out with, so some people will make more of a show of it. These are the ones who dance while singing, and can do every song in the book without looking at the words.

Westerners, don't worry there are plenty of songs in English. Although, many will not be ones you'd expect. I still find myself humming an 80's song I had forgotten about after Karaoke, and that was a few years back!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Dress Code: Depends who you are with. Adults tend to go business casual or suits. Younger folks like to go in jeans and their trendy T-shirts.
Address: All over Tokyo, but look in Shibuya and Roppongi
Directions: Best to ask what is closest to you from your hotel or local friends. They will often give you directions to less crowded ones, where the service is better

Nightlife Spot: What the Dickens!

An Ex-pat Bar for the Brit's and those who enjoy them. The name of the Bar is actually "What the Dickens!" And it is a blast!

Ok, there was a moment or two when the Guiness was flowing and I thought I was going to be in hte middle of a very large Bar fight while two guys were yelling their Premier Leauge Football club teams names at each other. (I still get a little bit on edge when I hear the word Arsenal).

There are live bands every night around 8 or 9, and the music varries. My first time there, I caught a dixieland band playing, the next time was Reggae. They also have the usual Pub-food staples such as lamb pie and steak and kidney pie. I went with the Lamb. Yummy. Plus you can wash it down with one of the many UK and Irish beers that are on tap here.

It is a great place to take in music, but a little loud, and a little too dark at times.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: It's a pub. Dress like you are going drinking.
Phone: 03-3780-2099
Address: 1-13-3 Ebisu Nishi
Directions: 1-13-3 Ebisu Nishi. Ebisu Station, (west exit, 2 min.) Take the side street running between Wendy's and KFC; it's at the end of the 2nd block on the left, on the corner, Ebisu, on the 4th floor.