Clubbing Overview
For this brief introduction to clubbing in Tokyo we consider two main
categories:
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Enjoy !
1 – Japanese-style clubs
In Japan, foreigners are mostly male, so it’s the male audience that makes the biggest difference. Therefore, by Japanese and foreigner, here we mean the guys.
Among the Japanese-style clubs we differentiate between three types:
1.1 – Japanese Disco
Japanese-disco clubs are those where the youngest and prettiest girls usually go. They don’t necessarily follow a specific looks but,
Himegyaru will certainly feel at ease here. Guys there are mostly Japanese and many will come in with their salaryman suits.
While females are more interested in studying English, those in the Japanese-disco clubs are probably straight off school and haven’t really had a chance to practice the language much, or may even not really want to learn (thought most people in Japan are obsessed with learning English !). Practically, in these clubs chances are that most girls aren’t expecting to be approached by a foreigner.
It’s not all lost however ! Because where the gaijin are scarce, girls that can speak some English (and had a few drinks) are likely to make an effort to be noticed. To most Japanese, foreigners are “cool” but it’s easier to be cool where not every other guy is a foreigner. Some Japanese guys may try to shake your hand, introduce you to their girlfriends or generally use you as a vehicle of coolness: “Look at me ! I’m friend’s with a foreigner !”.
Those are interesting experiences, but there is also a good chance that you’ll feel out of place. It’s really up to the individual. Most of us dig the Japanese-disco clubs, so, we can only suggest you to try them at least a couple of times. Try heading for Xross (Xross is now closed 8( ) or alife in Roppongi / Nishi-Azabu and see what you make of it.
When you go there, remember to bring your ID (you always should !) and leave sandals and shorts at home, as there is a basic dress code to follow. And, while you are at it, try to put to use your more formal clothes.. many Japanese girls do like that.
1.2 – Japanese Themed Clubs
By themed we mostly mean Ganguro, Mamba, Yamamba or similar. If one of them is entering the club, chances are that the crowd inside is also following the same style.
It can be an interesting experience, but the cultural exchange is certainly going to be minimal. If you go with a group of friends you can have fun anyway. But, there is a good chance to end up feeling out of place.
The music is usually some Trance, though a very peculiar “candy Trance” that shares little or nothing with the Trance known in the rest of the World.
The currently most active club hosting these events is Atom in Shibuya.
1.3 – Japanese Standard Club
A standard club in Japan is a club with a tendency towards House or Techno music, and where there is basically no dress code. A casual place where the younger foreigners find themselves more at ease ..it can be great fun !
The tendency is more towards enjoying good club music with a more casual crowd and less about picking up.
Also, with better music and more popular DJs, prices tend to go up, for men and women alike.
Our first suggestion would be Womb in Shibuya. The location is great, DJs are top notch and the sound system is the real deal.
The most impressive is ageHa where practically all major international Trance DJs spin. The place however is located pretty far away.. though a free bus service is usually available from and to Shibuya station all night long.
There are also a lot of smaller clubs that are less “commercial” so to speak. There, depending on the night and on the DJ, you may dance at the rhythm of reggae, techno, psy-trance.
The smaller clubs is often where groups of friends gather to support a certain minor DJ and turn the night into some sort of home party away from home (Tokyo apartments are too small to held decent parties !).
While those aren’t quite private parties, chances are that most of the people present already know each other. May you stumble upon one of those clubs, don’t be afraid to stick around.
Most Japanese are only happy to have a cool gaijin around. This can be a good way to make new local friends !
2 – Gaijin-style clubs
These are those clubs that are mostly populated by gaijin men and Japanese women.
Like for the Japanese-style clubs, we also subdivide into three sub-categories:
2.1 – Gaijin Roppongi Clubs
Roppongi clubs are famous for being rather decadent, filled with the less experienced foreigners looking for the simple translation of foreign (read: American) bar and clubs.
To get into those places, which are mostly located on Roppongi st., there is usually no cover charge. Drinks are not cheap but they are made for the stronger western drinkers. The level of decadence really depends on the place. We suggest trying a few places, give them more than once chance, you never know what can come out of it. Non-Japanese girls will feel more at ease, but forget the kawaii Japanese girls of alife.
Also watch out for prostitutes and transvestites… unless that’s your thing !
The nice thing about these clubs is that there is usually no cover charge, so you can get in, have a drink and get out. Some clubs may sort of suggest you into buying at least one drink. But in most cases you can probably just say “no”.
Wallstreet, Gas Panic, 911 Black, Motown are among the most famous, but there is really a lot more.
2.2 – Gaijin Mature Hangouts
By “mature” we mean those places where there at least some dress code (usually no shorts, no sandals). Where the girls pay less or nothing to get in and where the average age is higer, especially for the men.
The typical “mature” route in Roppongi, starts in Roppongi Hills, at Heartland, and more more recently also at Rigoletto and follows to Muse. Alternatively starting in a bar in Tokyo Midtown, such as A971, which seem to draw an even more mature crowd than Heartland itself.
Other possible destinations are, again 911 Black (which is also somewhat of a “Roppongi Club”) or even Lexington Queen, Midas, or the loungish Velours if you are in Aoyama (Velours is quite hidden and it’s an hit-and-miss kind of place).
2.3 – Gaijin Miscellaneous Clubs
Our experience lacks here. We only tried a couple of Salsa clubs and they are so different from the rest that they need a separate section, so we put them here in the “miscellaneous”.
Salsa is great fun ! It takes two to dance salsa and it’s really OK to ask any lady in the room.. no fears, no uptightness ..Great ! Our experience is limited to Salsa Sudada and El Cafe’ Latino, the first being more cozy and the second more spacious.
As we said, salsa is great fun ! But, as much as the tenants may be completely unware of this, we must warn you that in at least two occasions some personal items have disappeared from jackets and bags at Salsa Sudada.
We suggest you to go and try the club, just forget that you are in Japan and make sure to use the lockers and do not leave your stuff unattended ! (We could extend this suggestion for clubs in Roppongi in general, where a few foreigners may engage in some dishonorable behavior..)
If you would like to know more about Salsa in Tokyo, try www.salsapower.com
is this list still relevant?
jon you mean the whole article or just the last part ?
I think in general it’s always relevant for those that are new to the city and tourists 8)
Just updated again 8)
@Davide
Hi! good site! I’ve been living in Tokyo for about 10 months now but I,ve never been to any roppongi clubs yet hehe…don’t know why but I’ve always ended up in Shibuya and everyone keeps telling me that roppongi isn’t that good but I wanna try it before I head back home! Do you know if I can enter Alife and Xross if I’m 21??
ummm.. I’m afraid that to get in Xross or alife you have to be 23 (men 23, women 21).
IDs are always checked at the door and I wouldn’t bet on the bouncers to make any exceptions.
..one would think that by 21 there shouldn’t be these issues anymore (^^).
Roppongi (as Roppongi crossing and most clubs around there) is a bit like not being in Japan. Some like that, some don’t see a point.. I guess it’s good to try everything from time to time 8)
(just don’t try the sleazy “hostess bars for gaijin” places)
How old should you be to enter clubs? :)
That depends on the club.. the legal drinking age in Japan is 20.. and that should get you in most places.
However, some clubs may be more selective. For example, ALife admits girls from 21 and above and guys from 23 and above.
If you are male and below 23, you may want to check in advance before you plan on going to a specific club.
Have fun 8)
Hmm.. I wonder if there are any less strict clubs or some which can be entered from 18? Please let me know, if anyone know.
Lancer.. unfortunately, most clubs do check the ID.
I remember once someone managed to sneak in an 18 years old girl in Xross, but I don’t remember if she was borrowing an ID.. and in any case Xross is now closed for good it seems (^^;)
If I remember correctly, those no-cover-charge bars in Roppongi such as 911 and Wallstreet have so much traffic that may end up not checking IDs… but they are what they are.. 8)
hmmm,i sounds intersted… i`ll to come down rock the star,,,,
i am a club dj, for 7 yrs, i wish to apply for a dj’ing job in japan…
i can rap and emcee for the crowd
hope to hear some ideas from your end
thank you
dj nash
davao city phillippines
I’m impressed with this article. It’s so right…like a small thing as matured ppl go to heartland, then head to muse…and pointing that a the similar crowd goes to a971 and true, most ppl there are over 30 at least.
I see so many younger ppl in those free entry places and they tend to seem sleezy , and not really a high class atmosphere.
You might wanna add regoletto too on the 5f floor in roppongi hills. It’s a hang out place filled with older foreigners, but not sure if pick ups happen that frequently since the aisle is too narrow to move around…
Feria is anothe place a whole bunch of foreigners head to after hearland& a971.
Nash sorry, no idea here.
DJs I know are doing this job out of local connections.
Anon,
I’ve heard of Feria and I’ve been at Rigoletto a couple of times.. last time I thought I should add it as an alternative to Heartland and I’ll do that indeed.. thanks for the suggestions 8)
..I haven’t been hanging around Roppongi in a while and to some extent I miss that.
Though it’s a real drag to walk around Roppongi crossing ..with all those guys trying to get you into those nasty sex-bars for foreigners.
I cracked up when one once boasted about his girls being “disease-free” …how enticing !!
Im going to the shibuya/harajuku area, i will be staying there for about a month, i will only be 21 and on my own, i would rather go to to non foriegn bars and clubs, any suggestions? thanks a million!
Hey Anon,
At 21 there shouldn’t a problem in regular clubs (unlike the J-Disco pickup places).. but bring your ID along.
Try Club Air in Daikanyama. The admittance there is 20 and up..
Also Asia and Womb.. which are in Shibuya and are very popular.
Womb is larger and more famous, but there are more foreigners there, and it’s usually 500 yen more expensive than Asia.
Have fun 8)
@nash hello nash. i suggest you get a visitor’s visa. stay at a friend’s house living within tokyo. everything there is just expensive. learn to speak nihongo. gambatte kudasai (please strive / good luck!)
I was reading this and I saw that Lance wanted to know about the ages for clubs that allow people of 18 to enter. Well Lance (Anybody intrested in the same question) clubs in Shibuya are very strict about age and ID all the time no exceptions and you must be of age 19(you cant get in if you just turned 18 the year your trying to go in) for Atom or Harlem. Club Asia and Womb are the standard age of 20. Camelot im not to sure of i havent ever been there or heard of anything.
Now for Roppongi is a very different situation, (I personally dont like Roppongi for its very much filled up to the top in Foreigners) for the clubs in Roppongi dont check IDs often and the ages start at 18(bring ID always just incase) for almost every club except the ocassional 1 or 2 clubs.
For my overall summary i would say Roppongi is more of a sleezy un-ordered club district, and Shibuya is the high-class orderly club district. If you want to get the girls to notice you and possibly try a shot with you go to Shibuya for its very scarce in Foreigners better chance when trying to find a Japanese girl. Roppongi as I said is foreigners territory. Hope this helped out a bit and have fun!