Nightlife in Tokyo

18 clubs, live music venues and late-night spots in Tokyo.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

DrinkShibuya
Camelot
Multi-room nightclub that plays a mix of hip-hop, r&b, and techno/house in their different areas. Most of the clientele is of a younger crowd (ages 20-25). Friday's entrance fee is only ¥1000 (including two drinks).
DrinkShinjuku
Casablanca
A two level nightclub and lounge with a large dance floor and darts. The DJ normally spins hip-hop, R&B, reggae, and house, and there are live house performances periodically through the night.
DrinkShibuya
Club Atom / STUDIO-A
Owned by Vanilla, this club houses three dance floors with music ranging from psychedelic trance to hip-hop.
Entrance fee is only ¥1000 before midnight
DrinkShibuya
Harlem
Large two-floor all hip-hop club. Foreigners may not be admitted unless they bring along a Japanese friend.
¥3000, occasional discount if you enter before midnight
DrinkShinjuku
Marone
マローネ
Tucked away in this tiny cubbyhole of a space is one of the most interesting small bars in Tokyo. A country western theme with Chet Baker and Nat King Cole pouring from the stereo. The food is cheap and superbly done (think chili nachos and the like); beer and spirits are also available. The place is tiny but it attracts a great mix of young groups of friends and office workers. Some nights Marone puts on live music and cover charges are upwards of ¥4000! The older couple who run the bar are terrifically friendly but their English is minimal.
Tue-Sun 11:00-01:00
EatMinato
Worldstar Cafe
Popular with business people or singles during lunchtime. Meal sets are ¥980–1200, comes w/ main, salad, drink; main being spaghetti, etc. Useful for a late night spot to hang around, since they're open until 06:00.
Daily 11:00-06:00 daily
DrinkShinjuku Not mapped
Bar Albatross-G
Casual cocktail bar with Burgundy painted walls, chandeliers and no-frills mixology. Cover charge includes a small snack of either noodles, miso or whatever's brewing. Most drinks are around ¥700. Space includes a second floor "attic" accessible by a thin staircase with more fixtures and local artists' creations. Also visit the original Albatross bar in Shinjuku Omoide-Yokocho.
¥300 cover
BuyShibuya Not mapped
Disk Union
Used and new record dealer with floors each specializing in punk, rock, jazz and dance music.
DrinkShinjuku Not mapped
New York Bar & Grill
One of the main sets for Lost in Translation, this slick joint on the 52nd floor has dark decor and floor-to-ceiling windows with jaw-dropping vistas, with live jazz nightly. Eating a steak here would cost you well north of ¥20,000 per head, but you can nurse a beer for a mere ¥1000 or, "for relaxing times", try out Bill Murray's Suntory Hibiki for ¥3,500.
Daily 17:00-00:00Cover charge ¥3,300 after 18:30
DrinkShibuya Not mapped
Oto
Upscale club of mostly locals that have live jazz bands and DJs. Music ranges from jazz, electro, to Euro rock.
DrinkSumida Not mapped
Popeye Beer Club
麦酒倶楽部Popeye
Popeye's is an excellent place to try Japanese microbrews. There are 70 beers on tap, which cover the full range of beers from familiar ales to barley wines and rauchbiers. The food menu is interesting, try the avocado and blue cheese. English menus are available. Not English friendly if you have problems asking about the menu or bill. Not a standing bar, you have to be seated and charged for that; hidden seating and cover charges can be a nasty surprise when you get your bill.
Mon-Fri 17:00-01:00, Sat 17:00-02:00, closed SunPints of beer are around ¥900, half pints and a sampler set are available
DrinkMeguro Not mapped
Rakuya
楽屋
Spacious, classy but casual restaurant-bar with live music every night.
DrinkShibuya Not mapped
Rock West
A smaller, friendly club that specialised in underground techno, fairly well hidden on 7F of an office building. It's certainly one of the cheaper spots in the area.
Cover charge of ¥1000 and most drinks around ¥500
BuyShibuya Not mapped
Tower Records
For a while the largest record store in the world, now merely mind-bogglingly huge. Good selection of English books and magazines on the top floor, in addition to 6 other floors of J-pop, Western rock, jazz, classical and DVDs.
DrinkShinjuku Not mapped
Vagabond
ばがぼんど
A great little pub with two floors. The first floor is a little more private while the top floor is a very cozy jazz bar with live music and a good selection of finger foods cooked right at the bar for you. Caution to taller travelers: it's a little cramped at the bar. Cover charge and drinks are ¥500-700. The pub usually closes around 23:00 to 23:30 leaving you with plenty of time to get the last train.
DrinkShibuya
Club Asia
Popular for trance music all night long.
DrinkMeguro Not mapped
Clann
Irish pub with live music many nights.
Closed · opens 6 pm
DoShinjuku Not mapped
Club on the Park Spa
Park Hyatt Tokyo Hotel, 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tokyo (CC BY-SA 4.0).