Tokyo at Night
As one of the largest cities in the world, Tokyo always has something going on, be it concerts, events or store openings. There is hardly a dull moment in the city, and some places are open 24/7. First-time travelers may be uncertain in navigating the city's nightlife: Is it safe? What are my options? Is it okay if I don't speak Japanese?
We spent some time exploring Tokyo after dark and found a variety of different options. From dining to entertainment to sightseeing, the city offers quite a diverse nightlife experience.
First up, we headed to Ebisu Yokocho a stone's throw from the east side of JR Ebisu Station. Do not let the small entrance, which is sandwiched between a convenience store and a restaurant, fool you. The tiny alley contains about 20 different restaurants serving up a variety of cuisines. The restaurant alley starts filling up from around 19:30 on weekdays and earlier on the weekends. One of the rules of dining here is: drinks must be purchased from the store you are seated at but you can get food from other vendors in the alley.
Moving on to Roppongi, a popular nightlife hotspot, we visited three establishments in the area. The first was an entertaining dinner show at Kaguwa which offers about two 1-hour performances every day. Dancers weave modern and traditional dance moves and stories into their show and sometimes engage the audience in their play.
For those who want to sample Japanese sake, Densui at the basement of Roppongi Hills is one of the best places to go. They carry a large selection of Japanese sake from across the country and offer delicious food to match the alcohol.
If you are looking to party more in the Roppongi district, Esprit Tokyo near the Roppongi Crossing is a popular nightclub to dance the night away. The club hosts different events everyday with guest DJs, and is open till 5:00 in the morning.
The 'Otaku' (enthusiast; typically with regards to Japanese anime and manga) phenomenon has experienced a huge surge in Japan in the last decade, with Tokyo serving as the subculture's epicenter. For those wanting to experience Japanese otaku culture up close, one of the best places to go is Akihabara, where idol bars such as Dream Stage can be found.
In this and many other establishments, the staff, who have dreams of becoming famous pop stars, perform songs on stage before flocks of admiring fans. Drinks and snacks can be purchased that are served by the wannabe idols, allowing their fans the unique opportunity to interact with them.
Another of Tokyo's centers of Otaku centers is Nakano, a twenty-minute train ride from Akihabara. In this little-known-to-tourists neighborhood Stands Nakano Broadway, a multi-story mall containing a plethora of otaku shops that sell everything from anime and manga memorabilia to retro games consoles. With many of the shops closing around 8pm, this might be considered as a quick stop before experiencing the nightlife.
If shopping works up your appetite, a great place to eat in the Nakano area is at Aoba, an established ramen restaurant with more than twenty years' history. Very popular among locals, the eatery boasts delicious ramen that may serve you well ahead of a night of drinking.
From Aoba, it's a short meander through Nakano's winding back streets to Karaoke Bar Zeto. This Karaoke bar specializes in songs from popular Japanese anime series, and patrons can order drinks and sing while the staff, who are dressed like popular anime characters, cheer them along.
After singing your heart out at Karaoke, a perfect place for a nightcap is in Shinjuku's Golden Gai. This compact network of narrow alleys is home to dozens of tiny drinking holes, some of which sit no more than a few customers at a time. The atmosphere in this area is exciting to say the least, and with many of the establishments open all night, you're free to continue merriment here until the wee hours.
