Japanese Nightlife

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Laws in Japan (Tokyo)

• Must be 20 to smoke or drink

• Drinking in the streets is legal in most areas of Japan

• There are even vending machines that you can purchase beer from

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Costs

• Entry into a bar/club can be around $70; A "hostess" club can run around $200; Jazz Club $70.

• A shot is around $10; Beer $8; Wine is about 3 times the amount in USA.

• A cab ride is very expensive (Almost $200 from the airport depending on where your destination is), its best to stay within walking distance of your home/hotel room or take the train.)

Themed Nightclubs 

Izakaya: Japanese version of a pub, can be found all around Japan and there are many different chains but the more "rustic" looking ones seem to be more reasonably priced according to past travelers. 

Bar Milwaukee - English Style Pub that has darts, pool tables, and foosball.

Bauhaus - A bar where a Japanese band plays American 70's and 80's cover songs.

Magambo Bar- African themed bar which has a huge bell above the bar which announces when someone has bought shots for the whole place, there are also many toga parties.

Womb- Consists of 4 nightclubs and many bars and is known for its use of strobascope lightshows. Entrance fee is 3500 Yen or $38.72.

During April 2008, a series of special events took place at Womb Nightclub in Tokyo, Japan.

The second edition on April 18th saw Cocoon Recordings duo Pig & Dan morphing Tokyo with their trademark techhouse & the second Cocoon export that night was charismatic Italo German DJ Andre Galluzzi who transmitted the sound of Cocoon.

(Cacoon is a well-known recording label based out of Germany)

Where are they located?

• Shinjuku offers a wide variety of activities with clubs, bars, adult shops, and concentration of gay/lesbian bars.
• Roppongi is probably the most popular place for tourists to drink & go clubbing. English is widely spoken and the area has a wide range of bars & clubs that cater to most tastes.  It is also said to have tons of shops and restaurants including the Hard Rock Cafe.
• Shibuya has a few clubs & is very popular with the young local crowd.
• Kobe is rumored to be filled with pubs owned by foreigners but tons of fun.
• Shinsaibashi 
• Osaka

Karaoke

Karaoke is said to be the staple form of entertainment for anyone who lives in Japan. It is a way for the "white collar" workers or "salarymen" to let loose and since there are private rooms people feel they are not "losing face" if they cannot sing well as do Americans when they usually perform at a crowded bar or club in front of others.

Sources:

www.japanactions.com 

http://www.pubclub.com/OneNightStand/tokyo.htm

http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=359&pID=337

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Japan/Nightlife-Japan-BR-2.html 

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Also See:

Drinking Culture