A gorgeous night! TOP 14 carefully selected nightlife spots in Tokyo's red-light district

Speaking of Tokyo's nightlife, it's really wonderful! The gorgeous dances and dazzling sound and light performances in the nightclubs are American style, and there are also attempts to combine Japanese traditions with new techniques. Each one has a distinct personality; bars and restaurants not only satisfy the appetite of customers, but also have novel store designs and use digital technology to create an atmosphere. It can be said that all creativity and expertise are used to light up a piece of light in the dark.
The first half of the stores explored this time are concentrated in Roppongi, which is famous for its nightlife, and the second half is Shinjuku, one of the representatives of fashion. Finally, a guided tour is introduced so that first-time or solo travelers can have peace of mind. Let's have fun tonight!

01 "Burlesque TOKYO"



Located in Roppongi, "Burlesque TOKYO", which has been introduced by many media, is famous for its wonderful dance performances and is known as the Japanese version of Moulin Rouge. There are three performances a day, and people under 20 years old are not allowed to enter. The admission discount for foreign audiences is 5,000 yen + 500 yen for drinks. There are a total of 110 seats. After entering, choose your seat and wait for the performance to begin.

The ever-changing sexy dance on the stage combines Western and Japanese elements. The dancers tease the audience from time to time and interact with the audience. The host also has a sense of humor, and the performance is never dull. With the 360-degree LED screen in the store that extends to the ceiling, the sound and light effects are quite good. Being surrounded by it, it feels like you have become a part of it!






02 Goldfish



The performance of "Goldfish" is based on the concept of "NEO Kabuki", which combines tradition and innovation. The dancers' costumes are varied, and the stage machinery is gorgeous. They can rise, fall, and swing. With the deafening music and the occasional interaction with the audience, the atmosphere is high. In particular, the dancers include men, women, men dressed as women, or transgender dancers. This inclusiveness also infected the audience and became an unforgettable performance.

The signboard is designed with Japanese elements. Watching the performance on the stage and eating Japanese bento is a trendy Japanese night. Many people come here and the media also compete for coverage. There are two performances a day. It is recommended to make an appointment in advance.




03「COYOTE UGLY SALOON ROPPONGI」



Originally a bar in New York, it became popular and expanded overseas because it became the filming location of the movie "Coyote Ugly". The "COYOTE UGLY SALOON ROPPONGI" in Roppongi is the first in Asia.

The store exudes an American atmosphere and recreates the movie scene, and the bar here is the stage! The "Coyote Girl" carefully selected from about 1,000 girls who sign up every month dances on the bar in sexy clothes. They are charming and have wonderful dancing skills. Female guests can also dance on the stage. Come and transform into a girl and experience the wild nightlife!




04「Burlesque annex YAVAY」



"Burlesque annex YAVAY" has a wonderful performance with sound and light. The dancers are all girls. In addition to cool and sexy costumes, they also wear kimonos or cosplay characters, and perform anime and idol songs. It is another way to experience Japanese anime culture besides shopping in Akihabara! There are often special events, and there is also a "Cosplay night" at the end of each month, inviting guests to cosplay and join in the fun.

There are three performances a day, and they are closed on Sundays. Generally, each performance costs 3,000 yen (drinks are not included). After the discount, it is 2,000 yen if you make an online reservation in advance. There is a discount plan for women, 2,500 yen with unlimited drinks.






05「Roppongi Kaori」



Another Japanese-style performance, the Oiran Show, can be seen at the club "Roppongi Kawa"! After relocating in November 2018, it reopened and used new technology to present traditional stories, just like cherry blossoms and snow, a gorgeous and luxurious Roppongi night.

The interior design simulates a traditional theater, and the content of the Oiran Show revolves around the Meiji period's flower streets. It is divided into multiple performances, each of which is moving, leaving a lingering faint sadness. There are fewer lines, mainly physical performances, so overseas tourists don't have to worry about not understanding the plot. Compared with other nightclubs, "Roppongi Kawa" gives people a more elegant feeling. For those who like Japanese culture, it is definitely worth coming here to watch the Oiran Show!




06「KAWAII MONSTERCAFE HARAJUKU」



Leave Roppongi and change your mood to a cute cafe! Located on Meiji-dori in Harajuku, KAWAII MONSTER CAFE is the largest cafe in Tokyo that condenses elements of Japanese pop culture. The whole store is like walking into the stomach of a monster and exploring its weirdness and cuteness. It is divided into four areas with different personalities. The funny and colorful decoration style is also reflected in the appearance of the food. Desserts, staple foods, and drinks are all available.

It is cute during the day, but it turns into a psychedelic club at night. There are night activities such as "Oiran Night" on Tuesdays and "Burlesque Night" on Thursdays. It has become a social place for adults, which makes the day and night present different atmospheres. It is very interesting.





07 "Robot Restaurant"



The "Robot Restaurant" in Shinjuku is famous for its performances, and it also provides English subtitles for foreign tourists. Before the show, you can dine on the second floor, which is decorated very brightly; the show is held in the basement, and is as gorgeous as a parade, including monsters fighting robots, robot neon dances, robot parades, etc., which are amazing and the atmosphere is warm.




08「American BAR&CAFÉ REN」



Located in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, it is the sister store of "Robot Restaurant". The storefront is quite interesting, and the decoration style here reminds people of Macau. The space is made up of a lot of gold and copper, and the materials of the objects reflect the lights, making the whole space look bright and ethereal, even the bathroom is not neglected! There is a dart field for fun, and the occasional live piano performances add some elegance here.

Duty-free, minimum consumption of one drink, drinks start at 500 yen, there are many kinds of drinks such as beer, cocktails, champagne, etc., and the food includes steak, fish and chips, etc. Come and enjoy the drinks slowly and feel the short night of splendor!

09「KUJIRA ENTERTAINMENT DINING」



The bar "KUJIRA ENTERTAINMENT DINING" has the most advanced digital equipment, using many novel elements, bright colors, and LEDs, but without losing texture, becoming the latest digital art space.

The stage performance in the store, combined with the dancing lights of the entire store and the LED screen performance on the side, creates a high atmosphere. In addition to delicious meals, the bartending is not to be missed. The bartenders in the store are frequent winners in domestic and international competitions. Two exciting fancy bartending shows a night, and the skillful showmanship is really very cool! More than 100 kinds of homemade cocktails are also worth looking forward to.





10. Tokyo Pub Crawl



Tokyo Pub Crawl is not a single store, but a guided tour. Tokyo Pub Crawl offers a variety of nightlife proposals: including a popular tour of 3 bars and a nightclub show at the end; a bar tour at a discounted price; partying until the early morning, etc. There are also tours that can be participated in groups or individually. Various plans are formulated to consider the needs of tourists.

The reviews on TripAdvisor are quite good. For tourists who are trying Tokyo nightlife for the first time, it is a good choice. Remember to confirm and make an appointment online first.



11 Café ATLANTIS, a restaurant that caters to female customers




Located in Omotesando, one of the birthplaces of pop culture, the competition among various stores is also quite fierce! "Café ATLANTIS", which is only a one-minute walk from "Omotesando Station", is decorated with the idea of ​​the underwater world. Walking into the store is like being in the sea, and the light and shadow on the blue sea is beautiful.

In addition to being a wedding venue, lunch is provided on weekdays. On nights with activities, it is a lively place for dance and music performances. Different activities are held every month, especially male performances, so female customers also account for the majority. Remember to confirm the event time on the official website and make an appointment in advance.



12 Visit a "Host Club" (gigolo club) with locals that caters to female customers



This is a guided tour mainly for women. You will be accompanied by a local guide to visit a host club for women, walk into Kabukicho, and enjoy Japanese cuisine for dinner.

In the host club, male employees use both speech and listening skills to please female customers and make them feel attractive. You may also experience the "Champagne call" in Japanese culture, which is the culture of all the host to express gratitude to customers who order expensive champagne.

Are you curious about Kabukicho but a little hesitant? Why not join the guided tour and experience the mysterious culture of the host club yourself?



13「Party On Tokyo Box Disco」



Combining nightclubs, performances and lounges, this is the first nightclub in Japan where you can enjoy "box disco". After opening in early 2017, it immediately became a hot topic.

It has a 360-degree surround LED effect, and the latest lighting and sound technology, combining art and technology to create an excellent stage effect; performers take turns to perform, with sound and light to bring wonderful dance performances, and the tipping time after the performance makes the atmosphere even better. The large graffiti on the wall was invited by a famous creator to paint, which adds some American street fun to the space.

There are two shows a day, and there are special activities from time to time. Roppongi is worthy of being the representative of nightlife, there are always new places to play!




14 Hige Girl



Often referred to as a "drag queen" or "shemale" bar, Hige Girl offers live stage performances and the opportunity to chat with the girls working at the bar. The stage shows take place at 7pm and 10pm, and the cover charge is quite expensive at 6,150 yen for 90 minutes, and there is also a table charge of 2,460 yen per table, so if you decide to go, make sure you don't miss the stage show. This bar only accepts visitors who are accompanied by someone who speaks Japanese, as otherwise there may be communication barriers.