Dance to good music and go wild during your night out in Tokyo
Are you looking for a fun nightclub in Tokyo? Are you hoping to find the perfect locale to go out with your friends to dance, party, meet new people and vibe to good music? As a college student, who’s campus is in the middle of Tokyo, in Shibuya, I have gone out frequently to a lot of clubs in Tokyo with my friends. As a result I’ve experienced both the good and bad. Each club has a different vibe, entrance fee, dance floor, VIP seating, and alcohol prices. In this post, I’ll introduce the 7 Tokyo night clubs you should check out. Definitely read this post, so you can have a great night out with your friends, find a club suited to your taste, and learn from my experiences!
Skip the taxi
Before introducing the nightclubs, I’d like to talk about how night clubs in Tokyo work. Typically, clubs open at 10pm (the last train is about 11:30pm-1am depending on where you live) and close at 5am which is about the time the first train arrives at the station. If you don’t live in the middle of Tokyo, it may be best to stay out all night if you miss the last train. When you wait for the first train in the morning you don’t have to pay for a taxi. Once my friends took a taxi from Shibuya station to Yokohama station, which is just outside of Tokyo, and paid about 30,000 yen for an under one hour trip. If they would’ve taken the first train from Shibuya to Yokohama station, they would only need to pay 272 yen and it would take 40 minutes. Skip the expensive bill and don’t make this mistake.
Dress codes and Entry fees
There are certain things you need to be aware of before going to clubs in Japan. First, you need to be over 20 years old and have a photo ID to enter. Security will check your ID at the door. Second, there are a lot of clubs which have dress codes. For most this means you have to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Although there’s sometimes exceptions during the summer, so check whether they have a dress code or not before going. It would be really disappoint if you couldn’t go inside purely because of your outfit. Third thing is for guys, if you’re a man, you will most likely pay a 3,000 yen entry fee. And girls, you’re damn lucky because most Japanese clubs don’t charge much for women to enter because guys will be interested in going to the clubs where there are a lot of ladies.
So, now are you ready to party like an animal in Tokyo with your friends? Here are the best clubs I’ve ever been to. You should check them out if you’re traveling in Tokyo and I guarantee a fun night out!
1) ageHa
- Location: 5 mins from Shin-kiba Station by walking (About 30mins from Shibuya to Shinkiba station)
ageHa is one of the biggest night clubs in Japan, and it is located just outside of Tokyo. It takes about 30 minutes to get there from shibuya station by train. The main floor has a 2,400 person capacity. Depending on the event, you’ll find hip-hop, house, techno, trance, EDM, and more, with different DJs on each of the four floors. World-famous DJs often grace the stage and famous Japanese artists also appear almost every week. You can experience the best performances from Japan and abroad.
2) WOMB
- Location: 6 mins from Shibuya Station by walking
WOMB has the biggest mirror ball in Asia; the addition of the use of lights, lasers, and smoke and you will know you’re in one of the leading edge dance clubs in the world. Every year, the club is ranked in the “Top 100 Clubs” by DJ MAG, UK’s global dance music media. In the past, they were nominated for second place, which was the highest record in Japan!
3) JUMANJI
- Location1: 1 min from Roppongi Station by walking
- Location2: 4 mins from Shibuya Station by walking
JUMANI is a small club with two locations, one in Shibuya the other in Roppongi. One of the best things about this club is that with its 1,000 yen entrance fee you get an all-you-can-drink pass for the bar and complimentary buffet-style izakaya food lines the front counter until midnight. Very affordable! My friends and I go to this club at 10pm and pre-game and feast for 2 hours and then go to a different club after midnight. This is a typical night out strategy for those who love going out in Tokyo.
4) ATOM TOKYO
- Location: 5 mins from Shibuya Station by walking
ATOM TOKYO is located near Shibuya station. It is one of the most popular clubs in the area, especially on weekends after midnight. There’s always a line out front and sometimes you need to wait for a long time to get in. Before midnight the entry fee is cheaper, so it’s best to get there early. In 2020, they finished construction and the floors were remodeled. Check out this club if you like crowds– it’s always packed.
5) CE LA VI TOKYO
- Location: 1 min from Shibuya Station by walking
CE LA VI TOKYO is a restaurant, bar, and club located in Shibuya. The best thing about this place is you can see a stunning view of Shibuya from its rooftop bar located right next to Shibuya station. You can enjoy having dinner and drinks and then go to the rooftop bar to dance the night away with. I highly recommend going to this place. It is one of the most popular places for foreign residents who live in Tokyo!
6) CAMELOT
- Location: 4 mins from Shibuya Station by walking
CAMELOT has two floors and is located in Shibuya. This club isn’t crowded in comparison to ATOM or WOMB. If you want to enjoy dancing or you’re not super familiar with clubbing, it’s a good place to start. Honestly, I don’t like crowded or packed clubs so I go to this club a lot with my friends to enjoy dancing. Even though the floor isn’t as big as other clubs, the music and alcohol are much better in my opinion.
7) A-LIFE
- Location: 5 min from Roppongi Station by walking
A-LIFE is located in Roppongi and is popular among university students and young people. The VIP seating is close to the dance floor which is great for those who are interested in inviting girls over for a drink. The club is packed every weekend and you usually need to wait to get in if you arrive after midnight.
These clubs are mostly located in the Shibuya or Roppongi area. You should definitely check one of them out at least once if you’re traveling in Tokyo. In order to enjoy your nightlife in Tokyo, it’s a good idea for you to stay close to these two areas, so you don’t need to worry about missing the last train and taking a overpriced taxi.
Thank you for reading! Have a great night out with your friends in the greater Tokyo area! Please also check this article about 10 Japanese izakaya foods and drinks to know before going. Some places don’t have an English menu, so it’s great practice to know some izakaya food and drinks in Japanese.