Nightlife · Tokyo · Japan
Tokyo nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Tokyo, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Tokyo nightlife runs from six-seat bars and karaoke boxes to big clubs and late-night izakaya. Most of the action is in Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi, and it keeps going until the first trains around 5am for those who miss the last ones around midnight. The main areas are Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Ebisu and Shimokitazawa.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- Shinjuku
- Local drink
- Matcha
Where to go out
Shinjuku
Golden Gai's tiny themed bars, the yakitori alleys of Omoide Yokocho and the neon of Kabukicho; Shinjuku Ni-chome is the centre of LGBTQ+ nightlife.
Shibuya
Clubs, live-music venues, karaoke and bars around Center Gai and Dogenzaka.
Roppongi
International bars and clubs open until morning; ignore the street touts.
Ebisu
Standing bars, wine bars and Ebisu Yokocho's food stalls, with a slightly older crowd.
Shimokitazawa
Small live-music houses, vintage bars and a relaxed, bohemian scene.
Nightlife tips
- Last trains leave around midnight; otherwise plan to stay out until the first trains around 5am, or take a taxi.
- Many bars charge a cover or table charge, often with a small snack (otoshi); it is normal, not a scam.
- Avoid touts in Kabukicho and Roppongi offering cheap drinks; some of their venues inflate bills dramatically.
- Karaoke boxes rent private rooms by the half-hour, often with all-you-can-drink plans.
Evening sights
Religious site · Asakusa
Senso-ji Temple
Come at dawn or after dark, when the buildings are lit and the crowds have gone; the temple grounds stay accessible after the stalls close.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Photo spot
Landmark · Shibuya
Shibuya Crossing
Watch from above at Shibuya Sky or from the station's upper walkways, then cross it yourself at dusk when the screens light up.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Shibuya
Shibuya Sky
Book the sunset slot weeks ahead; clear winter days give the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Oshiage
Tokyo Skytree
Pay for the upper deck only if the sky is clear; on hazy days the lower deck is enough.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- Iconic
- After dark
Landmark · Shiba
Tokyo Tower
Photograph it from the grounds of Zojo-ji temple, or from the Shiba Park lawns at dusk.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- After dark
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Akihabara
Akihabara
Explore the side streets west of Chuo-dori for second-hand games and figures; on some Sunday afternoons the main street is closed to traffic.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Kids
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Shinjuku
Golden Gai
Go after 9pm, check the cover charge posted by the door, and ask before taking photos inside a bar.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
- Food
Island · Odaiba
Odaiba
Sit at the front of the Yurikamome for the view as it loops onto the Rainbow Bridge, and stay for the illuminated skyline at dusk.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
- Free
Viewpoint · Shinjuku
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories
Go on a clear winter morning for the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji, and check which tower's observatory is open that day.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
What to drink
- Matcha — Powdered green tea whisked to a froth and served with a small sweet (wagashi) to balance its bitterness. Matcha also flavours ice cream, lattes and pastries across the city.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. August has the warmest evenings, with lows around 24°C (75°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:51 | 1°C (34°F) | 5 |
| April | About 18:14 | 10°C (50°F) | 10 |
| July | About 18:58 | 23°C (73°F) | 12 |
| October | About 17:06 | 15°C (59°F) | 10 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Avoid the morning rush, roughly 7:30–9:30am, when carriages are packed; some carriages are women-only at that time.
- Walking — Neighbourhoods such as Asakusa, Yanaka, Harajuku and Ginza are best explored on foot, with wide pavements and clear signage.
- Taxi — Taxis are clean and metered, with automatic rear doors that open and close for you.
- Bus — Buses fill the gaps between rail lines; in central Tokyo most Toei buses charge a flat fare, paid with your IC card when boarding at the front.
Late-night bites
- Yakitori — Smoky alleys such as Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku and the bars under the railway arches at Yurakucho.
- Ningyo-yaki — Stalls along Nakamise-dori in Asakusa and shops in Ningyocho.
- Onigiri — 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart convenience stores, and specialist onigiri shops.
Staying safe at night
Tokyo has low street crime and is easy to walk at night, but stay alert to touts and drink-spiking warnings in Kabukicho and Roppongi. Learn your hotel's earthquake procedures, and take heatstroke seriously in July and August.
- Emergency number
- 110 for police; 119 for fire and ambulance
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, shopping and solo travellers
Shinjuku
Shinjuku combines the skyscraper district on the west side, with the free observatories of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and the east side's department stores, the Kabukicho entertainment district, Golden Gai's tiny bars and lantern-lit Omoide Yokocho. Shinjuku Gyoen garden is a 10-minute walk away, and the station has direct trains and buses to the airports, Hakone and Mount Fuji.
- Good
- Unbeatable transport links; Hotels at every price; Food and nightlife at all hours
- Watch out
- The station is a maze; Kabukicho has aggressive touts at night
- Nearby
- Shinjuku Gyoen, Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Tokyo?
Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi. Golden Gai's tiny themed bars, the yakitori alleys of Omoide Yokocho and the neon of Kabukicho; Shinjuku Ni-chome is the centre of LGBTQ+ nightlife.
+Which area of Tokyo is best for nightlife?
Shinjuku: Skyscrapers, neon alleys and one of the world's busiest railway stations.