Tokyo Nightlife Decision Map
Where should you
go tonight?
Start with what you feel like doing. Each choice below has a place to try and the links you need to plan it.
Eight ways to begin
What are you in the mood for?
Pick one. You can skip straight to that section and come back to the map whenever you want.
Meet people
Introductions & activities
Across Tokyo
Eat, drink & explore
Small bars & food
Shinjuku
Energy + conversation
Drinks & somewhere to talk
Ebisu
Dance & music
Choose the lineup
Shibuya
Discover something
A small live show
Shimokitazawa
Do something together
Karaoke & games
Shinjuku / Shibuya
Make it special
Dinner or a good cocktail
Marunouchi / Ginza
Enjoy your own company
Dinner & a riverside walk
Asakusa
Shinjuku is a real street photo from 2014. The other seven cards use AI illustrations of the mood, not the listed venues. Photo credits.
Want to meet people
and go dancing?
Start somewhere you can talk. You can decide on a club together later. Walking into a packed dance floor on your own can still leave you on your own.
The venue boxes are researched examples with official links. My personal area preferences are marked “Andrew’s take.” Check the linked menu or event before you go.
If you’re going out to meet someone, give yourself a way into the conversation. A language exchange or open game session is easier to join than a group already having its own night.
Two places to look
- Cost
- Language exchange: free attendance plus a required drink at ENGLISH ONLY CAFE. Games: see the chosen JIGG event’s fee.
- Before going
- Choose a session for the languages you want to use; reserve where required.
There’s more to Shinjuku than one bar alley. Start with food, then leave yourself time to walk around.
A starting point by the station
Omoide Yokocho
By Shinjuku Station’s west exit; use the official shop map.
- Cost
- Each shop sets its menu and any cover charge; there is no single district price.
- Before going
- Pick a shop with space for your party and ask about seating charges.
With an all-you-can-drink deal, check the time limit, food order and total price first.
For a catch-up, somewhere you can sit and hear each other is a good start. Ebisu is worth a look.
One place to start
YEBISU BAR STAND — Ebisu Garden Place
Entrance Pavilion 1F, 4-20-5 Ebisu, Shibuya.
- Cost
- Published examples: Yebisu beer ¥790; selected soft drinks ¥500, including tax. Food is extra.
- Before going
- No seat reservations. Listed closing: 22:30 Mon–Sat; 22:00 Sun/holidays. Listen to the room before sitting.
If you’re going for the music, start with the event calendar. WOMB lists the lineup and ticket details for each night.
One place to start
WOMB
2-16 Maruyama-cho, Shibuya.
- Cost
- Admission depends on the dated event and ticket type; open the event page for its price.
- Before going
- Check the lineup, opening time and entry/ID rules. A late opening may mean planning beyond the last train.
A small live show gives you a reason to try somewhere different. Have a listen to the bands before buying a ticket.
One place to start
Shimokitazawa SHELTER
Senda Building B1, 2-6-10 Kitazawa, Setagaya.
- Cost
- Ticket price varies by show. Check the listing for any separate drink charge.
- Before going
- Pick an actual performance and confirm ticket availability before travelling.
Karaoke works when you already have people to go with. If you’re coming alone and hoping to meet someone, try an open game session.
One place to start
Karaoke Kan — Shinjuku East Exit
3-26-14 Shinjuku, Shinjuku.
- Cost
- Use the branch’s rate chart: time, day, membership and room type affect the charge. Confirm drinks too.
- Before going
- Agree on the total per person and session length before starting.
Book dinner or put some money aside for a good cocktail. You don’t need to fit three places into the evening.
One place to start
Royal Bar — Palace Hotel Tokyo
Lobby level, 1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda.
- Cost
- Autumn 2026 cocktail example: ¥3,500 plus 15% service = ¥4,025. This is one drink, not an evening budget.
- Before going
- Smart casual; reservations are not accepted. It is an intimate lobby-level bar, not a rooftop.
Dinner and a walk by the river can be the whole plan. If you’d rather be around music and people, a live show works on your own too.
One place to start
Sumida River Terrace
Between Azumabashi and Komagatabashi; 2-1 Komagata area, Taito.
- Cost
- The riverside terrace is free; dinner and transport are separate.
- Before going
- Make the walk weather-dependent and use open paths. Check your route home first.
If you want to keep going
You can change the plan halfway through.
Talk, then dance
Get to know a few people before the music gets loud. Pick the club together.
Find a bar you like? Stay.
There’s no prize for getting through every stop on your list.
See how you feel after dinner
Go for a walk, try another place or call it a night. You haven’t wasted the evening by going home happy.
Before you head out
A few things worth checking
- Getting home
- Look up your last train, including any transfer. If you’re staying out after that, include the journey home in your budget.
- The full bill
- Check covers, required drinks, food orders and service charges. For all-you-can-drink plans, ask how long you get and what’s included.
- Drinks & company
- If you don’t drink alcohol, check the soft-drink choices and purchase rules. If you’re arriving alone, our solo guide and guide for women cover more of the practical questions.
- If it rains
- Choose somewhere indoors and keep the next stop nearby. Leave the riverside walk for better weather.
Already picked an area?
Where I’d start looking
| Area | Start your search with |
|---|---|
| Shinjuku | Izakaya, Sanchome, Ni-chome and Kabukicho |
| Ebisu | Seated drinks and conversation |
| Shibuya | A dated DJ or club event |
| Shimokitazawa | A live show that interests you |
| Marunouchi / Ginza | Dinner or cocktails; Ginza clubs with a plan |
| Asakusa | Dinner and an optional riverside walk |
| Roppongi | Late bars; choose the place carefully |
About our own event
Where Tokyo Pub Crawl fits
We run a hosted bar crawl in Roppongi on Fridays and Saturdays. If you want help meeting people and a group to go out with, that’s what we do. The language exchanges, live shows and quieter options above suit different nights.
For hotels, writers and friends
Share the useful part.
Link to the full map or to one numbered path. Each section has a permanent link you can copy.
About this guide
I’m Andrew Nguyen, founder of Tokyo Pub Crawl. The area opinions above are my own preferences, including the places I go to less now. For more about how I think about a night out, see what I’ve learned from hosting in Tokyo.
The named venue boxes are researched starting points, not personal reviews of every place. Details came from the linked official pages and were checked on 16 September 2026. Hours, prices and events can change, so use those links before travelling.
Area background: GO TOKYO nightlife, Shinjuku, yokocho and Shimokitazawa.
Photo credits: Shinjuku street photograph by Martin Falbisoner, taken 22 March 2014: original and attribution, CC BY-SA 3.0. Delivered at a smaller size as WebP and cropped in the layout; the adapted image is shared under the same license. Tokyo Pub Crawl event photograph: our event gallery. The other seven map-card scenes are AI illustrations, not venue photographs.
