Tokyo nightlife is vibrant and varied and is also generally expensive, at least if you plan on drinking alcohol or visiting posh clubs. If you don’t mind this, there are many happening places to check out, from karaoke bars and hostess clubs, to theme bars, piano bars, wine bars, and so-called shot bars.
The night scene in the Japanese capital is easy going and safe, to boot, and most tourists find it fun and engaging. The two main areas to let your hair down are Shibuya and Roppongi. Both areas are awash with bars and pubs of every description and have equal amounts of foreigners and Japanese.
Shibuya is the busiest and most popular area of the two and is especially enthralling during big city events and New Year’s Eve. There are many famous pubs and clubs here, while Roppongi has some fantastic dance clubs and many trendy restaurants and wine bars. There is a Hard Rock Café is here also.
Roppongi is where single males tend to head to visit so-called gentlemen's clubs, although it is not as seedy as Bangkok, yet is very expensive. Kabukicho is the de facto red light district in Tokyo and can be found to the northeast of Shinjuku Station. While seedy, it is good for night tours.
Big drinkers should make a beeline for the German-style beer halls, with draft on tap, extended opening hours, and cheaper beer pro rata. The British-style pubs under the Hub banner are also a good bet and are all over town, including in Shibuya, Roppongi, and Shinjuku.
For a typical Japanese night out, visiting an izakaya watering hole is a must, where food and drink can be had in a pleasant setting and atmosphere. Tsubohachi and Shirokiya are popular, well-priced izakaya chains and come with picture menus, making ordering easy for non-Japanese speaking folk.