Tokyo Nightlife
Tokyo comes alive at night. What can appear a concrete confusion by day is transformed into a heady, colourful playground of an evening, making for a wonderful experience for the visitor.
The nightlife scene for older generations is still something of a preserve for the male, with geisha and hostess bars extremely popular with Tokyo businessmen. Travellers will have little chance to experience the former, as they are both extremely expensive and closed to outsiders, while the women at the latter, who listen to the problems of men all night long and pour them drinks ? all for a hefty fee ? may be a little nonplussed by your small talk unless your Japanese is good.
For youngsters however, those of both sexes can be found in bars and clubs throughout the city. Ginza, Shinjuku and Roppongi are three of the main districts to head to for a night of cavorting. Spacelab Yellow and Genius are two of the hippest joints around if dancing the night away in a classy environment is your thing. Neither place is cheap to get into and both make for a wonderful experience.
There are numerous friendly bars in the city, some of which will be of the karaoke variety and many provide restaurant facilities earlier in the evening. Karaoke often takes place in private rooms, which is a policy that many British pubs may wish to consider adopting, although some pubs allow you to sing to the general public.
Tokyo has a vibrant gay scene, with many bars and clubs to explore. One of the most famous and a good starting point is Arty Farty on Shinjuku. Based in the gay district of Ni-chome, this place is heaving and definitely not for the shy, quiet types. Women are only allowed in on weekends and then only when accompanied by male friends. Indeed, this is the case for many of the neighbourhood's bars but the girls have got their own back with Kinswomyn, run by a lesbian activist and just down the road from Arty Farty.
Shinjuka also houses many of the leading live music venues in the city. Loft is a big favourite with the locals and this small, cosy venue makes for a wonderful evening out with some good local bands. Gigs generally finish before 23:00, leaving plenty of time to head elsewhere. Nearby, Liquid Room often plays host to up and coming international bands, many of the electronica variety. It's a long walk to the top and there's no lift, so careful coming down.
There are a number of theatres in Tokyo offering the chance to take in Kabuki, Japan's own form of drama. Kabuki-za in Ginza is one of the best establishments from an English-speaking perspective as earphones are provided offering explanations as to what you are witnessing. Performances can last up to five hours, meaning it may well be starting to get light by the time you emerge. Those who don't think they will last the duration can purchase a hitomakumi ticket for the fourth floor, which permits you to watch just a portion of the performance, although no headphones are provided.
Meanwhile, those who wish to sample the classical Japanese musicals that are the 'no' discipline can head to Kanze No-Gakudo on Shoto. There are also occasional outdoor night time performances in the city ? known as Takigi No ? which are wonderfully atmospheric.
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Nightlife
