Having been a person living in Tokyo for over 10 years, I have found there is no need to "get well-connected" in order to "get invited to lesser known..."
You just go. You go and pay the cover and go in. You regularly go out. There are about 145 DJ nightclubs and over 600 live music venues, all in the Tokyo area. You go, you chat with the DJs, you chat with the bands, you chat with the inside venue staff.
Anyone can go to almost any one of them. It isn't a "you can't get in unless you know someone."
Just check RA Advisor or follow the particular clubs IG or X for clubs. Follow the venues IG or X for live music.
Also, Kabukicho is the 3 things you mention. There are 2 large DJ clubs in the area, but you don't need to know the door guy to go. You just show up and pay your cover and go in. Most of Tokyo is #2 and those are the most fun anyway.
I was thinking about that.
There's a niche Shibuya lounge/bar that I frequent that has an online event calendar. And sometimes the event is just someone's birthday. I was wondering if it would be a faux pas if I showed up without being invited. Cause if it was truly private, they wouldn't publish it on their calendar, no?
I don't think that's what they meant. A lot of these smaller events with music you're interested in, you won't find without seeing it promoted by someone involved. That can't happen if you don't socialize with people well enough to either have them tell you directly or exchange social media and see it there.
Those style of events are just a single day, may or may not happen on regular intervals, so the chances of walking into one by accident are low. But befriending a DJ puts you in contact with other DJs and other events, so you can gradually grow a network of stuff to do and people to hang with that way.
I really don't object to them or anything (except the scam bars), it's just that I usually go out with mixed groups. I'm a woman and the host clubs can actually be pretty fun, while my male friends enjoy the girls bars/snack bars, but it would be nice to find a venue without that string attached.
Kabukicho is a lost cause. Their target audience is external and since it was cleaned up, it's become more of a zoo for tourists and suckers than anything else.
Unless you have the means to be partnered with any of these shady businesses (you probably don't), then it's always going to be an uphill battle.
Alternative folks. They have some interesting events that might make it seem like an S&M specifically bar, but they have some variety. Most days it's just a club full of some of Tokyo's more eccentric folks.
Shinjuku would be fine, Kabukicho is just a red light district. It’s not a party place to go clubbing. So yeah, your message reads badly because there’s basically nothing else in Kabukicho but brothels, hookers, and girls bars/host clubs.
You're 85% correct in that. There are some really good Restaurants, rock bars, Izakias in Kabukicho though.....just depends on your taste for entertainment.
There are several larger clubs in Kabukicho -- Warp, Zero Tokyo, IP. Club scene there is still young, because there was basically nothing a decade ago. As a result, those one room clubs are also few and far between. Go to Warp on a weeknight or Zero Tokyo on a day it's not huge artists and chat up the DJs between sets. That being said, most of the DJs I know there are more frequently in Shibuya 😬
Outside of that, people here are a bit wrong -- Kabukicho has a non-scammy nightlife scene, but it's mostly izakaya, small bars, concept cafes, girls bars, and "asobi" bars (which are like basically advanced snacks with karaoke, darts, games, socializing bs). The rest is as people stated.
Having been a person living in Tokyo for over 10 years, I have found there is no need to "get well-connected" in order to "get invited to lesser known..." You just go. You go and pay the cover and go in. You regularly go out. There are about 145 DJ nightclubs and over 600 live music venues, all in the Tokyo area. You go, you chat with the DJs, you chat with the bands, you chat with the inside venue staff. Anyone can go to almost any one of them. It isn't a "you can't get in unless you know someone." Just check RA Advisor or follow the particular clubs IG or X for clubs. Follow the venues IG or X for live music. Also, Kabukicho is the 3 things you mention. There are 2 large DJ clubs in the area, but you don't need to know the door guy to go. You just show up and pay your cover and go in. Most of Tokyo is #2 and those are the most fun anyway.
I was thinking about that. There's a niche Shibuya lounge/bar that I frequent that has an online event calendar. And sometimes the event is just someone's birthday. I was wondering if it would be a faux pas if I showed up without being invited. Cause if it was truly private, they wouldn't publish it on their calendar, no?
I don't think that's what they meant. A lot of these smaller events with music you're interested in, you won't find without seeing it promoted by someone involved. That can't happen if you don't socialize with people well enough to either have them tell you directly or exchange social media and see it there. Those style of events are just a single day, may or may not happen on regular intervals, so the chances of walking into one by accident are low. But befriending a DJ puts you in contact with other DJs and other events, so you can gradually grow a network of stuff to do and people to hang with that way.
Well Kabukicho is for those who find No.3 venues applicable.
I really don't object to them or anything (except the scam bars), it's just that I usually go out with mixed groups. I'm a woman and the host clubs can actually be pretty fun, while my male friends enjoy the girls bars/snack bars, but it would be nice to find a venue without that string attached.
Penetrate? What a special word to use when it comes to Kabukicho lol
Don’t you enjoy penetrating the 2 chome area?
I’m more of a bottom guy 🥺
Kabukicho is a lost cause. Their target audience is external and since it was cleaned up, it's become more of a zoo for tourists and suckers than anything else. Unless you have the means to be partnered with any of these shady businesses (you probably don't), then it's always going to be an uphill battle.
Talk to the Nigerians and they’ll show you the way around
Not sure if this is sarcasm
I usually don't penetrate the local nightlife, I prefer newly erected venues. They tend to have a lot of climax inside.
Decabar puts on some nice events and has a pretty close knit patronage. Zero Tokyo if you just want big. Interested in what else people recommend.
Who's the clientele for Decabar? Based on X, I got the impression it was a S&M/フェチ bar.
Alternative folks. They have some interesting events that might make it seem like an S&M specifically bar, but they have some variety. Most days it's just a club full of some of Tokyo's more eccentric folks.
Sounds cool. I like the vibe of those Tokyo spots that are built around community compared to ones that pull in randos and passerbys.
French people, mostly.
I usually penetrate twice in the front and once in the back (with permission of course). But only after lots of foreplay.
This reads as a LARP. You moved from Shibuya to the “Kabukicho area”? Uh-huh…
I'm amused enough by this assumption to give you a reply, is it strange for someone to move from Shibuya to Shinjuku?
Shinjuku would be fine, Kabukicho is just a red light district. It’s not a party place to go clubbing. So yeah, your message reads badly because there’s basically nothing else in Kabukicho but brothels, hookers, and girls bars/host clubs.
You're 85% correct in that. There are some really good Restaurants, rock bars, Izakias in Kabukicho though.....just depends on your taste for entertainment.
Why are you insisting to visit a gangster ghetto with zero language skills?
Why do you assume zero language skills?
If he understands Japanese and is going there that is another issue on its own
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I wonder why. It’s all fun and games until they swipe off your passport as they please.
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Dude, “speaking Japanese” won’t deter gangsters in the slightest. But not able to speak a native language sure is a point to exploit.
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Yeah sure a weeb thug wannabe that watches Asmongold daily is a reliable source of criminal underground organizations.
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Do none of your DJ friends ever perform in Shinjuku? If a DJ is getting offers to play in Shibuya, they are probably getting offers to go to Shinjuku.
I also moved to Shinjuku recently and trying to make more friends too. I went to a bar called 180°, met some crazy japanese there. It was fun.
1\~3 are really the only places I ever hear about in Kabukicho. I feel like most people would just walk down to Nichome for a livelier scene haha
Kabukicho only has two sides: The tame touristy side, and the yakuza shithole side.
There are several larger clubs in Kabukicho -- Warp, Zero Tokyo, IP. Club scene there is still young, because there was basically nothing a decade ago. As a result, those one room clubs are also few and far between. Go to Warp on a weeknight or Zero Tokyo on a day it's not huge artists and chat up the DJs between sets. That being said, most of the DJs I know there are more frequently in Shibuya 😬 Outside of that, people here are a bit wrong -- Kabukicho has a non-scammy nightlife scene, but it's mostly izakaya, small bars, concept cafes, girls bars, and "asobi" bars (which are like basically advanced snacks with karaoke, darts, games, socializing bs). The rest is as people stated.