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NIGHTLIFE
Bars
AGAVE
Clover Bldg. B1F, 7-15-10 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3497-0229
Bar
Roppongi
Tucked away in a basement just off Roppongi's main drag, Roppongi-dori,
is the perfect place for anyone who craves mariachi and a margarita. With
more than 400 types of tequila on offer at Agave, lovers of Mexican firewater
won't be disappointed. You can line your stomach with a selection of nachos
and other snacks before a slammer session. Drinks from ¥800. OPEN:
Mon.-Thurs. 6:30 PM-2 AM, Fri. 6:30 PM-4 AM, Sat. 6 PM-4 AM. Subway: Hibiya
Line, Roppongi Eki.
CHARLESTON
3-8-11 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3402-0372
Bar
Minato
For years this has been the schmoozing and hunting bar for Tokyo's single
foreigners and the young Japanese who want to meet them. It's noisy and
packed until the wee hours. OPEN: Nightly 6 PM-5 AM. Subway: Hibiya Line,
Roppongi Eki.
DEN
DST Bldg., 1st floor, 4-2-3 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3584-1899
Bar
Minato
Launched by the mammoth beer and whiskey maker Suntory, Den is partly
an exercise in corporate-image making. Meant to express the company's
ecoconsciousness and its roots in traditional Japanese culture, the motif
here is a confection of stones, trees, and articles of folkcraft. Den
draws a fashionable crowd from the TV production, PR, and design companies
in this part of town. OPEN: Mon.-Thurs. 6 PM-2 AM, Fri. 6 PM-4 AM, Sat.
6 PM-11 PM. Subway: Marunouchi Line, Akasaka-mitsuke Eki (Belle Vie Akasaka
Exit).
GINZA INZ 2
2-2 Nishi-Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Bar
Ginza
Inside this building and one floor up is a collection of small, popular-priced
bars and restaurants where people who work in the area go after hours.
One such bar is the Americana (PHONE: 03/3564-1971), where drinks start
at ¥800. Farther along the hallway is the Ginza Swing (PHONE: 03/3563-3757),
which hosts live bands playing swing jazz. The cover varies but is usually
¥2,800; drinks start at ¥700. Ginza Inz 2 is one building east
of the Kotsu Kaikan Building; you can recognize the latter by the circular
sky lounge on the roof. Subway: Yuraku-cho Eki (Central Exit).
HIGHLANDER
Hotel Okura, 2-10-4 Tora-no-mon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3505-6077
Bar
Minato
The Highlander Bar in the Hotel Okura purports to stock 224 brands of
Scotch whiskey, 48 of them single malts. This is a smart place to meet
business acquaintances or to have a civilized drink. Drinks from ¥1,100.
OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 11:30 AM-1 AM, Sun. 11:30 AM-midnight. Subway: Ginza Line,
Tora-no-mon Eki (Exit 3).
KIRIN CITY
Bunshodo Bldg., 2nd floor, 3-4-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3562-2593
Bar
Ginza
There's somewhat less glass-thumping and mock-Oktoberfest good cheer here
than at other brewery-sponsored beer halls, but the menu of grilled chicken,
fried potatoes, onion rings, and other snacks to wash down with a brew
is just as good. The clientele tends to be groups of white-collar youngsters
from area offices, unwinding after work. OPEN: Daily 11:30-11. Subway:
Ginza, Hibiya, and Marunouchi lines, Ginza Eki (Exit A13).
THE OLD IMPERIAL BAR
Imperial Hotel, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3504-1111
Bar
Ginza
Comfortable and sedate, this is the pride of the Imperial Hotel, decorated
with elements saved from Frank Lloyd Wright's earlier version of the building
-- alas, long since torn down. OPEN: Daily 11:30 AM-midnight. Subway:
Hibiya Eki (Exit A13).
SAPPORO LION
6-10-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3571-2590
Bar
Ginza
For a casual evening of beer and ballast -- anything from yakitori to
spaghetti -- the Sapporo Lion is a popular and inexpensive choice. The
entrance is off Chuo-dori, near the Matsuzakaya depato. OPEN: Mon.-Sat.
11:30-11. Subway: Ginza, Hibiya, and Marunouchi lines, Ginza Eki (Exit
A3).
WHAT THE DICKENS
1-13-3 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Roob 6 Bldg., 4th floor, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3780-2099
Bar, Cabaret
Shibuya
Sixteenth-century English-style pubs have been the big trend in Tokyo
in the past few years, and this is the king of them all, particularly
for the gaijin crowd. In a former Aum Shinri Kyo headquarters in Ebisu
(the cult held responsible for the gas attack in the Tokyo subway), it
is nearly always packed. There are live stage acts and poetry readings
(first Sunday of the month), and live music starts nightly at 8:30. OPEN:
Sun. 5 PM-midnight, Tues.-Wed. 5 PM-1 AM, Thurs.-Sat. 5 PM-2 AM. Subway:
Hibiya Line, Ebisu Eki (JR Ebisu Nishi-guchi/West Exit).
Cabaret
WHAT THE DICKENS
1-13-3 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Roob 6 Bldg., 4th floor, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3780-2099
Bar, Cabaret
Shibuya
Sixteenth-century English-style pubs have been the big trend in Tokyo
in the past few years, and this is the king of them all, particularly
for the gaijin crowd. In a former Aum Shinri Kyo headquarters in Ebisu
(the cult held responsible for the gas attack in the Tokyo subway), it
is nearly always packed. There are live stage acts and poetry readings
(first Sunday of the month), and live music starts nightly at 8:30. OPEN:
Sun. 5 PM-midnight, Tues.-Wed. 5 PM-1 AM, Thurs.-Sat. 5 PM-2 AM. Subway:
Hibiya Line, Ebisu Eki (JR Ebisu Nishi-guchi/West Exit).
Dance Clubs
328 (SAN-NI-PA)
3-24-20 Nishi-Azabu, basement, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3401-4968
Dance Club
Minato
A fixture on the club scene since the early '90s, 328 hosts all genres
of music. Across the street from Hobson's Ice Cream and next to the police
box at the Nishi-Azabu intersection, 328 is often crowded due to its reputation
for providing a consistently good time. COST: ¥2,500, with 2 drinks.
OPEN: Nightly 8 PM-5 AM. Subway: Hibiya and Oedo lines, Roppongi Eki,
then a 10-min walk; from Shibuya, take Roppongi-bound bus.
GEOID/FLOWER
Togensha Visiting Bldg., basement, 3-5-5 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo,
Japan
Phone: 03/3479-8161
Dance Club
Roppongi
Geoid's way-after-hours (it opens at 5 AM) techno beats keep after-Roppongi
party clubbers going until it closes at 1 PM -- the same day. It's on
Telebi Asahi-dori, halfway between Roppongi and Hiro-o. COST: ¥2,500
(varies by event). OPEN: Sat. 5 AM-1 PM. Subway: Hibiya and Oedo lines,
Roppongi Eki.
LUNERS
Fukao Bldg., 1st floor and basement, 1-4-5 Azabu-juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo,
Japan
Phone: 03/3586-6383
Dance Club
Ginza
At this two-story venue, barflies sit it out with a martini upstairs while
hard-core dancers head for the packed dance floor in the basement. DJ
offerings usually include house, trance, or a combination of the two,
with monthly gay/mixed parties attracting Tokyo's out-and-out clubbers.
COST: ¥3,000-¥3,500 (varies by event). OPEN: Fri.-Sun. 10 PM-5
AM. Subway: Oedo Line, Azabu-juban Eki (Exit 7).
MANIAC LOVE
5-10-6 Minami-Aoyama, off Kotto-dori, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3406-1166
Dance Club
Shibuya
Known by Tokyoites for its consistently excellent techno, garage, and
ambient music, Maniac Love proves that Japanese DJs have technique to
support their style. It helps that they tend to become experts in their
genres by collecting even the most obscure tracks. The club also hosts
regular Sunday-morning after-hours parties from 5 AM. COST: ¥2,500,
¥1,000 for after-hours party. OPEN: Sun.-Fri. until 5 AM (Sun. after-hours
party usually ends by lunchtime); Sat. until 10 AM. Subway: Ginza and
Hanzo-mon lines, Omotesando Eki.
MILK
1-13-3 Ebisu-Nishi, Roob 6 Bldg., basement and 2nd-level basement, Shibuya-ku,
Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/5458-2826
Dance Club
Shibuya
In the basement beneath What the Dickens Pub, this place is a milk bar
à la Clockwork Orange. With tables shaped like nude women and obscene
inflatable goodies, this club caters to young Tokyoites who yearn for
digital sounds, techno, or even hard rock in an erotic atmosphere. Milk
hosts hip live acts and avant-garde events. DJs and the types of music
change daily. COST: ¥3,500, with 2 drinks. OPEN: Nightly 8 PM-4 AM.
Subway: JR Yamanote and Hibiya subway line: Ebisu Eki (JR Ebisu Nishi-guchi/West
Exit).
ORGAN BAR
Kuretake Bldg. 3F, 4-9 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/5489-5460
Dance Club
Shibuya
The eclectic selection at the Organ Bar, an avant-garde addition to Shibuya's
nightspots, ranges from jazz to disco with a spot of poetry reading thrown
in for good measure. There are no actual organs (musical or bodily) to
speak of. COST: Sun.-Thurs. ¥1,000, Fri. and Sat. special events ¥2,000.
OPEN: Nightly 9 PM-4 AM. Subway: JR Yamanote and Ginza and Hanzo-mon subway
lines: Shibuya Eki (Hachiko Exit).
Theater
KABUKI-ZA
4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/5565-6000 or 03/3541-3131
Theater
Ginza
The best place to see Kabuki is at the Kabuki-za, built especially for
this purpose, with its hanamichi (runway) passing diagonally through the
audience to the revolving stage. Built originally in 1925, the Kabuki-za
was destroyed in an air raid in 1945 and rebuilt in the identical style
in 1951. Matinees usually begin at 11 and end at 4; evening performances,
at 4:30, end around 9. Reserved seats are expensive and hard to come by
on short notice; for a mere ¥800 to ¥1,000, however, you can buy
an unreserved ticket that allows you to see one act of a play from the
topmost gallery. The gallery is cleared after each act, but there's nothing
to prevent you from buying another ticket. Bring binoculars -- the gallery
is far from the stage. Call by 6 PM the day preceding performance for
reservations. www.shochiku.co.jp. Subway: Hibiya and Toei Asakusa lines,
Higashi-Ginza Eki (Exit 3).
KOKURITSU GEKIJO
4-1 Hayabusa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/3230-3000
Theater
Imperial Palace District
The Kokuritsu Gekijo hosts Kabuki companies based elsewhere; it also has
a training program for young people who may not have one of the hereditary
family connections that are usually required to break into this closely
guarded profession. Debut performances, called kao-mise, are worth watching
to catch the stars of the next generation. Subway: Hanzo-mon Line, Hanzo-mon
Eki (Exit 1).
SHIMBASHI ENBUJO
6-18-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03/5565-6000
Theater
Ginza
The Shimbashi Enbujo, which dates to 1925, was built originally for the
geisha of the Shimbashi quarter to present their spring and autumn performances
of traditional music and dance. It's a bigger house than the Kabuki-za,
and it presents a lot of traditional dance and conventional Japanese drama
as well as Kabuki. Subway: Hibiya and Toei Asakusa lines, Higashi-Ginza
Eki (Exit A6).
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