The Best Nightclubs in Tokyo, Japan

Roppongi is well known as the ultimate clubbing suburb in Tokyo, and one of the area’s most popular nightspots is A-Life. This club is spread over three floors, and the music here is all about unpretentious, good old-fashioned fun – think cheesy bangers and top-40 hits. Drinks and food at the venue are also great value for money.

With multiple dance floors, a roster of the biggest names on the electronic music scene, waterfront views and even a pool on the balcony, AgeHa is one of the best places to go for a big night out in Tokyo. Due to its size, the club is located a little out of the city in Shin-Kiba, but there are free shuttle buses to and from Shibuya all night long. Once you get here, leaving will be the last thing on your mind.

Arty Farty is a great place to stumble into after a few boozy drinks in the Shinjuku Ni-chōme area, Tokyo’s LGBTQ hub. The popular dance club always has a fun and welcoming crowd, and allows you to come and leave as you please, meaning you can hop back and forth to the club from nearby bars. The entrance fee also gives you access to their sister club, the Annex, which is located nearby.

DJ Bar Bridge plays a range of music from jazz and hip-hop to cheesy music from the 1980s, all pumped through their top-grade sound system. The club, only a minute away from Shibuya Station, has an impressive view of the famous Shibuya Crossing and features a number of resident DJs who rotate throughout the week. Some of Tokyo’s top DJs also play here from time to time, and the venue attracts a diverse crowd, from college graduates to businesspeople reliving their disco days.

This nightclub franchise, which originally opened its doors in the UK, has locations worldwide, including this outpost in Tokyo. Sankeys Penthouse overlooks Harajuku’s colourful and busy streets from its top-floor vantage point; it occupies the two top levels of Q-Plaza and features a terrace. Grab a drink in the casual bar area and dance the night away on the 10th floor, before sinking into the upstairs couch area to chat with friends.

This Shibuya institution, which opened its doors in 1997, has a reputation for being the best hip-hop club, not only in Tokyo, but in the whole of Japan. Booking both local and international DJs and performers, the venue is as diverse as the music is loud, which is to say really loud. Harlem is also a great Tokyo destination for witnessing up-and-coming Japanese hip-hop stars cut their teeth and learn the tricks of the trade before taking over the Japanese hip-hop charts.

You don’t go clubbing in Tokyo without hitting up Contact. This revered club, in the heart of Shibuya, is a members-only affair – but thankfully, anyone can register online for instant membership. Once inside, the main dance floor’s no-cameras, no-drinks policy offers a discreet space to let loose. All are welcome, but the techno and electronica crowd are sure to appreciate Contact’s track list.

When your ears need a break from the standard house, techno and EDM tracks playing at other clubs, slide down to Shibuya and into the Room. This low-key, laid-back basement bangs out R&B hits, as well as soul and jazz tunes. The Room is far from the go-go-go of your average Tokyo nightclub, but if you’re scoping out a place to enjoy a drink, a dance and a date, this bar’s got a scotch on the rocks waiting for you.

Want to dance until the sun rises and keep rocking until breakfast? Oath’s got you covered for clubbing until 8am on the weekends. This trendy underground club is hidden down an inconspicuous pathway and located in the basement where Shibuya’s Trump Room used to kick it. Behind the unassuming black door is a sprawling dance space decked out with a gaudy yet glorious mix of antiques, mirrors and decor. With drink prices too low to believe, Oath rolls your pregame and after-party into one marathon club experience.

Add a little magic to your club life at PLUSTOKYO. Dancing and drinking combine with dining and design, resulting in a unique social experience stretched out over several themed rooms. Mix and mingle with art aficionados admiring the drawings of Morio Nakajima, the alternative designs of Wataru Komachi and the many neon galleries, each dominating their own room. But you’re here to dance, not gawk at art, so grab a drink and head to the rooftop to get down.

Warp Shinjuku is out of this world. Think you can hang in this three-level club’s orbit? Say hello to the Universe on the main floor, and get down under the three-stage Solar System. Rocket your way up to the middle level’s Bar Meteo to rest your space boots and sip on a meteor shower of drinks. Finally, blast off to the Cosmo Room and dance Uranus off on this exclusive floor for some close encounters of the groovy kind.

Grab a map and let us help guide you through Sound Museum Vision. Rock onto the main floor, known as Gaia, and feel the world-renowned custom sound system rattle your every cell. You can kick it to techno and hip hop with 1,500 other club-goers, or you can take your mood elsewhere. Looking for a more intimate place to boogie? Order a cocktail from the gallery bar and make your way to the intimate D Lounge, where you can show off your moves to the cute dancer who’s been eying you from across the Gaia.

Another Roppongi hotspot, the former Vanity Club is one of the most popular in Tokyo. V2 is a tourist-friendly club with a multilingual staff, a panoramic view of the city and enough room to host 1,000 partiers without needing an exclusive invitation. Party all night to EDM tracks spun by guest DJs from around the globe. V2 offers VIP and bottle service, but the fact that they operate a pizza parlour in the twilight hours is what gets us dancing through the door.