"Nightlife"

Night Tours

The range of entertainment available in Japan's cities is so vast that visitors may best sample them by joining a night tour. In Tokyo, Sunrise Tour Series by Japan Travel Bureau offers reasonably priced nightlife tours. In Tokyo, Night Life Tour offers you Japanese style dinner "Sukiyaki", "Tempura", "Sashimi" or vegetarian meal of your choice at a Japanese restaurant, and chance to see marvelous night view from 250m above sea level at Roppongi Hills. In Kyoto, by joining Special Night, you can be a guest at a tea ceremony, followed by Zen-Style Tempura dinner and finishing up by enjoying various kinds of traditional Japanese performing arts in the Gion Corner.

Where to Drink

No visitor needs to go thirsty in Japan. In addition to western-style bars in the cities, traditional drinking spots include: "Izakaya" are Japanese-style pubs serving beer, Japanese sake, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages as well as casual meals. Drinking establishments of this type are all going strong till midnight. Step into one and experience the "liveliness." Prices are naturally very reasonable.

"Karaoke" (singing along with recorded music) is one of the most popular forms of nightlife in Japan. Generally, a Karaoke establishment consists of a number of compartments, each replete with Karaoke equipment. A group of guests can occupy a compartment at a reasonable price to enjoy singing while drinking and eating. Many Karaoke houses even offer a selection of popular songs you can sing in English.

In Tokyo, the best locations for a lively evening of good food, drink and entertainment include the internationally-flavored district of Roppongi, the upscale and elegant Ginza with its dazzling neon-lit signs, the more sophisticated Akasaka, the youthful, crowded Shibuya, and the more raucous Kabukicho in Shinjuku.

Dancing

Discotheques and clubs are common and wellfrequented in all major cities, particularly by the young and young at heart. In Tokyo, Roppongi offers many high-class venues for adults, while Shibuya is a dancing Mecca of the young.