Explore Japan’s Vibrant Nightlife

There is a vast variety of places to go out in Japan’s major cities, from chic lounges to intimate karaoke rooms. The nightlife in Japan has something for everyone.

Here are some suggestions for things to do and see during the evenings in Japan that you shouldn’t miss on your next trip there.

Izakaya

Izakayas range in size from one-person operations to nationwide chains, but they may be found all around Japan. People go there to relax with friends and coworkers after a long day. At an izakaya, you may order beer, whisky, sake, and a large selection of Japanese delicacies, much as you would at a tapas bar or food pub.

Tablet computers are often used for taking orders at major izakaya businesses. In most cases, the menus at smaller places are fully written in Japanese and are exclusively available in that language. But don’t let it stop you. Because of the relaxed environment and the abundance of alcoholic beverages, you may quickly make friends with those around you, and they’ll help you.

Yokocho

Yokocho literally means “alleyway” in Japanese. Still, the term has come to refer to the crowded alleys full of izakayas and other pubs and restaurants that can be found off the main thoroughfares in Japan. This is the place to go if you want to experience Japanese culture in its raw, unfiltered form.

The greatest yokocho in Japan may be found where you would expect them to be: in densely populated regions and close proximity to places of business. Many populate the city’s central commercial districts and other significant residential areas. In these places, major railway stations are often within easy walking distance.

Yokochos are known for their abundance of izakayas, or drinking and dining establishments. The restaurants on these side streets are cheap and casual, so if you’re expecting a five-star experience, you’ll want to explore elsewhere. At these restaurants, you may sample reasonably priced seasonal dishes prepared in a home-style manner.

Watching Live Sports With the Locals

As we see how big of a competitor Japan has been for events like the World Baseball Classic, baseball has traditionally been one of the biggest sports in Japan. No matter where you visit in the country, from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, to Hiroshima, watching a live baseball game at a local stadium amongst enthusiastic supporters would allow you to see a different side of Japan and its people. Not only baseball, but there are high-level pro leagues for soccer, basketball, and many other sports. You can even spice up the experience with sports betting on the local Japanese bookmakers, which offer broad betting markets for Japanese pro sports. 

Pachinko

There aren’t many brick-and-mortar casinos in Japan, and the locals prefer to play at Japanese online casinos instead. That is, of course, barring the highly popular Pachinko parlors.

Slot machines and pinballs collide in Pachinko. The player controls the rate at which many tiny steel balls are fed into the mechanism. You may play Pachinko in special pachinko parlors throughout the country, which are easily identified by their bright, colorful exteriors and boisterous interiors, and where you will find dozens of tightly packed pachinko machines.

Every machine allows you to buy balls with cash or prepaid cards. Most thrown balls will just roll down the machine and vanish, but the lucky few will make their way into the slot machine-like bonus areas. When this occurs, there are literally hundreds of balls up for grabs. The parlor’s gift store accepts the balls you won as payment for purchases at any time.

Karaoke

Karaoke in Japan is often performed in private rooms at venues known as “karaoke boxes.” A karaoke box often consists of many stories and dozens of individual rooms. You may find them near any major railway station or the city’s entertainment zone. In some smaller cities, especially after midnight, it may be the only place to go for entertainment.

Host and Hostess Bars

It has long been a staple of Japan’s nightlife to provide amusement for clients via discussion and hospitality. Nowadays, this has become a business in itself, and the places that focus most on it are known as “host and hostess clubs,” and they are very popular with tourists and locals alike.

To put it simply, host clubs are social gathering spots where attractive men and women serve alcoholic beverages and shower their patrons with attention.

The host is expected to provide entertainment for the guests. They pour drinks, flirt with clients, and make sure everyone has a good time by listening to their woes to singing, or playing games with them.

These clubs are more common in densely populated urban areas, whereas snack bars, girls’ bars, and so on are more ubiquitous.

Conclusion

You won’t have to worry about becoming bored in Japan unless you plan on spending every waking moment reading a book or staring at a screen. Go out on the town for a night of singing, drinking, eating, and socializing, and you’re sure to return with some amazing memories to share with your friends and some great ideas on what to do on your next trip.

Featured Image by mailtotobi from Pixabay