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City Guide: Tokyo, Japan

The following (epic) city guide was contributed by Tim from Tokyo Night Owl.

japan-flag

Shibuya

Shibuya

Tokyo in a word: Yabai!

Chance of Hooking up: 3/ 5
Quality of Girls: 5/5 [author might have yellow fever bias.]
Nightlife: 5/ 5
Smoking tolerance: 1/ 5 

Costs $¥

Drinks: $7 (700 yen) or higher for a pint of beer in most bars/clubs outside of Happy Hour.

Hotel (with your own room/privacy): $100 USD and up near a good location like Shibuya or Roppongi.

Overview

While it may sound like romanticism, Tokyo is a koan in motion. It’s one of the most chaotic and stimulating places on the planet and the largest metropolitan area in the world. And yet, through all the people, energy, and noise, the city is interspersed with moments of silence, serenity, and zen.

Skyscrapers next to zen gardens, mass conformity alongside technological innovation, chaotic stations with silent passengers… If you don’t feel the contradiction on first arrival, you definitely will when the first seductive woman strolls past with a Hello Kitty purse.

The Girls

Looks and Personality:

Keiko Kitagawa- yumGiven that Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, it also has the highest concentrations of attractive women in the world.

While there’s beautiful girls all over Japan, nowhere else in the country will you find a comparable congregation like you will in Tokyo. Many girls from outside of Tokyo will also have vacations in the city at various times of the year. In general, the girls in Tokyo are incredibly fashion/appearance conscious and relatively Westernized compared to other parts of Japan.

Physically, Japanese women are not as curvaceous and voluptuous as women in other parts of the world, but they take great care in their appearance and the overwhelming majority are thin. They show off their legs at any time of the year (even in the depths of winter).

Personality wise, many of the girls may seem to exude a high level of naiveté, but rest assured, they know what’s up. “Girls don’t always mean what they say” is an understatement in Japan, it’s even more pronounced. The Japanese even have a phrase for it: honne (true feelings) and tatamae (the “façade”). Make sure you hit those honne buttons!

 

Language:

Being a foreigner with decent game/confidence might get you 5s and 6s right off the bat, but if you are aiming for the stunners (8,9,10), you need a bit of language (Naughty Nomad has always hammered this point home!) You don’t need to be fluent in Japanese, but at least read up on a few lines before you start approaching girls in rapid speed English.

Tip: Eigo daijobu deska? (Do you speak English?/ Is English ok?) She’ll probably say no (even if she might know some), but it’s about making the effort, having fun with it, and, at the very least, speaking slowly.

If you are in Japan for more than a week, you are also bound to hear of “gaijin hunters” (gaijin is the Japanese word for foreigners). These are girls with a preference for foreigners, and while a few can be found at international parties (these parties will also be home to some foreign girls too), don’t go expecting multiple renditions of Maria Ozawa. You can find the full list of parties here.

If you’re looking for wingmen, or just online discussion with guys who are also dating Japanese women, Japan Lair recently re-launched (after closing down for months to disassociate with RSD).

As far as online dating, Tinder just entered the Japanese market in 2014. Tinder Premium would allow you to Swipe Yes or Swipe No before you even arrive.

Facial composite of average Japanese female.

Facial composite of average Japanese female.

And finally, if you are a single guy headed to Tokyo, then here is mandatory reading: Japanese Girls: The Guide. It’s a bit pricey, but the information is invaluable, and the book will save you a ton of time if you read it before arrival.

Demographics:

13.22 million people in Tokyo with 8.996 million living within Tokyo’s 23 wards as of 2005 (it’s surely more now). The most common foreign nationalities (as of 2005) found in Tokyo are Chinese (123,661), Korean (106,697), Filipino (31,077), American (18,848), British (7,696), Brazilian (5,300) and French (3,000).

In a word: homogenous.

The Dirt

Drugs and Tattoos:

The drug scene in Tokyo is incredibly hush-hush and extremely strict. It is a drinking culture and drugs are extremely taboo and associated with organized crime. Clubs can deny you entry if you have an exposed tattoo, even if it’s Buddha, so cover up if you are unsure.

Keep in mind, you can be detained for 21 days guilty until proven innocent for minor possession.

And with more contradictions…there are a load of “legal” shops that offer very potent (and possibly dangerous) alternatives to common drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. But be warned: (1) there is no way to know how safe the substances you buy at these shops and (2) some of this will knock you on your ass far more than a joint would. Tread with caution.

The Nightlife

clubb

Where?

The two epicenters are Shibuya and Roppongi: both with different vibes. Sure, you can find parties in Shinjuku and bars in Akasaka, but this is typically not where the masses go for nightlife.

When?

Tokyo parties last from evening until dawn (and then some).

Bars tend to bustle from 6 pm – last train ( 1 am). Peak time in clubs is 1 am – 3 am. Clubs tend to steadily die down until about 5 am- 6 am depending on the club. Afterhours tends to extend from 6 am onward. Most after-hours are in Roppongi, many lasting until far into the next day.

 

Clubs

ClubsRoppongi

Much more foreigner friendly; and tends to have girls that are a bit more curious too.

  • Jumanji (low budget all night)
  • Greenland (low budget all night)
  • Feria (high budget)
  • Color (high budget)
  • Brand Tokyo (high budget, tends to be fewer foreigners but expect less English)

Shibuya

  • Camelot (low budget, if early)
  • Atom (low budget, if early)
  • Harlem (low budget, if early)
  • Vision (high budget)
  • Womb (high budget)
  • Ageha (Shuttle Bus)- actual club is in Shin Kiba about a 25 minute bus ride away.

Shinjuku

  • Club Axciss (last resort option if stuck in Shinjuku)
  • Gatsby House (high budget)

For more in-depth info, please join the Tokyo Night Owl newsletter. There will be plenty of tips, news, and discounts within it.

Bars

BarsThe bar scene is a bit weaker than you’d be led to believe. Most bars have table charges as well and are quite intimate, housing only a handful of customers. However, there are a few that a great way to start the night until the last train. And as a general tip, karaoke is great place to take a girl after you leave a bar to continue the fun. You can get a private room, you can drink, you can sing, you can not lock the door, but still have fun :). Many karaoke bars are open all night.

This is the Japanese for karaoke (KA-RA-O-KE):

Karaoke in Japanese

Karaoke in Japanese


Roppongi

  • Hub $ (www.hubtokyo.com) – The Hub here is one of the busiest in the city. Definitely worth a stop by and a drink.
  • Bar Quest $ (quasi club, but also plenty of spots to sit and cheap/usually no entry charge)
  • A971 $$- Classy and professional.
  • Rigoletto Roppongi $$$ – Actually a restaurant but the bar is always packed. Older and professional crowd.
  • R2 $$$$- Classy and professional, but tends to be older and or working girls here (high end working girls).
  • Console $$$$$- Girls bar where all the girls have at least a moderate level of English.

Shibuya

  • Hub $ (www.hubtokyo.com)- Typical mock British Pub. There are three in Shibuya.
  • Coins Bar $ – Most drinks are around 300 yen. There is usually a minor table charge per guest as well. Really casual place, good projector to watch sports, some hip hop nights, and overall, a good mix of cool chicks and people.
  • Dubliners, Irish Pub $$- I’m only mentioning this for the Nomad. Talent in here is pretty low, but little to no Japanese required and it’s Irish.

Shinjuku

  • Dubliners $$- Yes, there’s another one of these here as well.
  • There’s also plenty of “Girl’s Bars” in Shinjuku. They can be a good laugh and warm up/close out for the night. I’d recommend Tank Girls (http://tank-girls.com, but you’ll need someone who speaks Japanese to get in).

If you’d like a fully customizable nightlife experience, please use the contact form on Tokyo Night Owl and I (or another member of the site) can advise you.

Day Time

DayTime- YoYogi

Where and when to go?

I’d highly suggest Yoyogi Park; Sundays are jam-packed with all sorts of characters, especially with good weather. Great for a date or for meeting its nearby Shibuya and Shinjuku (see train
map below). The shopping areas in Shinjuku and the streets of Shibuya are also where a lot of girls spend their time when they aren’t at work or in university.

  • Location MapHarajuku* (Cosplay capital. Best station to walk to Yoyogi Park)
  • Omotosendo (Classy girls shopping, home to many high-end brands)
  • Shinjuku (Classy girls shopping, students, etc. It’s the busiest train station in Japan)
  • Shibuya (Younger/Mix, Shopping/Club girls, Busiest pedestrian crossing in Japan)
  • Roppongi (Mix/Older, Shopping/Club girls)
  • Hiroo (Upscale, Good for Dates)
  • Nakameguro* (Upscale, Good for Dates)- Beautiful river.
  • Asakusa (Fellow tourists from all over the world; it’s the traditional aspect of Tokyo- worth a visit and you may meet a like-minded tourist)

* If it’s sakura season (that one magical week a year, usually falling on the last week of March or first week of April), these spots take precedence over everything – even nightlife. Everyone is getting drunk in the day time with sakura petals flying through the wind. Very friendly atmosphere, great vibes, and much more openness (the coming of spring + alcohol does that).

Nampa (Street/ Day Time):

Pretty girls in Tokyo are well used to nampa, or street pick up. It’s basically walking up to a girl and speaking your piece about her, to her, and about you, just as you would in any country. All Japanese men know of “nampa” even if they do not partake.

Girls may flat out ignore you (even more likely if you start a monologue in English). Just keep in mind you aren’t the first guy to street talk them and respect their personal space. The Japanese Girls Guide has an entire chapter on this topic from men who have quite a bit of experience (and success) on these types of approaches.

Date spots:

  • Yoyogi Park (mentioned before) is a brilliant spot on a summer day as there are cafes nearby too.
  • Nakameguro- Beautiful river and stroll; just a stop away from Shibuya.

As an additional tip: public displays of affection are taboo in Japan so tread lightly during the first interaction and the start of a first date.

 

Personal Experience

I initially visited Tokyo for 5 days as a vacation from my job in South Korea- and simply witnessing the Shibuya pedestrian scramble made my jaw drop. That, combined with my travel around Japan, lit the fire to live in Tokyo.

Thereafter I spent quite a few months traveling through Asia, assessing which cities matched my goals and personality. In my eyes, Tokyo was incomparable. So in 2012, I came back for the long haul with no Japanese knowledge, no job lined up, and a 30L backpack with all my belongings.

I chose to live in Ebisu due to it being one stop away from both Shibuya and Roppongi, however, there are many great locations you can stay and/or live in. My weekends were usually spent DJing in the various clubs of Tokyo and/or dating.

BioBio:

Tim is an aspiring artist-entrepreneur. He is the founder of Tokyo Night Owl, co-founder of the bass music collective Bassick, and an active producer and DJ of electronic music. You can follow his adventures, trials, and tribulations on his personal blog, Love Travel Bass.

Other Resources

Why not check out more cheeky City Guides?

For more info on Tokyo, or if you have any questions, check out the links below or leave a comment.

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40 Responses to City Guide: Tokyo, Japan

  1. Mateusz Bamski May 7, 2015 at 2:40 am #

    I haven’t been in Tokyo but I hit Osaka on my previous trip. To tell you the truth I got impression that the city I mentioned may be done… on budget. Have no idea about Tokyo but for sure Osaka may not be as expensive as people think. The only reason why it set me back a bit is that I spent roughly 75% of my money for partying. While I was in Osaka I slept few nights in hotel near Shinimaniya. For cold, tiny room I paid per around 7 EUR night.

    Personally I would recommend to see Japan to literally EVERYONE. Not just Hentai lovers but to… nature seekers, museum fans, electronic gadgets freaks, crazy party ravers, car tunning amateurs, foodies travellers.

    Great city guide!

    • Tim May 7, 2015 at 3:14 pm #

      Hi Mateusz, thanks for checking out the guide. Partying will easily make a traveler (or even a resident) go bankrupt. Happened to me. Twice.

      Key is getting in on a discount (or even free). Feel free to shoot me a message on Tokyo Night Owl if you ever get to Tokyo again. I’m sure I can put you on a few parties and a much cheaper price.

      I only spent 2 nights in Osaka; Club Circus was pretty sweet though. Any places you’d recommend?

      • Mateusz Bamski May 7, 2015 at 4:17 pm #

        Well.. was long time ago and I am not sure but I hit one of 100yen shots for start nearly every time.

        I have been staying in Hotel Diamond near Shinimaniya. It’s very good value to price but do not expect nothing fancy. This place is creepy but gather so many of young travellers. I met a nice clique and we hit bars together.

        I reckon you should have graspo of japanese as not so many of gals would speak nice english… Do you agree?

        • Tim May 8, 2015 at 12:39 am #

          I have a good grasp of basic Japanese, but nothing exceptional (far from fluency). But yes, I’d say lower intermediate. Although just completing one book (called Genki 1 if you are interested) is what started giving me massive results. I also used a variety of translation helps to help with texting.

      • Shaun November 21, 2015 at 10:35 pm #

        Hey Tim, me and my mates are off to japan in less than a week any events you can hook us up with? would love to see all of japan.

    • nomadphils July 8, 2015 at 2:42 pm #

      I have always wanted to go to Japan but it sounds so expensive and without knowing the language I think it would be extremely hard…. maybe one day though

  2. Ali S May 7, 2015 at 2:42 am #

    A guy who looks like that should do well anywhere even with very basic game. Great guide btw!

    • Tim May 7, 2015 at 3:38 pm #

      Haha thanks for the compliment Ali. Although I will say that I got schooled relentlessly until I got my confidence and language up to par.

    • splooge May 8, 2015 at 9:27 pm #

      awesome guide. now that u mention it wonder how dark skinned men do there.

  3. golio May 7, 2015 at 7:22 am #

    great. What about your experiences with jap. girls?

    • Mark Zolo May 7, 2015 at 12:29 pm #

      I had a Jap gf for a year. Great pets.

  4. Carlos May 7, 2015 at 7:42 am #

    Hi Tim, please rewrite this word because it’s a bit wrong “tatamae”. It should be “tatemae” instead of “tatamae”. By the way, nice post! Greetings! 🙂

    • Tim May 7, 2015 at 2:39 pm #

      Nice catch there! Damn those romaji!

      Post is in the Nomad’s hands as of now, so perhaps an edit can happen in the future.

  5. mike querin May 7, 2015 at 10:09 am #

    great guide. relevant for visitors and residents. going to have to inspect all of your suggested bar spots in tokyo. looking forward to it. thanks for the post.

    • Tim May 7, 2015 at 2:41 pm #

      Hey Mike, great blog you got there yourself- a lot of good information on dating Korean girls. Maybe a Seoul Guide is in order?

  6. Turn Up May 8, 2015 at 2:26 am #

    Tim,
    Is their a City in Asia that’s a budget version of Tokyo (tons of fine women and good nightlife)?

    How many dates do most guys need to bang a fine Tokyo girl?

    What’s it cost you to live in Tokyo/month?

    • Tim May 8, 2015 at 5:11 pm #

      Hi Turn Up,

      I would say, on the lowest end (living in a share house, bulk cooking for the week, etc.) would be 150,000 yen per month. If you stay further outside the city, you could lower this to the extreme minimum of 130,000 (in the far boonies without sex, love, or attention). Keep in mind that living extremely cheap on everything (transport, food, not going out, etc.) can turn into a very unenjoyable lifestyle.

      Other cities in Japan are cheaper than Tokyo, but if you are talking Asia, you may like Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh has a budding club scene and is much cheaper to live in, but it depends on your personal preferences.

      How many dates? It’s very situational, so I can’t say “most guys get it in after X amount of dates”. A “fine” Tokyo girl has many options. I would really recommend the book, Japanese Girls: The Guide. It lays out how long it takes most men and gives you some tips that help gauge how much the girl is interested in you.

  7. James May 8, 2015 at 6:45 am #

    Wish I had this on my trip last year. My friend and I managed to get our japanese flag on the last day of our journey – daygaming in Shibuya. But I remember it was difficult for us to find decent bars with quality girls … managed to find something on townadvisor.net … next time we’re bringing this guide:)

  8. QED May 11, 2015 at 6:42 pm #

    I lived there for 8 years, watch out for those tough wire like pubes, know a couple of lads almost had their eyes popped out going down

    • Tim May 24, 2015 at 11:18 pm #

      8 years, what a champ.

      That be true, still going through my second set of cataracts. Damn them.

  9. cereal killer May 23, 2015 at 9:31 am #

    Well some articles about Africa in NN site are great but this one are bullshit even if I was not in JP.
    But you can have ratting on the net selling fairy tales to the people. To give japanese girls 5/5 in a country where almost all the girls look like a chihuahua dog and in a city where you need 100$/night in a regular hotel and probably 5000$ to live decent in Tokyo/ month..well give me a break with that city (I know prices there is not your fault of course).
    Tokyo girls “5/5” https://www.google.ro/search?q=girls+of+tokyo&sa=X&biw=853&bih=528&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=A39gVfaMPMr-ygOW5YDIBQ&ved=0CB8QsAQ

    and Belgrade girls “5/5” (NN site) https://www.google.ro/search?q=girls+of+belgrade&sa=X&biw=853&bih=528&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=NX9gVdL7AeL9ywP5soG4Cg&ved=0CB8QsAQ

    or Kiev girls also 5/5 NN site https://www.google.ro/search?q=kiev+girls&espv=2&biw=853&bih=528&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=bn9gVeeOEPHG7AbgvICgBw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

    Like I said never was in Tokyo and will never go (only maybe I will win to the lottery), but for example in Beograd and Kiev I was few times and really have doubts about Tokyo as a really competitor.
    Be honest with us it is not so hard..and if you can’t have a correct appreciation let someone else…

    • Mark Zolo May 23, 2015 at 5:08 pm #

      The 5/5 is not my personal rating, it’s the author’s

    • Tim May 24, 2015 at 11:07 pm #

      As Mark said, it’s not his, but my rating. Obviously not every Tokyo girl is a 5/5, so I should probably round it down to 4.9/5.

      If you are worried about money, Tokyo Cheapo has a book coming out that might assist you: https://publishizer.com/tokyo-cheapo/

  10. cereal killer June 3, 2015 at 3:53 pm #

    Ok Tim, I know was not Mark rating and article, was yours sorry because wasn’t specified in my comment, well tnx for your work and keep the good work. We take what is useful. So, tnx for the cheap version of Tokyo :P.
    Also…to put a rating about some city, obvious must give a general rating for all girls, not a rating for few top girls, because in this situation all the cities deserve 5/5 – everywhere we can find few stunning.
    In what I saw on the net Tokyo receive 3/5 in y opinion,if someone are not obsessed about asian girls style.

  11. Joe Dirt June 21, 2015 at 3:56 am #

    I didn’t read any guides and scored like a champion in Tokyo. I didn’t have time to learn Japanese with only being there 3 days so simply went to where the ESL schools were and waited for qt girls to come out of classes and approached them, Hey, let’s go practice English and party it up.

    The 2 Japanese girls I met were incredibly direct, after laughing and drinking at a restaurant they’d say “Ok, let’s go back to your place now”. Wait.. what? … awesome!

    I didn’t read anything about Japanese sexual culture since the whole point of a girl being with me is that I’m different than the local fare, so she obviously doesn’t want what a local would do. One of the girls I took back to my apartment we cracked a bottle, put on some Enrique Iglesias party music and dirty danced with her into the bedroom and fucked her like I fuck any other girl. 10/10 would repeat. Another girl I went back to her place which was awkward because she had roomates, so I jumped on airbnb got a playboy condo a block away and ferried her there in under 20 minutes to bang her twice once on the couch and on the roof patio later while sipping drinks.

    I found the Japanese generally don’t like any foreigners, especially Koreans for some reason, but they will tolerate you if you remain a foreigner and don’t try to emulate/imitate them. If you go full out weaboo or try to act too much like them then they want nothing to do with you and you get the fake politeness and brush off, but if you just act your western self and show enough respect to not embarrass anybody, and can spit some game you’re in easily.

  12. Skins July 10, 2015 at 7:49 am #

    Great guide! Man Tokyo looks like a fascinating city and the women are so fine… Bookmarked this for my upcoming trip this year!

  13. Fux July 17, 2015 at 10:57 am #

    Great guide! I’ll be in Tokyo for 4 days (14-18/08/15). Any veterans with great tips for clubbing without ending up broke after the first night? I’ll be staying in Roppongi. I have decent game but not much experience with Japanese women but very intrigued what all the fuzz is about.

  14. Jordan September 10, 2015 at 7:29 am #

    Since Japanese girls are so uptight I had another way of looking at this and would really appreciate an opinion from the author or others who’ve lived in Tokyo. There are several women who travel to Tokyo for work or holiday from around Asia and southeast Asia. Do these women end up with the same attitude as the Japanese women? Any personal experiences with women from South Korea, India, China? They are the bulk of foreign population in Tokyo for work/vacation.

  15. Jim November 15, 2015 at 9:49 pm #

    Its simple: Either you are in or not. If you are the japanese tpye for the grils there you are picked quick by the girls. I had 2 J-GFs. Both of them were great. Smart, educated and easy maintance. Non of them would ask me money – rare in Asia. The society is homogenic and its hard to break in as outsider – good so. Best chance i figured out is to meet the jap chicks outside there country. Also if you are there, try to ask questions and directions. I was picked up from the street and given a free nite. Btw i had a one nite stand with a chick in Switzerland, picked her up in a hostel. Be carefull, y might fall in love and get married.

  16. David " dogging In the UK" January 16, 2016 at 9:51 am #

    i want to go Japan but its bit little expensive to live there if we are not known as Japan language i think so. But would be chanced to go this season vacation for hooking up ha ha.

  17. Sinapse June 2, 2016 at 3:30 pm #

    Tokyo is amazing!!

    Tim is the man. I recently post on his site about hooking up at all hours of the night in Tokyo. You can see it here: http://www.tokyonightowl.com/late-night-hookups-tokyo-ultimate-guide/

    I’m sad to see Tim move away from Tokyo but I know the legacy of picking up in Japan continues.

    • Tim June 25, 2016 at 12:28 am #

      Sinapse! What’s up dude? And thanks for the compliments. I’m sad to have departed as well, but for me, my time to move on came. You created a bad ass article with the late-night focus.

      You know I’ll be hitting you up when I visit!

      And for anyone coming to Tokyo, Sinapse has absolute top form. Definitely better than me when it comes to understanding, meeting, and having lots of uh…*intimacy*..with Japanese women! Make sure you check out his site, Attraction Japan.

      Peace,
      Tim

  18. guy March 12, 2017 at 4:20 am #

    tokyo is a weird place, so much to offer but if you are gaijin it can be hard

  19. Chris Channey March 15, 2018 at 7:57 pm #

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  20. Sam the Man April 19, 2019 at 8:18 pm #

    Thinking about Tokyo for 2020 Olympics… Tired to order a copy of the book Japanese Girls – The Guide, however the order links no longer work. Anyone have a copy? It may have been an ebook (Not sure). Willing to pay for copy.

    • gupta April 28, 2021 at 7:32 am #

      Surely I will come to tokyo and check out the night clubs out there

  21. kumar April 28, 2021 at 7:20 am #

    Japan is a best place and I would definitely look forwardn to enjoy the night life.
    I am coming Tokyo

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