It’s your first evening in Japan, and you’ve just arrived at Tokyo Station. How should you kick off your trip?
In a city bustling with nightlife and 24-hour konbinis (convenience stores), the possibilities are endless, but here’s the breakdown of Tokyo’s major districts and where you’ll expect to find your perfect night out in the capital of Japan.
According to Go Tokyo, a website sponsored by the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, some of the districts with the most prevalent night scenes include Shibuya and Akihabara. Each district is unique in its own way and caters to different interests, so first consider what kind of night out you most enjoy in order to decide which one is better for you.
Beginning with Shibuya, the streets become vibrant with visitors going in and out of the various bars and nightclubs that Shibuya has to offer every night, so this is a must go for those who like to attend late night parties. Just make sure that you’re able to find a way back to your hotel as the subways mostly stop operating at around midnight depending on the line.
Shibuya also is majorly known for its shopping scene. Massive shopping centers line the streets with specialty stores like Tower Records, a seven-story tall music store that has every genre one could possibly think of and is open pretty late.
Another extremely popular activity here is karaoke. It’s a group activity where friends can rent rooms by the hour to sing amongst themselves and order drinks all through the night. Most karaoke places are open late into the night and some even stay open as late (early?) as 6 a.m.
Shibuya is a major hot spot for people who not only enjoy partying with others but also for those who may enjoy their time doing other things when staying up late. Akihabara caters more toward gamers and anime fans. While there are night activities like bars and nightclubs in Akihabara as well, what really attracts visitors is the arcades and anime-related shops. A big arcade here is called GiGO which is another seven-story tall building with games and activities on every floor. Food and concessions are also sold here to fuel guests late into the night.
For those who enjoy taking cute pictures, arcades also commonly have photo booths inside them that allow people to take a strip of photos and edit them as they please. These photo booths are another popular activity in Japan.
And, of course, after the evening is over and people begin to head home, a late-night dinner will always be available at any konbini in the area like 7-Eleven, Lawson or Family Mart. Whether it’s a quick onigiri (rice ball) or a heated meal, all options are appetizing at a konbini in Tokyo.
One common trait between people who like to party and gamers is that they enjoy each activity late into the night. From going to a nightclub and shopping to visiting an arcade and taking pictures at a photo booth, there are so many options for night time activities in Tokyo.
