SHIBUYA NIGHTLIFE AND MUSIC
Shibuya is arguably the nightlife capital of Tokyo, if not all of Japan. Most of Tokyo’s prominent clubs and concert venues can be found within the district and the options for late-night eating and drinking are virtually limitless. With so many options to choose from, here’s a list of where to find the best music and entertainment that the city has to offer.
Club Asia
クラブエイジア
Club Asia features a spacious main floor and another smaller lounge floor. The quality of the booking isn’t as high as other similar venues in Tokyo, but there are a wide variety of genres you can find here on any given night, so there’s a high chance that there’s something for you here at least one night of the week. They also run the smaller Lounge Neo across the street.
Address
1-8 Maruyama-cho, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区円山町1-8
Hours
Evening till late
Telephone
03-5458-2551
Club Quattro
渋谷クラブクアトロ
Club Quattro is one of Shibuya’s most well-known venues to see popular live acts, both foreign and Japanese. The venue has a capacity of around 500, making Quattro a comparatively intimate place to see many world-famous bands.
Address
5F 32-13-4 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区宇田川町 32-13-4・5F
Hours
Check schedule
Telephone
03-3477-8750
En Sof
エンソフ
This is a cozy DJ bar and cafe located around the corner from Don Quijote. There are house and techno-oriented events going on during both weekdays and weekends. On the the weekends, En Sof is a popular after-party destination, as the music sometimes keeps going until late afternoon. They also serve food here.
Address
2-23-13 Dougenzaka Shibuya-Ku
東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-23-13
Hours
19:00 till late
Telephone
03-5728-5349
URL
en-sof.jp/
Goodbeer Faucets
グッドビアファウセッツ
Craft beers are quite hard to come by in Japan but Goodbeer Faucets has dozens of varieties for you to choose from, 40 of them on tap. Most of the beer comes from either Japan or the U.S. A 400ml glass generally costs ¥900 or more, which is fairly common for imported or craft beers in Japan, but are discounted ¥200 during happy hour. The bar has a stylish décor and also serves food such as steak and seafood.
Address
CROSSROADS 2F 1-29-1 Shoto, Shibuya
渋谷区松濤1-29-1クロスロードビル2F
Hours
17:00 – around midnight
Telephone
03-3770-5544
Karaoke Kan
カラオケ館
Karaoke Kan is a ubiquitous karaoke chain that can be found all over Japan, but this branch in particular should appeal to fans of the film Lost in Translation. Rooms 601 and 602 are where the film’s memorable karaoke scenes were shot. There’s a high chance you might not be able to get those rooms, however, and instead be stuck in a cramped booth without windows. The English song selection is also subpar. If you really want to get into it, pink wigs similar to what Charlotte wore in the film are sold at Don Quijote nearby.
Address
30-8 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区宇田川町30-8
Hours
11:00 – 6:00
Telephone
03-3462-0785
LX
カフェアンドバーエルエックス
This uniquely shaped bar, located on a narrow street among Maruyamacho’s numerous love hotels, is a little bit tricky to access, but once you spot the big white egg you’ll know you’ve found it. On weeknights, LX functions as a bar and cafe and they also have events with live DJ’s on some weekends, with the lower floor functioning as the dance floor. This must be one of the only bars in Shibuya where you take off your shoes after entering, and where one must walk up and down a long spiral staircase to get between floors.
Address
7-1 Maruyama-cho, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区円山町7-1
Hours
20:00-05:00
Telephone
080-3503-6612
Oiran
しぶや花魁
Just across the street from Club Asia, this is a funky little DJ bar with a traditional Japanese feel. It’s a popular hangout for those who like deep house music. The bar is on the first floor while the second floor features the DJ booth, some tables and even a tatami mat area. Just be careful, because there’s a charge for sitting on the 2nd floor that the staff won’t always mention.
Address
2-22-6, Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-22-6
Hours
18:00 till late
Telephone
03-5456-8782
Ruby Room
ルビールーム
Ruby Room is a great little bar/live house where you can see local bands and DJ’s play all genres. It’s very popular with foreigners and Japanese alike. Many of the events here are free and go until morning on weekends.
Address
Kasumi Bldg 2-25-17 Dogenzaka
道玄坂 2-25-17 カスミビル
Hours
Evening till late
Telephone
03-3780-3022
Shibuya O Group
This is a group of four different concert venues all situated close by one another in the backstreets of Maruyamacho/Dogenzaka. The venues host all sorts of rock, pop and punk bands, mostly domestic but some major international bands as well. O-East, the biggest of the group, fits over 1,000 people. The venues have recently replaced the ‘Shibuya’ in their name with ‘Tsutaya’ but are still commonly known by their original titles.
Address
2-14-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-14-8
Hours
Check schedule
Telephone
03-5458-4681 (O-East)
Toranoko Shokudo
虎子食堂
Roughly translating to “Tiger Cub Cafe,” Toranoko Shokudo is both a curry restaurant and a DJ bar. In the daytime they serve Caribbean chicken curry and Thai green curry, as well as the popular Okinawan/American fusion dish “taco rice.” During weekends this is a good spot to get a taste of Tokyo’s underground in a laid back and friendly atmosphere, with local DJ’s playing genres like house, disco, hip-hop and soul.
Address
Park Bldg. 2F, 10-1 Udagawacho
渋谷区宇田川町10-1 パークビル2F
Hours
12:00 – 1:00
Telephone
03-6416-1197
WWW
Located in a former movie theatre, WWW is a popular venue for both live bands and electronic acts. The venue is respected for its high end Funktion One sound system. The lineup is very diverse, so checking the schedule ahead of time is recommended.
Address
13-7 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku
東京都渋谷区宇田川町１３−７
Hours
Evening till late
Telephone
03-5458-7685
