Tokyo has a remarkable talent for hiding exceptional bars in places you would never think to look. Behind what appears to be a coffee shop, there might be an intimate cocktail lounge. A wall of coin lockers could conceal a staircase leading underground. In an ordinary office building, a lift might take you to one … Read more
Tokyo has two very different nightlife rhythms. One begins in the early evening, when office workers crowd into izakayas and tiny drinking alleys. The other gets going much later, when DJs take over Shibuya’s clubs and the streets of Shinjuku remain busy long after the trains have stopped. Knowing the best time to go out … Read more
Tokyo and Osaka are Japan’s two biggest nightlife destinations, but a night out feels surprisingly different in each city. Tokyo gives you far more choice. One evening can mean tiny bars in Shinjuku, cocktails in Ginza, clubs in Shibuya or a late-night meal in a narrow yokocho. The trade-off is scale: nightlife is spread across … Read more
Japanese whisky has gone from a relatively niche category to one of the most sought-after styles of whisky in the world. But choosing a bottle in Japan isn’t as simple as buying the most expensive Yamazaki you can find. Some famous bottles are difficult to find at sensible prices, newer Japanese distilleries are producing excellent … Read more
Tokyo nightlife does not have to mean packed clubs, loud izakayas or standing shoulder-to-shoulder in Shinjuku. Some of the best chill bars in Tokyo are small cocktail bars, hidden lounges and vinyl listening bars where you can slow down, have a proper drink and actually enjoy the atmosphere. For a relaxed night out, Ebisu and … Read more
Tokyo has no shortage of places to drink, but finding somewhere that feels genuinely interesting can take a little more effort. Beyond the crowded streets of Shibuya and the traditional whisky counters of Ginza, a different bar scene has developed. Former coffee-shop concepts have been reinvented as cocktail destinations, fashionable hotels have opened social lounges, … Read more
Tokyo looks completely different when you’re drinking 40 or 50 floors above it. At street level, the city can feel crowded and relentless. From a terrace high above Toranomon or a bar looking across towards Tokyo Tower, all that movement becomes part of the view. There is one catch: searching for the best rooftop bars … Read more
Tokyo is one of the most interesting cities in the world for exploring wine, although many of its best places look nothing like a traditional European wine bar. A tiny standing counter in Ebisu might have a handful of unusual French wines open by the glass. A bottle shop in Jingumae can introduce you to … Read more
Tokyo can feel overwhelming after dark. Shibuya’s crossings are crowded, Shinjuku’s streets are filled with music and neon signs, and even some of the city’s most famous cocktail bars can become surprisingly busy. But behind discreet doors and down narrow basement staircases, there is another side to Tokyo nightlife. In Ginza, bartenders prepare cocktails with … Read more
Going out alone in Roppongi is much easier than many first-time visitors expect. Roppongi is one of Tokyo’s most international nightlife districts, with everything from sophisticated hotel bars and specialist whisky counters to underground tequila bars, cocktail bars and lively late-night venues. For solo travellers, that variety is particularly useful. You can sit quietly at … Read more