Nightclubs and bars in Okinawa

Kalahaai is the home of Rinken Band - a popular local group that blends the traditional roots of Okinawan music with popular sounds. If you catch one of their concerts or a live performance at Kalahaai, you will surely get up and dance the "kachashee" with everyone else. (Kachashee is a local dance that is performed at most celebrations and festivals by Okinawans ranging in age from small kids to 100-year-olds!)

Dress Code: Dress is casual.

The main island of Okinawa has excellent nightlife, especially in Naha. Around the island you can find anything from nightclubs to casual beach bars. In the summer, there is plenty of action at the beach resort areas while Naha City stays busy all year round.

Dress Code: The style of dress for most Okinawa clubs and bars is usually pretty casual, but some of the more upscale nightclubs have dress codes so it's a good idea to know in advance where you are going.

Live music is a big part of Okinawa's nightlife. Naha City is without doubt the most popular place for live music, but Okinawa City's Gate 2 Street is where Japanese Rock was born. There are still many clubs here that date back decades with very high quality musicians taking the stage.

It is creatively known as "Gate 2 Street" because it is immediately outside of Kadena US Air Force Base, Gate 2. This area is a run-down collection of American bars, Filipino brothels, and a scarce few decent restaurants.

First Chance/Last Chance
If you are leaving Kadena Air Base heading to Gate 2 Street, the sign at the first bar you come to reads "First Chance." If you are going the other direction, back to the base, the sign appropriately reads "Last Chance." Whether it's your first stop or last of the evening, this bar is one of the best on Gate 2 Street. A good size beer at FCLC runs about US$10.

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This was my favorite place to go and have some fun with friends. The owners are the most amazing people I've ever met in my life, and become some great friends. The bartender, Yoshi, is the most amazing and craziest man I've ever met. If you love country music and line dancing, this is the best country bar on island. They have ethe largest dance floor,and a mechanical bull (which I did finally try). Its 500 yen to get in, but some friday nights or saturday nights ladies are free beforee 2100. It is one of the favorite place for many of the military (mostly marines) but everyone will make you feel right at home. So if you are anywhere near Kadena Air Base, go in and learn and few dances and tell Yoshi I sent you.

Dress Code: Jeans, tee shirts and cowboy hats.

Need to let loose and have a good time? Go to Saicolo on Kokusai Street. Great music, primarily hip-hop. Crowd's composed of Americans & locals. Usually pretty friendly sometimes a bit of a wait to get your drink. Best thing is the free-drink menu which is actually common at a lot of the clubs here. The cover is around 25 bucks per head but stick to the free-drink menu and you'll make up for what you spent! Great time!!!

Dress Code: If you wanted to wear jeans & a T thats fine but I wouldn't encourage it. Last weekend I saw a guy in their with shorts and a T and sneakers. Casual/relaxed dress would probably be your best bet.

I don't know the real name of the bar. My friends and I dubbed it "The Chicken Shack" because of the sign out front and they serve good chicken inside. Also all the little filipino girls talking makes it sound like a chicken coop. It's a lot of fun if you want to go drink some beer, eat some chicken, sing some karaoke, and hang out with the filipina women.

Dress Code: Where whatever the hell you want. They don't care. It's a whole in the wall.

There's nothing really special about this place except for having a live band. They also have a lot of hostesses running around that you can have sit with you. They will charge you $20 to sit and have a drink with you if that's the kind of thing that you're into. Personally, I have better ways to spend my hard earned paycheck than by paying some bimbo to drink a shot of orange juice with me.

Dress Code: No dress code.