Night Out in Shinjuku, Tokyo

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Shinjuku is one of the most interesting places in the world at night. And I can say that without having even entered a bar there. The crowds of people wandering through the streets and the bright lights make Shinjuku a visual feast that cannot be passed up. If you are hungry, there are plenty of fine restaurants -- I ate at a sushi place there that was delicious. If you are thirsty, there seeem to be plenty of great bars that I can't wait to try. And, if you want to see naked women, there seems to be plenty of that, too. Just find an African tout and he'll lead you to his favorite place! I'm sure of that, since they hounded me constantly being a guy alone when I was there in 1998.
Mostly, I like wandering around the crowds and lights of Sinjuku. When you think of Japanese nightlife, this is the image that come to mind!

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The stretch of Yasakuni dori just to the east of Shinjuku JR station is abuzz with restaurants, cafes, karaoke bars, pubs, pachinko palours and game arcades. There is something for everyone young and old. The variety of eating establishments is simply mind-boggling. However, do note that not all eating establishments have English menus or window displays of the food. Unless you can read Japanese, you may have problems ordering. But not to worry - there are numerous restaurants in the food alley of Shinjuku Station and on the top floors of Odakyu Shopping Center. The side streets on both sides of Yasakuni dori are full of these eating establishments, bars and pubs.

Dress Code: Casual

Shinjuku is crazy at night! The place is full of people, bright flashing lights and people enticing you to try their club or restaurant. There are so many choices and you could go back every night and still find the place to be endless fun!

You do have to be careful to check what the cover price is to enter bars and clubs as some charge huge amounts of money!

Unfortunately I couldn't go out at night due to our busy tour scheldule, but I found this pub which I used to go to when I was living in Canada. A nice place to eat, drink and meet new friends.

Dress Code: Casual but no sneakers, at least in Canada.

Shinjuku is where all the train lines seem to meet. Easy to get there and wander around seeing how young and old Japanese like to spend their nights away.

Many cinemas and shops opening late at night. Kabukichyo is the red light district nearby.

Kabuki Cho is the Red Light District. If you dont know this, you may not even notice. Or maybe that is just me. I walked around this area that is supposed to be soapboxes, stripclubs etc. But mostly I saw restaurants, noodle shops, some ice cream, and gambling. So I can't give you my impression of the sex scene, but if you land late and want something to eat, or to play patchinko latenight, this is the place.

Dress Code: anything

Fransis Coppola's daughter Sofia Coppola , movie director made "Lost In Translation".
May be, you watched the scene of Shinjuku of the movie.

When I was a student, I sometimes went to Shinjuku to eat korean BBQ, drink with my colleagues, all you can eat&drink, and to listen the jazz music.

Unfortunately I did'nt go to "2-town".

At Kabukicho,every kind of adult entertainment awaits you. From strip clubs and hostess bars to pachinko parlours and Love Hotels. (Although prostitution is illegal in Japan, enforcement of the law is almost nonexistent, and nowhere is there talk of a Bangkok-style cleanup.)

A unique store that I came across had bright neon lighting and looked just like a large record shop,but on the inside, instead of music CDs, it was filled with photographs of women, men and addresses & contact details of clubs and types of clubs.

My tour guide explained that this was a recent development, and it offered new type of service, basically as a one-stop information centre for those looking for certain types of adult entertainment.

The one in the picture carries the interesting name of Hot Men’s Box (HMB). For men (or women) who don't have time to shop around, this would be just the place to go!

Did you notice that the HMB lettering looks rather suspiciously like HMV records's lettering? hmmm

Dress Code: Act out your fantasies: The environment at the club could be a mock office, a classroom, a doctor's office. even, sexual harassment on a subway car! (caveat: all information here is strictly from the internet and not from my personal experience!!)