Guide to Japan's clubs & "other" establishments
Wrote this a few years ago on my reddit when I was still living in Tokyo, thought it would be good to share to prep you brothers when you come over once all this COVID shitshow is done and over.
In Tokyo, I was a regular of various 'interesting' establishments, after spending thousands and thousands of dollars, here's a little guide on what you can expect:
[Disclaimer: This might sound racist at times, since I will make general statements about nationalities based on only a few experiences.]
First of all, if you want to have some adult fun, you'll have a way harder time to find a good place if your Japanese isn't at least conversational.
You might be lucky and find the occasional bouncer/tout/mama-san/girl who speaks some English, but usually it's Japanese only. Obviously, that's different in Roppongi, but I recommend you stay the hell out of that overpriced cesspool.
I'd also avoid Kabukicho. It's way more expensive than other places, and whenever you read something about someone getting ripped off, it happened usually in Kabukicho. Case in point, the only time I've ever been ripped off, was in Kabukicho, too.
Next thing to avoid are Nigerian/African touts. They mostly are in Roppongi and Kabukicho, though, so if you stay out of there, you won't encounter that many. Never make eye contact with them, don't talk to them. If they come towards you and want to shake your hand, ignore them.
Ok, now to the various kinds of night entertainment. It's important to know the differences between them, so you know what to expect, how much it costs, and what you can and can't do.
Snack: These are pretty harmless, but still can be fun. If you've never been to an 'interesting' place before, I'd recommend starting with snacks. Basically, a snack is a place where you pay in order to talk girls/women. The charge is usually ¥1000-4000 per hour, often also something like a ¥500 seating charge. This usually includes a nomihoudai of cheap Whiskey and Gin (sometimes beer, too), and some tsumami. If you go alone, you can expect to have a girl for yourself, if you go in a small group, there may not be enough girls, especially in cheaper places. Snacks are strictly talking only, and since snacks are comparably cheap, the girls don't really dress up. It's more of a girl-next-door feeling.
Girls' Bar: About the same as a snack, but you sit at the counter with a girl standing on the other side serving you drinks and talking to you. Haven't been to many, but prices were similar to or a bit cheaper than snacks.
Gentlemen's Bar: Male version of a girl's bar. Found that out by talking to what I thought was the bar keeper for a good 30 minutes before getting somewhat impatient and asking "So, when's my girl coming?"
Kyaba kura / cabaret club: This is a more expensive version of snacks. Prices start around ¥5000 per hour. Usually includes a cheap Whiskey/Gin nomihoudai, sometimes beer, and some tsumami. The girls usually dress up, and are generally prettier than in snacks (which makes sense, since men are willing to pay more for prettier girls). Still mostly talking only, but the girls might sit closer to you than in a snack.
Okama bar: Same as a snack, but with men in drag, some stunningly beautiful, some more of the Pink Flamingos kind. Can be really fun and, unlike the other kinds, you can bring female friends (who'll have a blast). It's quite common to see mixed groups of customers. Prices with nomihoudai similar to snacks.
Snacks and kyaba kura are by far the most common kinds. Again, just to be clear, you pay for talking and drinking only. I've heard from a friend that some hostess friends of friends of hers or something have sex with customers, and maybe I didn't go to the right (= way more expensive) places, but in snacks and kyaba kura there's usually not even a hint of sex. You might think that only socially inept men would pay to only talk to girls, but it actually can be a lot of fun.
You get charged in intervals between 40-60 minutes. Whenever a period ends the floor manager / bar keeper / factotum will show you the current charge and ask you if you would like to extend.
On to the darker side:
Sexy kyaba kura / ichya-ichya kyaba kura: Less common and more expensive than kyaba kura. I went only once and it was about ¥8000 for 45 minutes. At the place I went to you get a girl sitting next to you, and you are allowed to touch her above the waist line. This includes sliding your hand into her bra and playing with her nipples. No exposing her breasts. Includes the standard nomihoudai.
Prostitution: If you walk around in a seedy area long enough, you'll probably pass some middle-aged guy a couple of times, until he'll either bluntly ask "sex?" or, in rarer cases, make a fist with the thumb sticking out between the middle finger and ring finger, which is a hand sign for intercourse. He should walk you to some unassuming house or apartment. There'll be a small reception, where you pay ¥10000-20000 for 30 minutes, or more for longer.
The prostitute will come to the reception and lead you to her room (or curtained-off section in the really cheap places). You then have to take a shower. Depending on the place, the prostitute will shower together with you and wash you. You should get a basket for your belongings and take them with you to the shower if the shower is not in the room, but down the hall or something. Obviously, watch your wallet and watch, no matter how drunk you are. Most of the cheap prostitutes are Chinese, Japanese are more expensive. Some places with Japanese prostitutes have "menus" from which you select the girl.
In Soaplands, prostitutes will wash you extensively before sex. You first take a shower or bath, then you sit on a special chair with the middle area left out to allow easy access to our front and backside private regions. This kind of chair is fittingly called "sukebe isu" (pervert chair). After that, you lie on an air mattress. The prostitute will oil up with some special slippery-slidy-oil (technical term) and slide up and down on your body. After that sex.
Some general notes:
Know what kinds of places there are and what you want. Roughly know how much things costs and how much you want to spend. Don't take unnecessary items like expensive watches or clothes with you. Only take as much money as you plan to spend and consider leaving credit cards etc. at home.
Avoid the well-known locations like Roppongi and Kabukicho. There are seedy areas near almost every train station. Often trains stations will have a "nice" side on one side of the tracks, and a "bad" side on the other. Centers of big cities are more expensive than the periphery or the countryside. Go explore!
Unless you want sex with prostitutes, there is absolutely no need at all to deal with touts trying to lead you to some shady location. If a place has piqued your interest, talk to the guy standing outside it and ask what kind of place it is, how much it costs, what kind of nomihoudai etc.
Never pay anyone money on the street. You either pay afterwards, or if beforehand, at least at a reception or something like that.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. | |
