Know the price and the welcome before you walk in.

We lead each venue page with the handful of facts that decide whether a place is right for you. Where our staff have checked the venue, the page also says when, and which facts they confirmed.

NIGHT LIFE JAPAN lists five business types that represent Japan's mizu-shobai (hostess nightlife) trade. We have summarised the features and guide prices of each type.

Hostess club (キャバクラ)

A format in which dressed-up cast members (hosts or hostesses) sit at your table, talk with you, and drink with you. As a guide, fees in cities run around ¥5,000–¥10,000 per hour, and some venues charge nomination and extension fees separately. Venues that can serve you in English are limited, but you can narrow your search with this site's English OK filter.

Girls bar (ガールズバー)

A girls bar is a casual type of venue where you talk with staff across the counter. Fees run around ¥2,000–¥5,000 per hour, so it is easier to drop in than a hostess club. Many venues have English-speaking staff, and the format is easy for foreign tourists to enter.

Snack bar (スナック)

A relaxed format centred on bottle keep and karaoke, with many local regulars. As a guide, fees are ¥3,000–¥6,000 per hour. It is also popular with foreigners who like a friendly atmosphere.

Lounge (ラウンジ)

A lounge is an upscale format in which you are served at quiet sofa seating. Prices are higher than at hostess clubs and can exceed ¥10,000 per hour. Many venues require a reservation.

Concept cafe (コンセプトカフェ)

A format that puts a specific theme up front, such as maids, anime characters, or kimono. Prices are relatively reasonable, and it is popular with foreign tourists too. It is a genre that is easy to enjoy even if you do not speak Japanese.

Our staff check each venue directly: by visiting, by phone or video call, or by reviewing its documents. Once a venue has been checked, its page gives the date of the most recent check and which of the details below were confirmed. A check is valid for one year, so a venue without a check in the last twelve months shows no date. If something has changed or looks wrong later, tell us through the content report form.

• Guide prices and opening hours
• The address and how to contact the venue
• Languages spoken at the venue
• That the photos match the venue

Nightlife in Japan uses fee structures that aren't common elsewhere. The price on each listing is a guide without extras; tax and service vary by venue, so confirm the total with the venue.

Set fee

The base fee that bundles drinks, the seat charge, and time. The guide price on the listing is basically this set fee. It is set per unit of time, such as 30 or 60 minutes. Confirm the total, including tax and service charge, with the venue.

Nomination fee (指名料)

A fee added when you request a specific cast member (host or hostess). Whether the nomination fee is included or charged separately varies by venue, so check the price notes on the listing and also confirm with the venue before you enter.

Extension fee (延長料金)

A fee added when you go beyond the time you set. Whether there is an extension fee, and how much it is, varies by venue, so confirm with the venue before you extend.

Otoshi and table charge (お通し・テーブルチャージ)

A fixed charge made when you are seated. It sometimes includes a small snack. Whether it is included in the listed price varies by venue, so please check in advance.

Payment

Payment methods vary by venue. Confirm with the venue before booking. Some venues are cash-only, so it is safer to have cash ready. Convenience store ATMs also accept cards issued overseas.

The order follows what guests actually do and how complete a listing is: how often guests on a venue's page go on to get in touch, how often its card is opened from a list, and how many of its key details are filled in. Paid plans add a capped number of points that never outweigh these.

These badges come from our editorial team and can’t be bought. We award them for the things that genuinely set a venue apart, hospitality, consistency, and the experience itself, not for how much it spends with us. Each badge carries the year it was given, so a stale one is easy to spot.

Reviews come from signed-in visitors and are moderated by our team for spam, abuse, and anything that exposes a cast member’s privacy. We never edit a review to soften it, and a venue can’t pay to add a good one or take down a bad one.

Common things people want to know before visiting a Japanese nightlife venue for the first time.

Can foreigners go to hostess clubs and other venues in Japan?

It depends on the venue. Venues marked English OK can serve you in English. Each venue page lists the languages it handles, and you can filter search by English OK.

Is it all right if I do not speak Japanese?

Venues marked English OK can serve you in English. Others may still help you with a translation app. Start by filtering for English OK.

Do I need a reservation?

Hostess clubs, girls bars, and snack bars can often be entered as a walk-in on the day, but weekends and busy periods are crowded, so checking in advance is the sure way. You can see the contact details a venue has published, such as phone, LINE, or WhatsApp, on its listing.

Are there extra charges not shown on the listing?

The price shown is a guide without extras. Nomination and extension fees are charged on top, and tax and service vary by venue, so confirm the total with the venue. If you are charged differently from the listing, tell us through the content report form; our staff will check the details and correct the listing where needed.

Is cash or card accepted?

Payment methods vary by venue. Confirm with the venue before booking. Many venues are cash-only, so it is safer to check for a convenience store ATM or similar in advance. Convenience store ATMs also accept cards issued overseas.

Is it okay to go alone?

Yes. Hostess clubs, girls bars and similar venues regularly welcome solo guests. Some guests find it easier to talk with cast members when visiting on their own.

Is there an age limit?

Because listed venues serve alcohol, they are for people aged 20 or over under Japanese law. You may be asked to show ID. A passport is fine.

Is there a dress code?

High-end lounges and some hostess clubs may ask for smart casual or better. Casual clothes are fine at girls bars and snack bars. Where a venue has points to note, they are on its venue page.

Should I tip?

Japan has no tipping custom. To show your appreciation, saying thank you is enough. Please ask the venue whether a service charge is added separately.

What should I do if I want to nominate a cast member (host or hostess) I liked again next time?

Note the cast member's name when you visit. If you say who you would like to nominate when you next enter, the venue will arrange it. Ask the venue before you enter whether a nomination fee is charged.