Late-Night Hours

Late-night operation means staying open after midnight. Under the Amusement Business Act, venues where cast sit with guests, such as hostess clubs, clubs and host clubs, may not in principle operate from midnight until sunrise. Prefectural ordinances can extend that to 1 a.m. in designated entertainment districts, which is why hostess clubs close at midnight or 1 a.m.

Venues without settai, such as shot bars, girls bars and counter-only snack bars, may serve alcohol after midnight once they have filed as late-night alcohol-serving restaurants. That difference in licensing is why the places open after the last train are mostly bars and girls bars.

Opening hours are on each venue page. A venue offering settai late at night may be operating beyond its licence, so it is safer to avoid it.