6 Best Nightlife in Tokyo, Japan

The emphasis here is nama, unrefined, unpasteurized sake. About 80 kinds from 60 brewing companies are available daily. You may want to sample this unique beverage while in Tokyo, since you won't find it at home: nama is short-lived, too delicate and fresh to transport or export, so it's not widely available overseas. You can accompany your choice with authentic Japanese fare, served here as small bites. Reservations are recommended.

Buri serves up tasty ji-zake (local sake) from around Japan in the one-cup style; think sake in a mini mason jar, pairing it with a range of tapas-like servings of sashimi, yakitori, salads, and prosciutto, albeit in a standing-room-only setting. They also have beer on tap. Just a five-minute walk from Ebisu Station, this casual bar fills up quickly on weekends, so it's best to stop in early if you want to grab a table.

This large, glitzy karaoke joint has plenty of English songs and private rooms for small and large groups. If you are five or more people (or willing to pay for five people) and don't mind the surcharge, ask about the VIP rooms. Daytime weekday rates (noon to 5 pm) are quite cheap, but at other times expect to pay about ¥500 per 30 minutes per person on weekends and evenings (5 pm to 5 am). You can order all kinds of food and drinks delivered to your room, and there are all-you-can-drink plans if you're feeling frisky. If you have a large group and want to make reservations, you can do so in English at the very top of the website by pressing the tiny "English" button.

The concrete walls are adorned with rock musicians' autobiographies and posters of the Sex Pistols and Ramones, who also provide the sound track. Artist Yoshitomo Nara has been known to show up here, so if you're lucky, you can drink with him and watch him draw on the walls.

This spacious pub in Ebisu feels more authentically British than many of its rivals, thanks partly to a menu of traditional pub grub, including hearty pies. Using aged logs, the second floor feels like a nice tree house. The place hosts regular live music (funk, folk, jazz, rock, reggae—anything goes here) and other events, so it can be very loud, particularly on Friday and Saturday.

Well-known techno and break-beat DJs make a point of stopping by this Shibuya uberclub on their way through town. The turntable talent, local and international, and four floors of dance and lounge space make Womb Tokyo's most consistently rewarding club experience. Drawing adults from their late twenties to forties, the place gets packed sometimes after 1 in the morning. Entry costs around ¥1,500 to ¥3,500.