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There is no better way to end a long day of sightseeing in Tokyo, Japan than with sake, a Japanese whiskey or Tokyo craft beer. As luck would have it, there are a multitude of Tokyo bars where tired tourists can sip, swirl and chug. Since we were cramming our days full of top Tokyo tourist attractions and neighborhood navigation, we veered away from Tokyo nightlife that crept into the wee hours of the morning. Instead, we steered ourselves to the best bars in Tokyo for an afternoon beer or an evening cocktail.
14 Tokyo Bars You Should Visit
The bars in Tokyo are as intriguing and unique as the city itself. One thing Tokyo bars are not, however, is cheap. Being conscious of our budget, we were eager to find cool bars in Tokyo where we could grab a drink and revel in the atmosphere without breaking the bank. As experience-driven travelers, we sought out local Tokyo drinking holes, but couldn’t resist checking out some of the top Tokyo nightlife for foreigners, too.
The Best Bars in Tokyo, Japan
Our list includes a range of Tokyo bars that we visited – from classic Tokyo pubs to bars-with-a-view to sake tastings. To help other travelers find their way to our recommended places to drink in Tokyo, we included a map link, as well as a Tokyo Bar Map at the end of the post. To give you more than just our opinion, we also provide links to reviews from other visitors to Tokyo bars.
Golden Gai Tokyo: The Best Bars in Shinjuku
The Shinjuku bars at Golden Gai provide some of the best nightlife in Tokyo. There are nearly 200 Golden Gai bars jam-packed into six narrow alleys. Most of these themed Tokyo establishments are small – only accommodating a handful of patrons at one time. The quirkiness of Golden Gai is why people rank these the best bars in Shinjuku…and in all of Tokyo. Some places charge a cover to enter (which should be clearly marked on the door) and a few ban tourists from entering altogether (so if you see No Foreigner signs, keep walking). It is important to note that these Tokyo Shinjuku nightclubs don’t open until after 9:00pm, so plan accordingly.
Golden Gai Tokyo Best Bars
We arrived with a list of the best Tokyo bars in Golden Gai, only to find the recommended establishments closed. We chucked the list and wandered the alleys on our own, allowing our intuition to lead us through Golden Gai Shinjuku. As we bar hopped our way from place to place, we discovered two Golden Gai bars that were absolute gems: Diamond Bar and Deathmatch in Hell.
#1 DIAMOND BAR
The young, chatty bartender was matching shots with her barstool regulars. A group of British lads were kicking off a stag night. A very merry local, who was solo, sang as many karaoke songs as beers he ordered. It was the jovial atmosphere that drew us into Diamond Bar – and the epic entertainment is why we stayed for more than one round. Map | Reviews
#2 DEATHMATCH IN HELL
Deathmatch in Hell is a Tokyo rock bar in Golden Gai. Not a bar we would normally stumble into, it was the two open seats and the scent of popcorn that lured us in. Heavy metal music blared from the speakers and every inch of this tiny Tokyo bar was decked out with cult-classic movie posters and DVDs. Despite not being fans of either, we were warmly welcomed by the friendly bartender and were soon chatting with fellow bar mates. Map | Reviews
Golden Gai Tour
Want a guide to lead you to the best bars in Golden Gai? Join a highly-rated night tour on Viator.
Golden Gai location: Use this link to Google Maps to find Golden Gai in Shinjuku. Find more Golden Gai information and reviews on TripAdvisor.
Best Sake Bars Tokyo
Sampling Japan’s national beverage, Sake, is an absolute must when visiting Tokyo! Although the fermented rice wine is readily available in all Tokyo bars and stores, we weren’t sure where to start. Sweet or dry? Hot or cold? Understanding sake helps novice drinkers have a more enjoyable sake experience.
#3 Meishu Center Sake
To get an informal introduction to sake, we visited the Meishu Center Sake. After being briefed by the bartender, we perused the selection of sake available for sampling. Using the helpful tags that indicated sweetness levels, we selected six bottles for our sake tasting and took them to our table. As the bartender poured each glass, he explained a little more about our choices. Map | Reviews
Tokyo Craft Beer Bars
As fans of hoppy craft beers, we were stoked to find several Tokyo craft beer bars serving up pints of Japanese crafted suds. Ahead of the curve, craft beer has been brewing in Japan since the 1990s. Mass-produced Asahi still reigns king in Tokyo, but there are many establishments dedicated to craft beer and are a solid part of the Tokyo bar scene.
#4 CRAFT BEER BAR IBREW
Ginza bar Craft Beer IBREW features multiple rotating taps and a chill vibe. The small, cozy space has seats at the bar and tables in the back. As I tend to be indecisive when it comes to selecting just one beer, I was happy to see Beer Flights at IBREW. Rather than ordering a full pint, I selected three samples and conducted my own Tokyo craft beer bar taste-test. Map | Reviews
#5 TWO DOGS TAPROOM TOKYO
One of our favorite Roppongi bars, Two Dogs Taproom is a laid-back Western-style taproom. The comfortable space is spread out over two floors. The daily brew selection is printed on a flyer and food is also available (we didn’t try the pizza, but it looked amazing!). Map | Reviews
#6 GOODBEER FAUCETS
One of the best bars in Shibuya for craft beer, GoodBeer Faucets has 40 beers on tap. The tap list features Japanese craft beer as well as other artisanal beer brewed around the world. Map | Reviews
Old-School Tokyo, Japan Nightlife
We were enamored by the traditional drinking establishments in Tokyo. In fact, we think small standing bars and historic pubs are the best bars in Tokyo for visitors to get a true sense of the Japanese drinking culture. While not all establishments are welcoming to foreigners, there are plenty of bars in Tokyo that are happy to serve a diverse clientele. These traditional bars are our favorite kind of Tokyo nightlife.
#7 KAMIYA BAR
A legendary establishment, Kamiya Bar ranks as one of our favorite places to drink in Tokyo. The old-school beer hall dates to 1880 and holds the title of being Tokyo’s oldest Western-style bar. Frequented by both locals and tourists, the bright open space, shared tables, lackluster decor and casual vibe are reminiscent of VFW canteens in America (minus the flags, of course).
The drink-of-choice at Kamiya Bar is their signature Denki Bran – or Electric Brandy. The classic Tokyo cocktail is a house-secret blend of brandy, gin, wine, curacao and herbs. Beware: the tasty concoction goes down easy. Another Kamiya classic is a liter – yes, an entire liter – of draft Asahi beer. Many guests – ourselves included – ordered one of each, but if you go that route, we recommend ordering a few snack plates, too. While Kamiya Bar serves up a punch with its drinks, it is soft on the wallet; Denki Bran is less than 300 yen a glass and a liter of beer is just over 1000 yen, both incredibly cheap by Tokyo standards! Map | Reviews
#8 OMOIDE YOKOCHO
Known as the place for yakitori in Tokyo (and featured on our list of What To Eat in Tokyo), Omoide Yokocho is also an iconic spot for a cold beer at the end of a long day. Patrons squeeze into these hole-in-the-wall Tokyo eateries to have an after work beer and snack of grilled meat on a stick. In fact, in Omoide Yokocho – also known as Memory Lane and Piss Alley – eating yakitori and drinking beer go hand-in-hand, as one is rarely ordered without the other.
The historic restaurants at Omoide Yokocho date to the late-1940s, blossoming out of the Tokyo’s post-war wreckage. Today, the crowd is a mix of Tokyo tourists with tired feet and salarymen (white-collar workers) on their way home from work. Map | Reviews
#9 SHINSHU OSAKE MURA
A difficult Tokyo bar to find, seeking out Shinshu Osake Mura proved to be well-worth our effort. The standing-only, no-frills bar – whose name translates to Alcohol Village – felt about as local as local gets. It was full during our rainy, Saturday afternoon visit; and we were the sole gaijin at the bar. While tempted to try a sake set, we instead each opted for a bottle of Shiga Kogen – a popular Japanese craft beer that had been recommended to us.
Shinshu Osake Mura offers both canned/bottled craft beer and two tap beers. Both craft beer and sake are for sale for on-site consumption, as well as for take-away. On top of it, all the alcohol is sold at extremely affordable prices for Tokyo bars…you just have to find the place! Map | Reviews
#10 HOPPY STREET TOKYO
Lined with restaurants that spill out into the lane, Hoppy Street Tokyo has a lively atmosphere and fun-loving crowd. Located in the Asakusa district to the west of Sensoji Temple, the street is 80 meters long and attracts both locals and Tokyo tourists. The street is named after the drink, “Hoppy,” which is a cheap, alcoholic mixer that is blended with shochu – that all of the bars in Tokyo sell. The establishments on Hoppy Street are also known for cooking delicious stew; each restaurant serves its own version of beef soup to hungry guests. It’s important to note that while it is fun to bar hop down Hoppy Street Tokyo, most places charge a table fee. Map | Reviews
Best Rooftop Bars Tokyo
There are numerous Tokyo rooftop bars that dot the skyline, allowing patrons a bird’s-eye view of the modern city. Many of the high-in-the-sky bars offer posh and upscale experiences. We, however, just wanting the view found some of the best rooftop bars in Tokyo.
#11 ASAHI SKY ROOM
Located on the 22nd floor of the Asahi Brewery headquarters, the Asahi Sky Room offers panoramic views of Tokyo. It is free to enter the Sky Room, but drinks need to be purchased. Beers are about 600 yen, and naturally only Asahi beers are available, but the view is phenomenal. Map | Reviews
#12 MIHARASHI CAFE
The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center sits across the street from the Sensoji Temple Thunder Gate. From the 8th level, open-air viewing platform, guests have a perfect view of the gate, Nakamise shopping street and the temple. Attached to the platform is an enclosed café where guests can linger over a coffee, beer or cocktail with a view. As if that wasn’t good enough, from 5:30 to 7:00pm, the café offers select drinks at happy hour prices. Map | Reviews
Tokyo Happy Hour Bars
Drinking in Tokyo is rarely cheap, so we get a little giddy when we find happy hour deals. We discovered limited Tokyo happy hour details online and found it was best to inquire further when we spotted a happy hour sign.
#13 MISTRAL BLEU TRAIN BAR ROPPINGI
When we think of Roppongi nightlife, we don’t immediately think of happy hours. However, Mistral Bleu is one of the best bars in Roppongi – and they have an exceptional happy hour. The Tokyo pub is the size of a train carriage, so it fills up quickly. But, it’s worth popping by for their daily happy hour from 6:00pm (opening time) until 9:00pm when all drinks are 500 yen. Note: Google Maps shows it’s permanently closed, but recent reviews indicate otherwise. Please let us know if you visit! Map | Reviews
Must Eat For Your Trip To Tokyo!
Off-The-Beaten-Path Bars In Tokyo
As much as we like the boisterous atmosphere at the most happening bars in Tokyo, we also enjoy finding places that are completely off the radar. Every district in Tokyo has these bars, but as travelers, we sometimes pass over these quaint spots.
#14 BAR BONZO
Dimly lit and quiet, Bar Bonzo is the perfect bar to sip on a glass of Japanese whiskey and savor the reprieve from the sights and sounds of Tokyo. Located on the east side of the Sumida River near the Kasuga Dori Bridge, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend someone going out of their way to track down this specific Tokyo bar. However, we do encourage travelers to seek out Tokyo neighborhood haunts in the places they visit. Map | Reviews
Tokyo Beer Museum: Yebisu Beer
The Museum of Yebisu Beer tracks the history of the beer, which dates to 1887. The museum is free to tour and there is a tasting room on-site that sells beer and snacks. Map | Reviews
Tokyo Pub Crawl
Japan visitors can use our Tokyo Beer Guide to create an epic Tokyo bar crawl – or meet fellow travelers and join a guide in one of the Tokyo Pub Crawl tours on Viator.
Tokyo Bar Map
Use this link to Google Maps to route yourself to all the Best Tokyo Bars!
Tokyo Travel Tips
We have outlined what to do in Tokyo for 3 days, but we have a few final tips about what to pack! Here you can find all of our packing advice plus our top packing hacks.
Walking Shoes
Our 3-Day Tokyo Itinerary includes a lot of walking! Don’t forget to pack a pair of lightweight and comfortable walking shoes for your trip. I (Sarah) have traveled with these shoes by Columbia and Skechers. Kris prefers wearing these shoes by Merrell. Find more of our tips in our blog post, The Best Travel Shoes.
Weather Appropriate Gear
Tokyo weather varies by season…and there are 4 distinct seasons. Our visit was in the autumn and we experienced a range of weather from hot sunny days to torrential downpours (technically, it was the tail end of typhoon!). Be sure to a great day pack and appropriate weather gear for your trip – like sunglasses, plenty of sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, a travel umbrella and a raincoat.
Travel Camera
Tokyo is a city that begs to be photographed! If you are anything like us, you will be snapping tons of photos during your trip. Rather than relying on your mobile phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual camera for higher quality photos. We travel with a Canon Rebel (which is fantastic for beginner photogs!) and use an everyday 18-135mm lens (that is perfect for Tokyo cityscapes!).
Japan Travel Insurance
If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip to Japan, consider traveling protected with World Nomads.
Start planning your trip to Tokyo, Japan! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more travel planning tips? Head over to our Travel Planning page for more information and tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides page!
Planning A Complete Japan Itinerary? Excellent! Be sure to read our detailed guides to other top destinations in Japan, like the Best Temples In Kyoto and our guide to visiting Mt Fuji and the 5 Lakes Region!
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