Bars in Japan particularly Ueno

[KALee]

I'm looking for a listing of bars/clubs/lounges in Ueno where they have a live band playing. Any help is appreciated!

[Kasper]

<a href="" target="_blank">http://www.clubbingintokyo.com/<a href="" target="_blank">

<a href="" target="_blank">http://www.cyberjapan.tv/homeE.html<a href="" target="_blank">

<a href="" target="_blank">http://www.clubberia.com/top.php<a href="" target="_blank">

<a href="" target="_blank">http://metropolis.japantoday.com/tokyo/recent/listings.asp#clubbing<a href="" target="_blank">

sorry, some of these links are in Japanese. i've never been out in Ueno, nor i have heard of clubs over there, and i checked realy quick and couldn't find any. as far as live venue goes, there a millions small live bar in Tokyo and i don't know any listing, maybe someone can help. what kind of live venue are you looking for? Tokyo is kind of famous for its small jazz cafe so if you're looking for something like that, i'm sure you could find. Ueno doesn't have the greatest nightlife...

[KALee]

thanks Kasper. I am basically trying to find out about hostess clubs in Ueno. I do realize Ueno isnt really a night life hotspot so that was my rationale that it wouldnt be too difficult to locate hostess clubs or bars with live bands there.

[herpsky]

people in japan either go clubbing or go to a kyabakura.

theres a whole lot of massage parlor-like things and movie theaters that show porn flicks in ueno.

[djrajio]

If you want to do both clubbing and hostess bars in one night, as much as I hate to say it, Roppongi would be your best bet. Be careful though, lots of the hostess places are run by the Nigerian mafia or Yakusa, so don't go in without fully understanding the prices and you're sober. I've heard of too many stories of drunk foreigners going into shady hostess bars, getting their tabs run up, and then either paying up or getting the shit beat out of them and the cops can't do anything. In my personal opinion, just don't bother with the hostess clubs. They're way too expensive and really aren't that fun. For mega clubs in Roppongi, go to Vanilla instead (1,000 yen plus two drinks) or Velfarre. For bars, there are tons in Roppongi, but I don't recommend any of em.

Edited by djrajio on Feb 2, 2006 at 09:06 PM

[herpsky]

vanilla (when i went) had special tickets for foreigners.

one of my friends pretended to be a foreigner and got some last year.

cover is free with those tix, i think.

the crowd at vanilla is on the "older" side. lots of people in their mid 20's / early 30s looking for foreigners to hook up with.

some good clubs to check out:

alife and yellow are good too

[djrajio]

Alife is actually mostly frequented by Japanese. So unless you speak fluent Japanese, it'll be hard to mingle with the crowd. If you can make the trek, I highly recommend Genius in Ginza. It has a suit 'dress code' policy but the women that frequent the club are easily the hottest; largely due to the fact that its smack dab in the middle of Ginza's hostess bar scene and most of the girls are taking a break from 'work'. Also recommend Velour in Minami-Aoyama. It's a refreshing stylish lounge/club that has a great mix of people and the music is not bad either. Lot's of artsy people and models tend to frequent the place; plus its in the middle of the fashion district of Aoyama, so only people 'who know' go.