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Entertainment in Japan
Contents
Nightlife
Astounding Variety
The number and variety of nightlife options in Japan is astounding, and with no mandated closing times you can party around the clock. Not every establishment will welcome gaijin, however, so be prepared. The more Japanese you know, the more options you'll have. But even with no nihongo skills, you'll find plenty of welcoming bars, pubs and clubs around major stations. Tokyo, of course, is the party capital.
Shibuya and Shinjuku
Try Shinjuku for a raucous--some may say sleazy--night out. Shibuya is teeny-bopper heaven, but even it has something for everyone.
Shimokitazawa
And although it's not near a major station, Shimokitazawa deserves special mention for its college-town feel and abundance of unique and relatively cheap establishments.
The Pong
And then there's Roppongi, by far the most gaijin-friendly nightlife area in Japan. Some love it because of this, and some hate it, but no one can deny the spectacle.
Live Concerts
Good Bands
In Japan you'll have the opportunity to see some really good foreign bands play in really small venues because they're not known in Japan yet and can't fill a stadium. It isn't unusual to end up chatting with the talent after the performance.
Free Magazines
There are numerous free magazines that keep the foreign community informed of live concerts and events. Metropolis (English) and Juice (Japanese/English) are two such magazines in Tokyo. Check out our "Books and Online Publications" section in this resource section for more.
The Great Outdoors
There are lots of mountains to climb in Japan. Although many places can be accessed by train, to get to some of the really beautiful places you're going to need some wheels - public transport won't get you there anytime soon! The Central Alps and Southern Alps are beautiful.
Many places have "rope-ways" or cable cars
and to get the top requires only about a 1-2 hour hike. You'll also
find camping grounds in frequent locations.
Japanese Sports
Traditional Japanese sports are great fun and a good way to learn Japanese and learn about Japanese customs and ceremonies. Try the local community halls for information or local public sport centers.
Some of these sports might include: Kyudo (Archery), Karate, Judo, Kendo, Sumo. Most clubs are very happy to have foreigners learn their craft. Their is deep respect for the teachers in the clubs so be humble, listen attentatively, learn and have fun!
Western Sports
You might not be able to catch your favorite sports on TV here but you can probably find a local or regional team to play on. Japan is big on indoor sports so you can find an indoor sports team (volleyball, badminton, table tennis, basketball etc) to play with in virtually any city in Japan. Same with major Japan sports like baseball, soccer and golf.
Most people on these local teams really play for fun. This is the biggest difference that most Japanese people comment on: the Japanese team members are there for the sport, the foreign team members are there to WIN (sometimes at any cost!).
Other sports like ice-hockey and squash aren't main stream so it might take some research at your local sports centers to find out where you can start playing these sports.
Some minor-in-Japan sports that are quite popular with the locals are: rugby union, touch rugby, ice-hockey.
Sports like cricket will be run by the local Indians or Aussies - not many locals playing this sport. Rowing is around and popular in some schools. You may have a hard time finding a decent squash court, but they are around.
Sports on TV
You've got to get cable or satellite TV to really indulge properly. Japanese TV usually doesn't televise major international sports live. Your alternative to getting cable yourself is watching the games at sports bars around town.
Entertainment in Japan: Other Sources
Forums
Questions/comments? Go to the Recreation/Entertainment Forum
Ski Links
Other Sports Links
Music Links
- Tokyo Blues. Guide to the Blues Scene in Japan
