Tokyo Entry Fees & Cover Charges: Club & Bar Pricing Guide 2025

Tokyo Entry Fees & Cover Charges: Complete Pricing Guide
Understanding Tokyo's entry fees and cover charges helps budget your night out and avoid surprise costs. From free entry bars to premium club experiences, this guide breaks down what you'll pay across Tokyo's nightlife districts, with insider tips to minimize costs while maximizing value.
Entry Fee Quick Reference
- Free Entry: Many bars, early arrival times
- Budget Clubs: ¥1,000-2,000 (≈$7-13)
- Premium Clubs: ¥3,000-6,000 (≈$20-40)
- VIP Experiences: ¥10,000+ (≈$67+)
- Golden Gai Bars: ¥500-2,000 (≈$3-13) per bar
- Peak Pricing: Friday/Saturday +50-100%
Understanding Japanese Nightlife Pricing
Types of Charges
- Cover Charge (カバーチャージ): Entry fee to venue
- Table Charge (お通し/otoshi): Small snack fee at bars
- Service Charge: 10-15% at upscale venues
- Minimum Spend: Required spending for tables
- Guest List: Reduced or free entry with advance registration
Pricing Factors
- Day of Week: Weekends cost more
- Time of Entry: Earlier often cheaper
- Venue Tier: Underground vs luxury
- Special Events: Guest DJs increase prices
- District Location: Shibuya vs Golden Gai pricing differences
Club Entry Fees by District
Shibuya Electronic Music Clubs
Womb
- Weekdays: ¥2,500-3,500 (≈$17-23)
- Weekends: ¥3,500-4,500 (≈$23-30)
- Special Events: ¥4,500-6,000 (≈$30-40)
- Early Bird: ¥2,000 (≈$13) before 11 PM
- Guest List: Often available for ¥500 discount
- VIP Booth: ¥20,000-50,000 (≈$133-333) minimum spend
Sound Museum Vision
- Regular Nights: ¥2,000-3,000 (≈$13-20)
- International DJs: ¥3,500-5,000 (≈$23-33)
- All-Night Events: ¥4,000-6,000 (≈$27-40)
- Student Discount: ¥500 off with ID
- VIP Area: ¥15,000+ (≈$100+) bottle minimum
Atom Tokyo
- Multi-Floor Access: ¥2,500-3,500 (≈$17-23)
- Weekend Premium: ¥3,500-4,500 (≈$23-30)
- Special Theme Nights: ¥3,000-4,000 (≈$20-27)
- Group Discounts: 5+ people get ¥300 off each
Roppongi International Clubs
V2 Tokyo
- Weeknights: ¥2,000-3,000 (≈$13-20)
- Weekends: ¥4,000-5,000 (≈$27-33)
- Guest DJ Nights: ¥5,000-8,000 (≈$33-53)
- Ladies' Night: ¥1,500 (≈$10) Wednesdays
- Table Service: ¥30,000+ (≈$200+) minimum
Jumanji 55
- Standard Entry: ¥2,500-3,500 (≈$17-23)
- Premium Weekends: ¥4,000-5,500 (≈$27-37)
- International Events: ¥6,000-10,000 (≈$40-67)
- VIP Experience: ¥50,000+ (≈$333+)
Feria
- Latin Nights: ¥2,000-3,000 (≈$13-20)
- Live Music Events: ¥3,000-4,000 (≈$20-27)
- Dance Classes: ¥1,500 (≈$10) + drinks
- Weekend Premium: +¥1,000 (≈$7)
Alternative and Underground Venues
Contact Tokyo
- Underground Events: ¥1,500-2,500 (≈$10-17)
- Techno Nights: ¥2,000-3,000 (≈$13-20)
- Special Acts: ¥3,000-4,500 (≈$20-30)
- Member Discounts: Available for regulars
WWW
- Live Music: ¥2,500-4,000 (≈$17-27)
- International Acts: ¥4,000-8,000 (≈$27-53)
- DJ Sets: ¥2,000-3,500 (≈$13-23)
- Standing Room Only: Lower prices available
Bar Entry Fees and Cover Charges
Golden Gai Bar Covers
Tourist-Friendly Bars
- Champion: ¥1,000 (≈$7) cover
- Albatross: ¥800 (≈$5) cover
- La Jetée: ¥1,500 (≈$10) cover
- Deathmatch in Hell: ¥1,000 (≈$7) cover
- Includes: Usually includes small snack
Local-Focused Bars
- Mama-san Bars: ¥2,000-5,000 (≈$13-33) covers
- Regular Customer Bars: May refuse entry
- High-End Golden Gai: ¥3,000-8,000 (≈$20-53) covers
- Language Requirement: Japanese often necessary
Cocktail Bars
High-End Cocktail Lounges
- New York Bar (Park Hyatt): ¥2,500 (≈$17) music charge
- Star Bar Ginza: No cover, drink minimum
- High Five: No cover, reservation required
- Bar Trench: No cover, drinks ¥1,800+ (≈$12+)
Hotel Bars
- Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge: Members/guests only
- Conrad Tokyo: No cover, premium drink prices
- Mandarin Oriental: ¥1,000 (≈$7) minimum spend
- Imperial Hotel: No cover, dress code enforced
Specialty Bars
Whisky Bars
- Hibiya Bar: No cover, rare whisky prices
- The SG Club: ¥2,000 (≈$13) membership fee
- Zoetrope: No cover, per-drink pricing
- Shot Bar: Various covers ¥500-1,500 (≈$3-10)
Themed Bars
- Robot Restaurant: ¥8,000-10,000 (≈$53-67)
- Alice in Wonderland: ¥500-1,000 (≈$3-7) table charge
- Ninja Restaurant:** No cover, food minimum
- Vampire Café: ¥1,000 (≈$7) theme charge
Money-Saving Strategies
Time-Based Savings
- Early Entry: Arrive before 10 PM for discounts
- Weeknight Specials: Monday-Thursday often cheaper
- Happy Hour Timing: 5-7 PM for reduced prices
- Late Entry: Some venues cheaper after 2 AM
Group Strategies
- Group Discounts: 5+ people often get reduced rates
- Split VIP Tables: Share minimum spend among friends
- Gender Balance: Mixed groups sometimes get discounts
- Birthday Discounts: Special rates for birthday celebrations
Advance Planning
- Guest Lists: Sign up online for reduced entry
- Social Media: Follow venues for promo codes
- Hotel Concierge: Sometimes arrange discounted entry
- Membership Cards: Regular customer benefits
Alternative Venues
- Standing Bars: Usually no cover charges
- Chain Izakayas: No entry fees, pay per drink
- Local Neighborhoods: Cheaper than central districts
- Karaoke Boxes: Room fee instead of entry fee
Special Event Pricing
Seasonal Events
- New Year's Eve: 200-300% premium pricing
- Golden Week: 150-200% regular prices
- Halloween: Special event pricing +50-100%
- Christmas: Holiday premiums at some venues
International DJ Events
- World-Class DJs: ¥8,000-15,000 (≈$53-100)
- Festival-Style Events: ¥6,000-12,000 (≈$40-80)
- Underground Legends: ¥4,000-8,000 (≈$27-53)
- Local Support Acts: Standard pricing usually
VIP and Bottle Service Pricing
- VIP Table Minimums: ¥20,000-100,000+ (≈$133-667+)
- Bottle Prices: ¥8,000-30,000 (≈$53-200) each
- Service Charges: 15-20% on bottle service
- Group Size: Usually 4-8 people for VIP tables
Budget Planning by Experience Type
Budget Night Out (¥3,000-5,000 / ≈$20-33)
- Entry Strategy: Early arrival, weeknight specials
- Venue Types: Standing bars, budget clubs
- Districts: Local neighborhoods, avoid Roppongi
- Timing: Happy hours, early bird pricing
Mid-Range Experience (¥8,000-15,000 / ≈$53-100)
- Club Entry: Standard weekend pricing
- Bar Hopping: 2-3 venues with cover charges
- Districts: Shibuya, parts of Roppongi
- Includes: Quality venues, some premium drinks
Luxury Night (¥25,000+ / ≈$167+)
- VIP Experience: Table service, bottle minimum
- Premium Venues: High-end clubs, exclusive bars
- Districts: Roppongi, Ginza
- Special Events: International DJ nights
Common Pricing Pitfalls to Avoid
Hidden Charges
- Service Charges: Not always clearly stated
- Table Charges: Otoshi at bars can be surprise cost
- Coat Check: ¥300-500 (≈$2-3) at many venues
- Re-entry Fees: Some venues charge for re-entry
Tourist Pricing Traps
- Street Touts: Often lead to overpriced venues
- Unmarked Pricing: Always ask for prices upfront
- English Menus: Sometimes inflated pricing
- Tourist Districts: Higher prices in obvious tourist areas
Peak Time Premiums
- Weekend Surcharges: Friday/Saturday +50-100%
- Holiday Pricing: Major holidays see significant increases
- Late Night Entry: Some venues increase prices after midnight
- Special Event Nights: Can double or triple normal pricing
Payment and Practical Tips
Payment Methods
- Cash Preferred: Many venues still cash-only
- Credit Cards: Accepted at larger venues
- IC Cards: Some venues accept Suica/Pasmo
- Mobile Payment: Increasingly accepted
Entry Etiquette
- ID Required: Bring passport for age verification
- Dress Codes: May affect entry regardless of fee payment
- Group Entry: Large groups may need advance arrangements
- Re-entry Policies: Understand before leaving venue
Plan Your Tokyo Nightlife Budget
Ready to budget for Tokyo's nightlife? Start with our Tokyo nightlife guide for overall planning, then explore cost-effective options with our cheap drinks in Tokyo guide.
For district-specific pricing, check our Shibuya nightlife, Roppongi nightlife, and Shinjuku nightlife guides.
Learn about venue quality with our best clubs in Tokyo and best bars in Tokyo guides.
Stay safe while spending wisely with our Tokyo nightlife safety guide, and discover broader Japan nightlife culture with our comprehensive Japan nightlife guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Tokyo clubs charge entry fees?
Most clubs charge entry fees ranging from ¥1,000-6,000 (≈$7-40), but some bars and standing venues have no cover charge. Entry fees typically include one drink at clubs.
Can I negotiate entry fees at clubs?
Entry fees are generally fixed, but you can find discounts through guest lists, early arrival, group bookings, or promotional codes from social media.
What's included in a club entry fee?
Most club entry fees include one drink (usually beer, basic cocktail, or soft drink). Some premium venues may include two drinks or access to multiple floors.
Are Golden Gai cover charges worth it?
Golden Gai cover charges (¥500-2,000 / ≈$3-13) are worth it for the unique cultural experience and intimate atmosphere. They usually include a small snack (otoshi).
How much more expensive are weekends?
Weekend entry fees are typically 50-100% higher than weekdays. A ¥2,000 weekday entry might cost ¥3,000-4,000 on weekends, with peak pricing on Saturday nights.
What's the most expensive night out district?
Roppongi tends to be the most expensive, especially for international venues and VIP experiences. Ginza cocktail bars can also be very expensive, while local neighborhoods offer better value.
Do I need to tip on top of entry fees?
No, tipping is not expected in Japan. Entry fees and drink prices include service. Some upscale venues add a service charge to the bill.
Can I leave and re-enter with my entry fee?
Re-entry policies vary by venue. Some allow re-entry with a hand stamp, others require paying again. Ask about re-entry policy when entering.