Things to do in Tokyo when you've missed the last train

Plenty of shot bars in Roppongi will serve cheap tequila until the sun rises, but it’s hard to find a decent cocktail bar that is open past midnight. Tucked away in a corner of Roppongi Hills is Tusk, a relaxed bar reminiscent of the classic watering holes of New York. The spacious venue, complete with a DJ booth and VIP section, is accented by two vibrant artworks by Masashi Ozawa. Alongside classic cocktails, wine and spirits, the menu also includes a selection of bar snacks such as rusks with a mascarpone dip and a charcuterie board. 

Late-night dessert bars are hard to come by in a city that tends to prefer hot bowls of ramen for after-dark munchies, but Yelo is a gem for those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth after a late dinner. Tiramisu, matcha and mango milk are only a few of the basic flavours on the kakigori menu, along with more unusual combinations like avocado mascarpone and hojicha kinako (roasted green tea with soybean powder).

At first, the enormous mountain of fluffy shaved ice might look big enough for two or three people to finish, but it’s so exquisite you’ll find yourself easily demolishing the whole thing. Customise your snowy mound with toppings such as oreo, shiratama (mochi dumplings) and extra milk sauce if you’re feeling extravagant. There are also boozy kakigori options, like the mint-chocolate-flavoured Grasshopper which comes served in a martini glass.

If you’re in dire need of some rest and relaxation, recuperate with a massage and sauna session overnight at Olive Spa. Facilities at the Bali resort-inspired spa include a Mt Fuji lava stone sauna, where you can catch a break from the unrelenting cold of winter. Sixty minutes of aroma oil treatments, stretch massage and dry muscle massage are all ¥13,200 past 8.30pm, and ¥12,000 during daytime.

This branch of hip noodle chain Tsurutontan is busiest at lunch, dinner and 5am, when club-goers sit down for a wholesome meal to close the night before straggling home, and no wonder. The chain offers an extensive variety of dishes perfect for post-dancing calories. Menu items range from the simple kitsune (fried tofu) udon and classic curry udon with slices of beef to carbonara udon that might just pass for breakfast with its toppings of egg and bacon. You can decide on the amount of noodles you want: choose one bundle for the standard serving or up to double the noodles for no extra charge.

Some clubs will only open their doors during the weekends – Womb isn’t one of them. Every night is a party at Womb, with music ranging from electric house to hip hop blasting through the speakers across its three-storey venue. Each night of the week has a different theme; certain nights are reserved for bass music with some trap and hip hop while others are soundtracked by a mix of electro house. On Wednesday, women and international visitors are granted free entry. Fees on other nights vary, but prices start from ¥1,000 and you can often get a discount if you pull out the event’s digital flyer (available on the club’s social media channels) at the door.

A saving grace for fans of indoor recreation, EST Shibuya is a playground of ping pong tables, billiards and bowling alleys. There are four floors reserved for bowling alleys alone, where if you’re hungry you can order a snack from the touch panels available at every lane. Games cost ¥600 (5pm to closing) plus ¥350 for shoe rental.

If knocking down pins isn’t your thing, you can test your hand-eye coordination at the arcade on the first floor where there are a number of claw machines and photo booths that give you the chance to take home some memorabilia from your spontaneous all-nighter.

Late-night cafés are a trademark of Shibuya,and while Udagawa Café’s first appearance on the scene in 2001 was a quiet one, it’s now a popular haunt for the city’s night owls. The café has a retro art-deco look and serves up classic dishes including ginger pork and a series of old-school parfaits reminiscent of Japanese kissaten (traditional coffeeshops). The drinks menu is satisfyingly extensive, including flavoured lattes, decaffeinated coffee and a special Udagawa house blend, on top of a long selection of beer, wine, liquor and cocktails. 

With an entrance that dazzles passers-by with bright red lights, café and bar Flamingo’s exterior is somewhat reminiscent of Paris’s Moulin Rouge, but step inside and you’ll be met with a funkier ambience of silver disco balls and red lips painted on the wall. There are flamingos too, of course, in the form of reading lights that nod at you from the bar counter as you spin on the matching red bar stools and sip on nostalgic diner classics like cream soda.

The menu after 11pm is less extensive than what’s available during the day but is eclectic nonetheless. Keema curry and Thai gapao rice is on offer for those craving Eastern flavours, and margherita pizza for cheese lovers. There are desserts as well, including crème brûlée and banana caramel cake, and the blue milk tea, which really does come in a curious shade of pastel blue.

Due to its convenient location in central Shibuya and the fact it is open until 5am, Mominoki House is popular with the post-party crowd. With a comfortable interior that fuses Chinese and Japanese design elements, the venue focuses on massage treatments using the healing practices derived from Indian Ayurveda traditions.

There's a foot bath installed under the seats, along a large window offering views of the bustling area below. ¥1,080 brings you a 45-minute foot bath, an Ayurveda herbal tea and a quick shoulder massage. For an additional ¥500, you can also get a piece of pound cake or coconut banana pudding to munch on.

The atmospheric alleyways at Golden Gai in Shinjuku are crammed with countless little bars of varied themes – perfect for a night of bar-hopping

A historic alleyway, Omoide Yokocho is a foodie destination with old-world charm, serving up sushi, ramen, yakitori and more

Want to gaze out at the mesmerising Tokyo skyline? Check out these great views of the city after dark

Where to find food whatever the hour in Shinjuku, Akasaka, Shibuya and Roppongi