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.

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. 

Fees on other nights vary, but prices start from ¥3,000 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 ¥750 plus ¥400 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.

At the top of Shibuya’s Dogenzaka, you’ll find what appears to be a small chapel with a cross on either side of its grand double doors. But while it may have wooden pews and stained glass windows, don’t expect The Church to be open for Sunday Service.

This candlelit venue is another one of Shibuya’s several nightlife hubs cleverly disguised as a modest little place of worship, where organ music has been replaced by house and techno. There’s even a confessional up front, for repentant sinners who want to fess up to their debauchery. 

We reckon the bar could have had a little more fun naming the drinks (from ¥700) on its menu, which is a standard selection of spirits and mixers, along with wine, champagne and a few bottled beers. Nontheless, the theme is there, with bartenders dressed as nuns taking orders at the counter.

Thankfully, there aren’t any table charges, so it’s easy for anyone to poke their head in for a quick drink and some music – the bar hosts regular DJ events – before hopping to the next venue. 

One of Shibuya’s many ‘box clubs’, this DJ bar in the backstreets of Jinnan is known for hosting the occasional secret set from big-name spinners. No matter who is playing the small dance floor, 20 is a crowd here, meaning more enthusiastic foot tapping and less aggressive booty-shaking.

The capital’s audiophiles praise Koara’s sound system as one of the finest in town – hear it for yourself on the weekend, when up-and-coming locals usually take charge of proceedings. 

Avoid the crowds with an evening stroll to see Tokyo Skytree, Nakameguro, the Rainbow Bridge and more when they’re all lit up

There's something for everyone in Tokyo's vibrant nightlife scene