February 01, 2003
Roppongi
This Friday night I went 'clubbing' in Roppongi 六本木 for the first time.
Roppongi is famous in Tokyo for having a high concentration of foreigners. It is to the point that as a foreigner living in Tokyo if you mention that you are going out on the town, people will just assume you mean Roppongi. Roppongi also has a reputation of being shady, dirty, and a little bit dangerous.
My friends and I intended to go to Velfarre when we went to Roppongi. According to my guide book, Velfarre is the largest disco in Tokyo, ah, make that the largest disco in Asia. That's pretty impressive. Apparently there is room for some 2,000 guests, and has automated moving dance floors. It costs about 3,000 yen to get in, and on the front of the place there was a sign specifying the rights that Velfarre has in regards to entry.
I should have taken a picture, but one of the restrictions was that Velfarre has the right to refuse entry, if you look 'gang -like'.
Looking gang-like is awesome.
Another point was that you could be refused entry if the staff did not feel that you would fit in with the rest of the guests, or something to that effect. I forgot the exact wording.
We ended up not going to Velfarre, not because of the funny rules, but just because we weren't planning on staying out -all- night, and 3000 yen is pretty expensive!
We turned to my guide book to find a cheaper place, and a nearby club called 'Soul Kiss' turned out to have free entry! Rock on! It turns out the club name has since been changed to 'Big' or something. We headed over, were leaded down some shady escalator into a room with phat beats, lots of drinks, and like, 2 guests inside. The place was empty! We left in a hurry. The bartender offered us free drinks on the way out to try to get us to stay. I felt sorry for them. For a second.
Finally, we ended up at a place called 911 I believe, that also had free entry, but was packed. There was Animal Planet on the TV, and everything from Chemical Brothers to that old 'Pretty Fly for a White Guy' song being played. Seriously, there must have been 200 people in the place, with about 70% foreigners. Big guys too. Maybe Roppongi is popular among people in the military?
You know what I mean. You go to a club in the middle of the freakin-winter, and there are huge, ripped, muscular guys in t-shirts standing around drinking and trying to pick up chicks. This 'picking-up-of-chicks' is the 'nampa' that I previously mentioned. I'll write more about that later.
Anyway. This little journal entry has gotten way out of hand. Next time I'll try to focus on what I want to say before I start dribbling all over the keyboard.
Roppongi has a lot of foreigners. Roppongi clubs are plentiful. Roppongi ain't all that bad.
-Harvey
Posted by Harvey at February 01, 2003 08:14 PM
Roppongi sounds like a hopping place, Harvey. I have also heard that the world's biggest disco was located there. So what's the verdict, was it worth the $30 cover charge! :-]
Im 16 and live in Tokyo Japan. Im an American who had to leave Virginia because of my dad's job, and I LOVE ROPPONGI!!! i can go clubbing and get drunk with no age regualtions in the way!! even tho the age is 18 to club and 20 to drink, they dont inforce it. i just wanted to say: COME VISIT JAPAN AND GO TO ROPPONGI!! YOU WILLLLL LOVE IT!!!!!!
The reason you saw so many guys picking up chicks in 911 is that it is a well known meat market. Velfarre is a disco and has a very different vibe. Other places to check out are Propaganda - a much more bar like atmosphere with a harder edge to the music (and LOUD), and Castillo - an 80's music bar with a small dance floor.
Wherever you go, remember that Roppongi gets into gear late. If you went to Soul Kiss after midnight, it would probably be packed. Pretty much anywhere before 10:00 is dead - especially on weekends.
I am planning on going to Roppongi in april to live there for two months and dance.
anyone want to show me around, please write me,
i'll b dancin' at either 7th heaven, or private eyes, i need info and friends over there. :O)
lenae22_66@juno.com
Whats up ladies and gents,
Im a US Marine stationed in Japan at Camp Fuji and have my wife coming out to visit me here soon and I want to take her out to some good dance clubs and nightclubs, Any suggestions? Please help me out if you can, later.
First time wiritng on this kind of public blog.
Interesting!!
I grown up in Roppongi, but left Japan when I was 18, came back where I was, and ...interesting how foreingners think of Roppongi as it is. It's ture in a sence. As a young kid, I was told to go straight home, because this city was said to be shady.
I was chekcing this site because my friends were visiting from NY, and I happen to be the guide. I live near Roppongi, but don't know anything about it, when especially it comes to a "cool", "nice" club or bar.
As I am from here,(sort of) I wish this city gets better impression. It only seems to be known as a night life city. There are more to it.
港区の市長さんどうにかしてくれ！！
Well, enjoy the life in Tokyo when you can!!
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