Kabukicho Host Club Review: Is It Worth the Hype?

Kabukicho, that well-known entertainment district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, it is quite famous for, uh, quite a number of things, but something that genuinely catches the eye is this whole host club culture. These aren’t quite your regular night spots; these are places where guys, almost known as hosts, entertain lady customers, giving them company, pouring drinks, also, of course, boosting their egos a bit. Visiting one can really be a one-of-a-kind experience, especially if you’re up for just getting a glimpse into a distinctive side of Japanese nightlife.

What Exactly Is a Host Club, Anyway?

So, what goes on in there, really? Imagine a space almost lavishly styled, dim lights, very fancy décor—the whole shebang to make sure guests feel special, and very pampered, too. Hosts, they’re basically skilled conversationalists, charmers even, who are great at making ladies feel like they’re the only people that exist. They pour drinks, crack jokes, offer compliments, all in an attempt to get customers to buy more drinks, also extend their stay. The industry itself functions very much on a system of tipping, too, along with purchasing rather pricey drinks—which sometimes might cost a lot—so the hosts can get their earnings and climb up that club’s rankings. Actually, it’s as much about creating connections as it about any straightforward monetary exchange, believe it or not.

Picking a Club: Things You Probably Should Keep in Mind

There is quite a lot to think about when choosing a host club, more or less because not every spot really offers that welcoming atmosphere that some people search for, particularly for foreigners. These are things you should probably consider:

Reputation and Reviews: See what other people talk about certain clubs before even setting foot. Check internet forums, review sites—basically anywhere individuals might actually share their encounters. A club that has a track record of very good service along with a polite attitude for the customers would definitely be an awesome place to begin.
Pricing Structure: Host clubs might often be quite complicated when it comes to prices, including table fees, service fees, drink costs, and of course, host’s charges. Ask for an explanation about all the club charges beforehand in order to prevent quite unexpected surprises whenever the bill shows up. Various places actually provide fixed packages for first-timers, so that too it’s often easier to regulate any kind of expenses.
Language Barrier: It may be wise to find out what language capabilities there are. Even though some clubs cater for tourists a little bit better and may include English-speaking employees, others are more geared just towards Japanese speakers. The one which has a simple way to speak in English, well, that will almost surely result in an enjoyable outing.
Ambiance: Every host club has kind of an own vibe; Some are extremely luxurious, a little flamboyant, and glamorous, but other ones could actually feel a lot more relaxed and intimate. Know the mood in that space that’s ideal for you; do you prefer wild and energizing, or do you fancy something low-key?

What You Can Count On Experiencing

So, first time walking in, it is often like jumping into something kind of dramatic, kind of showy even. You may usually be greeted really energetically by a bunch of hosts; then they will take you to any table. Now expect a steady stream of interactions and conversations, together with them keeping your drinks filled, making sure that you have a very good time. You are also invited to take part in small games, singing karaoke, with quite the level of engagement just to hold you interested and also upbeat. Also, a host gets allocated for you specifically, in some respects your individual entertainer, and also, of course, it’s quite alright to request someone specifically, actually if anyone grabs any attention. Watch, this isn’t, anyway, any romantic scene but a rather transactional interaction highlighted by charm plus hospitality.

How Much Does It Tend to Cost?

Spending in host clubs can often differ quite a lot, actually. When entering you could discover table fees starting from ¥5,000 to ¥10,000 just in order to gain entry, with the possibility of a service cost up to 10%-20% included on your bill, and then all those drinks. Drink costs fluctuate, more or less, and can vary anywhere around ¥1,000 for the normal drink approximately to easily ¥10,000 for champagne; these are particularly wanted as the hosts get commissions. As a standard practice, you would probably spend approximately ¥20,000-¥30,000 for just a typical visit, even though that can increase extremely easily based on what you acquire combined with how large the spending urge comes around. Just ask every price upfront and do set that financial restriction for yourself. That ensures the entire event will remain a really enjoyable thing rather than a stressful thing relating to excessive spending.

Do’s and Don’ts: Simple Rules of Host Club Life

While inside the host club it will be ideal for doing something right or just keeping that experience at least respectful of those cultural subtleties:

Do: Always be respectful, courteous of both hosts together with the other patrons there. Address employees and/or individuals using correct honorifics—which happens to be adding the ‘-san’ to names whenever feasible.
Don’t: Don’t get super touchy along with the hosts or come to be too loud, aggressive; take your cues basically by understanding club norms. And do also stay mindful when purchasing the beverage, seeing as you could get pushed into ordering considerably more expensive stuff.
Do: Really enjoy those discussions; they usually want interaction, so do also allow for a little playful flirting also lighthearted chats while appreciating their company.
Don’t: Talk an excessive amount about private specifics. Stay mindful with regards to subjects they are okay speaking of. Really do be cautious concerning flaunting too much money and therefore acting as someone far superior; a lot more moderation makes a huge difference in any kind of setting.

Is Going To any Host Club Secure, Really?

Normally speaking, a good number of host clubs, it seems, act in accordance with acceptable practices yet always, there might be dishonest employees. Safeguard on your own like by getting ready properly prior to getting in, and also through keeping yourself observant on everything at all times:

Research Well: Do some homework online in regards to any type of club before booking anything in, also check what people’s encounters turned out as. Any places possessing lots of terrible reviews and complaints of that shady activity almost surely must get avoided.
Set Boundaries: You should know very well, it should go without even thinking of this that, the moment at which you should prevent investing supplemental resources and therefore firmly put limits upon host attempts to get you ordering a whole lot higher priced products.
Stay Sober: Consuming alcohol to an extreme might actually damage sense resulting for bad conclusion. See basically precisely how substantially alcohol anyone ingested.
Trust Instincts: If anything seems suspect otherwise simply wrong, then by all means take yourself completely away directly. Often times if the location appears suspicious do not think hard concerning disappearing; this ought to always get given significant importance prior to polite behavior and keeping encounters comfortable generally.
Inform Someone: It often serves well when an associate becomes alerted in regards to precisely where one is definitely oriented.

A Quick Glimpse at Other Choices: Not Just Host Clubs

If maybe that whole host club idea basically sounds rather intense then a good number of other amusement possibilities may probably actually match much better for you that do truly make nighttime at Kabukicho vibrant:

Themed Bars/Restaurants: You may find locations modeled subsequent on particular films, any styles basically permitting people for the night away during whatever topic that location works alongside that which in and of itself guarantees that unusual environment but that engaging interaction.
Robot Restaurant: So that may give individuals outrageous evening experience filled containing robots as well as pulsing lamps but a good level involving crazy entertainment making stuff a truly crazy trip.
Izakayas: At almost every a good number of any genuine night-time journey involving nighttime in Tokyo has any moment for the local Izakaya providing food alongside alcoholic refreshment but most genuine flavor concerning town’s gastronomy or a culture for really reduced pressure outings alongside folks.
Karaoke Bars: Should your singing skill must appear highlighted as really good that Kabukicho shows Karaoke-Bar from wherever folks go as long they like any melody in them, a pretty popular fun solution with regard for socializing and amusement to allow people in having quite a enjoyable experience within these surroundings

Kabukicho it is almost full containing something going for really everyone, from such classy excitement concerning hosts toward every one the one kind attractions.