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Are Tokyo bar cover charges normal in 2026?
1500 is normal for shibuya cocktail bars, not a tourist tax
Yeah, and it usually goes toward your first drink anyway.
though otoshi usually gets credited, so ask first
Brass & Oak specifically, 1500 is their otoshi
Same at most Ebisu spots too, 1000 to 1500 otoshi
Agreed, and it's been creeping up across the board, even the smaller joints are asking 1000 or more now.
Even the tiny six seat places in Shimokita are charging 800 to 1000 now which would've been free a few years back.
Pretty much standard yeah. One thing to know is that the otoshi is per person, so two of you means 3000 before the first drink lands. Ask if it comes off the bill, some places credit it.
Usually credited against your first round there, not pure seat fee.
shibuya cocktail bars charge that table charge (otoshi) thing as standard, not a scam aimed at u. call ahead & ask if the 1500 gets credited to ur bill or if its pure seat fee. budget an extra 1000 to 2000 per bar either way
Is Sidecar bar area safe late at night in Tokyo 2026?
sidecar is in that little basement strip off dogenzaka so you come out right into the crowd. the only bit id skip is the alley behind the koban, dead & badly lit. otherwise just follow the herd down to hachiko
the koban alley thing is real, i cut through there once and it was dead silent. only thing id add is the stairs by the koban get slick when its raining so watch ur step. otherwise ur right, just follow the crowd
good call on the koban alley, though i'd add the coin parking lot behind it is where it actually gets creepy.
walk down dogenzaka is fine at 1am, still full of people, but cut through center-gai instead of the back lanes behind it
yeah center-gai is the move but honestly the stretch of dogenzaka past the love hotel strip gets quiet after midnight, more so than center-gai itself. stick to the main road & you're fine, the taxi queue at shibuya station is right there if u change ur mind
main road past 1am still has the taxi line at hachiko
avoid the baku lash corner, gets dead quick
that whole block past the pachinko place goes dark by 12:30
more like 12:30 honestly, empties out fast
Center-gai works but the Bunkamura-dori stretch gets patchy past the parking lot, so stick to the 7-Eleven side.