[Official Guide] Editor-written FAQ. Locals & travelers — please add updates in the comments; things change fast.
Short answer: Cover is usually ¥1,500–3,500 with a drink (Fri/Sat higher), you must be 20+, and bring your physical passport — foreign IDs and photos of passports are often rejected at the door.
The rules that surprise people:
- Age: 20+ — Japan’s adult age for clubs/alcohol. Strictly enforced.
- ID: physical passport — for travelers this is effectively the only accepted ID. A photo of it on your phone often does NOT work (varies by venue).
- Cover charge — typically ¥1,500–3,500 including 1 drink; big Fri/Sat events can run ¥3,000–4,500. Arriving before midnight is often ¥1,000–2,000 cheaper.
- Dress code — Shibuya is casual (streetwear/sneakers fine at most doors), but “no shorts, no sandals” is a common rule.
- Re-entry — often not allowed, or costs extra. Check before you step out for air.
- Budget — realistically ¥3,000–7,000 for entry + a couple of drinks.
Etiquette quickies: coat/bag lockers are ¥500ish; don’t photograph strangers; drugs are a deportation-level crime in Japan — not a gray zone.
Double-check yourself: every venue posts its own price/ID/dress rules — check the event page before queueing.
Safety note: buy your own drinks and keep an eye on them; ignore street touts promising “free entry” — legit clubs don’t need them.