This spacious venue in Tokyo Bay has room for 3,000 clubbers and offers different musical zones, such as the Arena (the main dance floor), an outdoor pool area, and a chill-out tent. It attracts big-name DJs from Japan and around the world, including Fat Boy Slim and the Japanese star Towa Tei.

Tucked away in a side-street basement, this popular, low-lit bar attracts a well-heeled crowd. It's close to Roppongi and a number of restaurants in Nishi Azabu, stays open late, and is a good spot for an after-dinner drink.

Closed Sundays.

At this cozy Australian wine bar and restaurant on a small street near Shibuya, the wine list is overwhelming: 500 vintages from Oz. For oenophiles who'd like to try a range, there's a daily selection of ten wines that can be ordered by the glass. Tokyo is a good city for wine lovers, and the Australian and New Zealand wines here are very well priced.

Tokyo's best-known jazz club has only 300 seats but draws big-name musicians from all over the world. Class acts range from veterans like Sergio Mendes to younger singers like Angie Stone. The definition of jazz is loose here; past performers have included Ladysmith Black Mambazo. There are two shows nightly.

A chic but cozy bar on a back street in Aoyama, just behind the Blue Note, this is a perfect spot for a quiet late-night drink. Two charming barmen—who have an excellent memory for their customers' favorite drinks—serve cocktails with élan. There's nothing glitzy about this place; it's reassuringly small, with comfortable furniture and low-key music, all of which makes for a relaxing, friendly ambience.

This low-rise area of Shinjuku, threatened with extinction for decades, is an atmospheric warren of bars, some only large enough for a couple of stools. There's a hint of postwar Tokyo in the dimly lit alleys, and it makes a nice contrast to the tacky glitz of nearby Kabuki-cho. The steadiest customers prefer to keep their favorite nomiya (counter bars) a secret, and some bars are only open to regulars. Stroll until you find one that looks welcoming.

Montoak is a relaxed cafe-bar on Omotesando, a good place for a pick-me-up after a hard day's shopping. Look out for the building with tinted windows and no sign, next to Kiddyland. The interiors mix mosaic tiling with raw concrete. For the best lounging, sit at the back, on one of the ground-floor sofas. Snacks and light meals are also available.

Located at the top of the Park Hyatt, on the 52nd floor, the New York Bar is everything a good hotel bar should be. Its attractions include discreet service, low lights, live jazz, and breathtaking night views across Tokyo. You'll recognize it from Lost in Translation. Get into the spirit and order an LIT cocktail of sake, cranberry juice, lime, and cherry-blossom and peach liqueur (it's no longer on the menu, but the bartender will still oblige), or have a glass of wine from the largest selection of California bottles in Japan. If the New York Bar is full (and these days, it often is), go to the 41st floor's Peak Bar. The views are still superb, and the 50 washi paper lanterns create a soft ambience.

In the Imperial Hotel sits this classic cocktail bar. The decor retains a hint of Frank Lloyd Wright's long-gone 1923 building, and the service is impeccable. In spite of its modern appearance, the Imperial is archetypal Ginza, a reminder of an older, more genteel Tokyo. In the same hotel, you'll also find the Imperial Lounge Aqua, a cozy bar with clubby armchairs and views over Hibiya Park.

This underground jazz club in Shinjuku's Ni-Chome has been a fixture for "J-jazz" (that curious strain of Japanese jazz) for the past 40 years, bringing in top-bill musicians like avant-garde saxophonist John Zorn and jazz legends like the late Elvin Jones. The 100-seat venue, in a pewlike arrangement, is small enough to feel intimate yet large enough to achieve surprisingly mellow acoustics. The entrance fee can be steep (around $40), but the amazing performances and the dark, smoky ambience is pure old-school, drawing in serious jazz devotees from across the globe.—Douglas Wright

Performances daily 2:30 to 5 pm and 7:30 to 10 pm.

Tokyo's famous gay bar district is a warren of pleasant backstreets lined with bars and clubs—some lively and welcoming, some hidden and exclusive. It's worth a look if only to take in the wacky bar names: Kings of College, Bar Yes/No, Baby Satan, Judy, Morning Tissue. In fine weather, crowds of Japanese and foreigners spill out onto the street at Advocates Café, an open-air bar on the Naka-dori, the main thoroughfare. The ever-popular GB, Arty-Farty, and Dragon are all within shouting distance, and they are all good places to begin your evening if you're looking for friendly international faces and advice in English. For quiet conversation and mellow music, try Lamp Post or Kinsmen. The nearest subways are Shinjuku 3-chome and Shinjuku Gyoen-Mae.

This basement salon near Roppongi is run by Tokyo architects Klein Dytham and graphic designers Namaiki. It's a relaxed, bohemian space with DJ nights, live music, and the popular Pecha-Kucha evenings when a random selection of 13 to 20 people do show-and-tell—presenting 20 slides for 20 seconds each (even famous names don't get extra time). SuperDeluxe events are diverse: Expect anything from crowded fashion parties to obscure musical performances. Check the website for the upcoming schedule.

Closed Sundays.

Join the crowds of adoring women (and some men) at this unique, longstanding (since 1914) musical revue where all the parts, including the male leads, are played by members of the fairer sex. Favorite shows include an all-female Gone With the Wind, Phantom of the Opera, and performances by the "heartthrobs," who look like early-'80s pop stars, all sculpted hair and heavy makeup. The gift shop alone is worth a look.

No performances on Wednesdays.

Among Tokyo's top clubs, Womb is the best-known for techno and house music. One of the most popular nights is Sterne on the first Friday of every month with DJ Takkyu Ishino. The club takes up four floors but can get very crowded on weekends. Check the website for the schedule.

Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.