Gothic Lolita Punk blog La Carmina

JAPAN GOTH CLUB NIGHTLIFE GUIDE: TOKYO DECADANCE, DARK CASTLE, MIDNIGHT MESS, GOTHIC LOLITA HEAVEN.


Wild Tokyo Goth nightlife, cyber club nights and parties in Japan. Crazy Japanese fashion, teens and young street style.

At long last, it has arrived… my guide to Tokyo’s Goth Cyber & Lolita Club Nights! Here’s the low-down on the music, scene, map, photos, you name it.

I plotted the main Gothic club venues on a Google Map below and here:


View Tokyo Gothic Lolita Cyber Nightclubs in a larger map

Most of the club nights begin around 11pm and run all night (the trains stop running between 1:30-5am approximately). Admission prices vary, but are generally $20-30 US including one drink (and you may receive a discount if you abide by the dress code). The DJs and guests are extremely friendly and open; the only exceptions are the obnoxious gaijin who are only looking for girls and make no effort to dress up… go home, losers!

I highly recommend the following club events; if you’re in Tokyo, make an effort to explore Gothic Wonderland! Visit the club websites for upcoming events and info, and leave me a comment if you have any questions.

Club Marz, Tokyo nightclub in Shinjuku. Midnight Mess club night, Tokyo Dark Castle, Midnight Necropolis with DJ Taiki, Sisen, Chihiro.

CLUB MARZ
Address: B1F Dai-ichi Tokiwa Bldg., Kabukicho 2-45-1, Shinjuku
Tel: 03-3202-8248
URL: http://www.marz.jp/

The most popular Goth/Cyber event venue. Midnight Mess, Tokyo Dark Castle and (Osaka-based) Midnight Necropolis take place here; DJ Chihiro and Sisen often play. Two floors, two bars, and a large performance area. (For full details on Midnight Mess in video format, read this post.)

January 2010: Midnight Mess and Tokyo Dark Castle
April 2009: Midnight Mess fetish show
April 2009: Midnight Mess how-to info
November 2008: Midnight Necropolis
November 2008: Tokyo Dark Castle Halloween special
October 2008: Tokyo Dark Castle
September 2008: Midnight Mess

SHINJUKU MOTION is to the immediate left of Club Marz. Take the elevator up to see Goth/industrial/experimental bands, such as the Demonoid 13 party (click for review and video). You can see Goth nightlife fashion here.

August 2009: Baal, 13th Moon, Demonoid 13 Goth band night

Midnight Mess is the longest-running Goth/Industrial party in Tokyo. There is always a fantastic turn-out of young Goths and Lolitas in amazing outfits. The performers include opera singers, dancers, S&M
shows… above and here is a video with everything you know to have a spooky time!

WHAT: MIDNIGHT MESS, Tokyo’s best Gothic-cyber-Lolita club party. With DJS (Maya, Sisen, Chihiro), performances (Seileen, Skinny Puppy), fetish performances / bondage / rope suspension, EBM industrial darkwave music, and the wildest Harajuku club fashion!

WHEN: Once a month; starts at midnight and runs all night. Check out the Midnight Mess website for the next event.
WHERE: Club Marz in Shinjuku. Take the East Exit from Shinjuku Station, go straight-forward til you reach the Seibu-Shinjuku line, turn right at the Family Mart… (see map above)
PRICE: 2500 yen (Gothic dress code); 3000 yen (RSVP: maya@midnightmess.com); 3500 yen (door). Drink ticket included.
AGE: 18 to enter, 20 to booze.

StudioCube 326 nightclub in Tamachi, Tokyo Japan, Japanese Gothic and Lolita club night. Alamode night and market, D's Valentine Artism bar events.

STUDIO CUBE 326
Address: 3-2-6, Tamachi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-0002 
Tel: 03-5439-9199
URL: http://www.studiocube326.com/

A nice venue on an upper floor of a modern building. Follow the map carefully, as it can be difficult to find – you need to walk about 12 minutes to get there. Studio Cube hosts Alamode Night and Club Theatric from D’s Valentine’s Artism. Frequent performances by DJ Chihiro and Sisen, the Dark Marchen, Akira Death. You’ll see lots of cosplay, cyber and Lolita outfits.

November 2008: Alamode Night and Fashion Show
November 2008: Dark Marchen at Alamode Night
Overview of Alamode Night

Christon Cafe, crazy Jesus religious Christian theme restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. Crazy wacky theme cafe and dining.

CHRISTON CAFE
Shibuya: New Mainstay Bldg. B1, Dogenzaka 2-10-7, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: 03-5728-2225
Shinjuku: Oriental Wave Bldg. 8F, 5-17-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: 03-5287-2426

I photographed both venues for my theme restaurants book! Tokyo Decadance (DJ Sisen, Chihiro) and the annual Fetish Ball take place at the Shibuya location, which is smaller, darker and more cavernous. The huge Shinjuku venue that looks like a flamboyant Catholic church. Tokyo Decadance’s largest events (Halloween, Xmas) take place here. There are photo booths, fortune telling, and craft stands selling Goth and Lolita goods.

March 2010: Tokyo Decadance White Day party with SiSEN, Selia, Kaya
June 2009: Christon Cafe Shinjuku renewal party
October 2008: Tokyo Decadance Halloween
Overview of Tokyo Decadance
Overview of Christon Cafe

DEPARTMENT H is wildest fetish party in Tokyo, filled with crazy furry costumes, anime-head masks, drag queens, extreme piercings, you name it. We filmed footage at the event for Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World TV show.

Kinema Klub
6F 1-1-14 Negishi, Taito-ku, Uguisudani
Phone: 03-3874-7988
Begins at midnight and goes all night

January 2010: Classic movie monsters attack Department H
October 2009: Japanese drag queens at Dept H
October 2009: Animegao dollars at Dept H

Club Hoop Shinjuku, map of Gothic nightclub, Gothic Lolita Bar heaven, club cemetery, DJ Chihiro party events.

CLUB HOOP
Address: B1, 1-34-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5369-4818
URL: http://www.artism.jp/clubhoop/hoop.html

It’s a little hard to find this venue because it’s hidden in the recess of a wall. If you’re walking from Shinjuku Station, it will be on the right side of the street; look out for the AM/PM! Here’s a video I shot outside Club Hoop that will help guide you.

Club Hoop is possibly my favorite venue because it’s small and intimate, and attracts a more hard-core dress-up crowd. Club Cemetery (all-Goth, amazing music), Gothic Bar Heaven and other D’s Valentine nights take place here. The back room is filled with stands where you can buy Gothic & Lolita accessories, fake nails, etc.

September 2008: Gothic Bar Heaven
October 2008: Gothic Bar Heaven at Club Hoop with DJ Sisen and Chihiro
November 2008: Club Cemetery at Club Hoop Shinjuku

Club Crawl, goth party venue. Nightclub location of DJ Sisen and Chihiro's Gothic Bar Heaven, Club Theatric and Alamode Night..

CLUB CRAWL
Address: Maruhashi Bldg B1F, 1-25-2 Shibuya-ku Higashi
URL: http://www.bighitcompany.com/crawl

Another venue for DJ Sisen and Chihiro’s Gothic Bar Heaven, Club Theatric and Alamode Night. Take the East exit of JR Shibuya station and turn right on Meiji Dori. Keep walking along Meiji Dori (towards Ebisu) for a few minutes and pass the Life Supermarket. Then take the next left and Club Crawl is on the left in the basement of Maruhashi Building, opposite an AM/PM convenience store.

July 2009: video of gabber/industrial DJs from Alamode Night
July 2009: photos of the fashion inside Alamode Night

HARAJUKU ELEPHANT CAFE
Address: Jingumae 4-30-4, Harajuku 3F
Tel: 3478-2233

Tokyo Decadance sometimes takes place in this cramped Harajuku venue. I prefer the more spacious Christon Cafe (see listing above).
April 2009: Tokyo Decadance Cyber Goth all-night club party

Club Walpurgis in Shibuya, Tokyo Japan. Goth electro industrial club, punk concert venue and nightclub.

CLUB WALPURGIS
Address: B1F, Yachiyo Bldg., 2-12-13 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3407-3564
URL: http://www.clubwalpurgis.com/

Goth, industrial, 80s and glam at this seminal 80s Goth-punk venue.

Club Wire Tokyo Japan, map to industrial glam punk goth bar and nightclub venue, Japanese gothic party.

CLUB WIRE
Hanazono Building, B1F, 5-17-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
URL: http://wire.meeeplus.net

Performance venue. Hard rock, Goth, industrial, electro.

Again, leave any questions or feedback in the comments! You can view more videos of these Tokyo Goth parties on my YouTube (please subscribe).

Song of the Day #93: creepy video of a bloody nurse dissecting Genet of Auto-Mod at Tokyo Dark Castle

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† Related Articles by La Carmina...

  1. JAPANESE GOTH CLUB PARTIES: TOKYO DARK CASTLE, MIDNIGHT MESS. BEST NIGHTLIFE IN JAPAN, GUIDE TO INDUSTRIAL CLUB NIGHTS.
  2. MIDNIGHT MESS, TOKYO GOTH LOLITA NIGHTCLUB VIDEO: JAPAN DRINKING AGE, CLUB GUIDE, ENTRY PRICE.
  3. UPCOMING GOTH PARTIES & EVENTS IN TOKYO, GREECE! DAS ICH & GOTHIKA AT MIDNIGHT MESS, JAPAN & ANIME, DJ SISEN CYBER GOTHIC NIGHTCLUB.
  4. MIDNIGHT MESS: TOKYO GOTH LOLITA NIGHTCLUB, JAPAN FETISH PARTY, LIVE BANDS, EBM.



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  • Sam37
    Thank you lacarmina for your help.....i will go Tokyo 28 Feb. till 7 March and need to know about the fetish clubs.. fetish shows and events...
    please advise me the most safe clubs and well known fetish shows or clubs...

    Thank you in advance
  • Ahhhh you arrive one day after Midnight Mess! There is an Artism party on Feb 28 http://artism.jp/

    There is a Department H the first Saturday of every month, so March 7th... but you may be gone by then? http://www.lacarmina.com/blog/2010/01/japanese-...
  • Sam37
    i will be at 7 March but dont know what is (Department H)...

    Kindly help me if you know a daily (Mistress/slave) bars shows or pleasure

    Many thanks for your efforts and help
  • you must go to Department H. Didn't you look at the link I sent you with all the photos? Here is the official site with info. http://www.dept-h.com/

    http://www.lacarmina.com/blog/2010/01/japanese-...

    http://www.lacarmina.com/blog/2009/10/japanese-...

    Have fun
  • Sam37
    Unfortunatly i will be travel from Tokyo at 7 March.....i am now in Tokyo, please help me to find any MS show bar or club....i found one its name Fetish Bar MISTRESS but cant reach it, the map is in Japanese language....another one in the same area maybe but also the name and map not in English....
    Thanks a lot
    Sam 37
  • Check out the Ni-Chome district in Shinjuku... lots of alt bars there!
  • Avi
    Hello! A friend of mine and I are going to be in Tokyo from tonight until next Sunday afternoon, and were hoping to find a goth club event running while we were there. I would love to be able to compare the clubs here to those in Sydney!

    Is there anything on we could get to? I speak very little Japanese and my friend speaks none.
  • Ah, Yukiro says there may be a Tokyo Decadance this weekend!!
  • Avi
    Hmm, according to their Facebook page there's an event running :)

    Thanks for the pointer, we'll try and make our way to that! I can't work out if we can/should buy tickets ahead, though, or just turn up on the night?
  • Ahh, there doesn't appear to be anything going on!! Not til Feb 14 ><
    Try the links here http://www.lacarmina.com/blog/2009/04/japan-got... - I didn't check all of them, but there won't be a M Mess, T Decadance or Artism event this weekend... not a Willa party. Narzib and Fashion Ramone are no more.

    I'll let you know if I hear of anything, but it seems to be a dead weekend...
  • Ok, i've got a question; are there the only gothic places in tokyo? I said it, because i'm loocking for something more goth and less lolita. From what i read on the blog there's only a place in that i can enjoy goth&roll, gothic metal, or quite similars, and is in Club Walpurgis. This would not surprise me, because goth has gone from being a relief for the anxieties of obscurity to become another fad but dragged by chains of consumerism.
    I'll apreciate and thanks the answer.

    Lord Armand From Spain
  • Hi Armand,
    Midnight Mess is very Goth/Industrial; Maya often flies in bands like Das Ich, Covenant and Skinny Puppy to perform! :D I think you'll like this party a lot.
  • Armand Beiel
    Thank you very much, I take note
  • richard
    please send more information ie prices of entrance special events
  • Zeke XA3
    Hi,

    Im heading over to Tokyo at the end of January and was wondering if you can tell me a few things...

    I into the Idustrial/EBM scene in the UK but being living in Mexico for over a year now where there is very little of it!

    Im going to be in Tokyo for about 5 days and i really want to go out somewhere to buy some clothes (SDL, Mercy, cyberdog type stuff) then head out for some Industrial/EBM music one night.

    Can you suggest anything ? Or should i just hit some of the places in your post above?

    And what sort of music is played in the clubs? Is there a lot of international english played or just japanese???

    Thanks in advance!
  • Ooh you're in luck -- there is a Midnight Mess on Jan 23! The info is in the club guide. RSVP to maya@midnightmess.com -- let her know I sent you! ;)

    The music is EBM, Industrial, dark, synth... find out more here http://midnightmess.com/ Actually, most of the music is English/Western haha. A lot of the people at the club speak English too.

    As for clothes -- have you seen my Shopping Guide? http://www.lacarmina.com/blog/2009/04/tokyo-got... All the info is here, but my favorite place to shop is Closet Child (Harajuku and Shinjuku) -- since the clothes are secondhand and much cheaper!
  • Zeke XA3
    Dammit, i land in Tokyo on the 25th and leave on the 31st so wont be there for that night, taking a look at your shopping guide now to pinpoint where i can shop for some goth/cyber stuff!
  • Ah, there might be events coming up... check out the Goth Cyber party links on the right sidebar for the latest updates on the websites :)
  • Zeke XA3
    Seems nothing on next weekend and its all happening this weekend. A few of your links no longer work im afraid !

    Ill keep researching to see what i can find and looks like im heading off to Harajuku for one days shopping at least!
  • Ah, I'll ask my friends for you -- hold tight!
  • rubyredshoes
    I was going to go clubbing to see if I could meet some new friends (i have none in japan its quite lonely!) are people very social in clubs?
  • Everyone is SO friendly at Midnight Mess! There's a party on 11/29 - you should go! Ask for Maya or Yukiro, or mention me -- you'll love it! Here is the info: http://bit.ly/17ThmC
  • Edgar
    Hi Lacarmina, very nice and helpful site.. I will be visiting Japan from Nov 21st to Nov 27th, do you know any party or club open during those days? Looking forward to have fun in Japan..
  • Hi Edgar,
    Ahh you are just missing the Nov 29 Midnight Mess: http://www.lacarmina.com/blog/2009/09/upcoming-...

    Hm, I don't see any other events listed on www.artism.jp or elsewhere... but often, something comes up at the last minute. I'll keep my ears peeled!
  • John
    Interesting site, nice work.

    I got a question for you...

    I'm a regular black-dressed guy who like to lisen and dance to Industrial/Electro. I'll be in Tokyo around 25-28 now in september. I have nothing against lolita stuff, but I can't follow that dress code and I'm not that super interested in dress shows etc.
    I've only been to German-like Indu. Elect. Goth/Fetish clubs, so it would be cool to try a Japanese club =)

    So do you know any clubs where I, as a non-japanese, would be welcome. And have clubnight during my stay?

    I'm thankfull for any help.
  • John, what GLORIOUS timing! There is a big party, Midnight Mess, on Sept 26 that you simply MUST go to. I'm about to post all the details today -- so check http://www.lacarmina.com/blog/

    Say hi to organizer/DJ Maya for me!! Everyone is SUPER friendly, as you can see in the video posted above.
  • John
    Looks interesting enough, I'll give it a go. Thanks for the help and I'll see if I can find Maya for you... not sure on how to pronouns "lacarmina" though ;)
  • I highly recommend it -- let me know how it is. There is another German goth named John who will be at the party. My friend, Count de Sang, is also named John!
  • John
    Ok, been there now and it was ok. I enjoyed the bondage show and I liked DJ Static. But the dance floor was a litle to small in my opinion.

    I manage to find Maya and said hi from you as I promised. But I kept getting mixed up with the other John guy (who apparently didn't show up... I think). So I didn't join the after party I was invited to since I think it was more ment for him ;)

    Anyway, I give it 4 thumbs up. Thanks for the advice on that one and enjoy your stay next week.

    Rock on!
  • Elena_madrid
    Hi! I´m Elena from Spain. Your web is amazing. I´ve been checking all the clubs that you´ve listed. But, it´s possible that there are not events from 29thseptember to 4thoctober? I´ve only found one at "club wire". Hope that I have lost something written in japanese... Can anybody help me???!!
  • Hi Elena!
    There is a WILD event happening Oct 3 in Yamanashi (2 hrs from Tokyo by subway). Here is the link http://www.kumamero.net/glitter_c

    I am doing a blog post about it in the next few days, so stay tuned for more!
  • Elena_madrid
    That´s great. Thanks!! I´ll definitively go there. How do people usually come back after the party? I wouldn´t like to be lost somewhere in the middle of yamanashi...I´ll be aware of you new posts!
  • Stay tuned for a post in the next day or so... :)
  • Peasants With Feathers
    I recently got to perform with Cevin Key. Otto and I ( Peasants With Feathers ) played at a venue called Repectable Street Cafe in West Palm Beach. This past Friday August 7th of 2009. The reason I'm writing about him is because he's living in Japan. His Dj set was unique and abrasive keeping that industrial feeling roaming in the mist well beyond our set.

    Mr.Feathers
  • ChildrenOfNephilim
    Good job Lacarmina once again, I also added you to my myspace if you dont mind, and I believe i already have you on FB?
  • Thank you! ^^
    Nice to see you on MySpace too. :)
  • Missi_Moonshine
    Oh my god! These points on google maps made my day!
    I immediately added them to my plethora of Tokyo destinations, (46 places, and counting!)
    Now all I have to do is convince my boyfriend to go to the clubs with me, AND let me dress him up in fitting garb. Alas, cargo pants and a t-shirt just won't fly for me.
  • I would love to visit some of these clubs before they die out.
  • Peasants With Feathers
    Hello Japafreaks this is Peasants With Feathers see you soon.
  • Maleficarum
    You can find loads of other clubs on Google Gothic
  • mondfisch
    Hi, thx for the info on your lovely page!

    I'm from Germany and will be in Tokyo on June,27.
    My friends and me will definetly go to Midnight Mess
    for drinkin and dancing all night.
  • webuffalo
    you can find lots of club using http://www.goothic.com
  • You're welcome!! Say hi to Maya and the spooks for me :)
  • Lexi
    your amazing for doing this.
    /lucky im staying in shinjuku! XD
    me and my friend are DEFINITLEY going to check some of these out.
    thank you!
  • Excellent! I've just updated this post and added a How-To video for Midnight Mess. :)
  • cupcake
    ooohhh thank yooooouuu! i have a friend who would loooooooooooovvvvveeee this!!!! ^3^
  • Great! Please send it to anyone who might like it!
  • Vicious Kurai
    THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this ^^ I planned on finding & paying someone off craigslist to give me a 'goth tour' of Japan xD
  • My pleasure! I'll be posting more photos and club info soon!
  • Thanks for providing the map of japan. I have gotten some idea about japan through your blog. Thanks!
  • d
    This is an amazing guide La Carmina! Well done! I am writing about it on TokyoMade and sushizume, love it so much! Big love from Tokyo d xx
  • Please send me the links when they're up! You can comment here or email gothiccarmina@gmail.com
    Domo!!
  • Awww thank you for spreading the word!!
  • Odinsbacklash!
    Is there really a lot of English on fliers and on signs?



    I would think almost everything would be in Japanese.It must be quite a challenge for a visitor to go exploring there if they did not know the language.




    I've ALWAYS wanted to explore Tokyo,since I was a little girl who loved Ultraman!
  • Yup, the info is in English as well. Many of the club promoters (Midnight Mess Maya, DJ Sisen) speak English too. More info on the way!
  • Dragonswng
    nicely done!
    on an unrelated note, I watch G4 all the time. they have a series running right now called Underground. one episode featured Steampunk (and urban spelunking) ^-^
  • I'm fascinated by urban exploration. Tokyo would be a wild place for that!
  • Dragonswyng
    that would be so exciting! I wonder if there are folks who do that there
  • i am so jealous! and now you are making me Tokyo sick :o( eat some green tea ice cream for me!
  • i keep meaning to ask you to do a green tea ice cream tutorial on your death cookbook show by the way..yum!
  • I just shot a new episode in Tokyo!!! Coming right up..
  • Emma
    Darn, should have known that a few weeks ago, then I could have visited one of the places. Oh well, some other time! Great idea though, those places could be difficult to find without a little guidance. I hope you go to lots of events and post lots of pictures from them when you go to Japan again ;)
  • You bet you bet you bet you bet!
  • i wanna go so badly >.<
    but i'm too young and even when I'm ment to be going im hardly going to be even 17 XD


    I hope u have fun! and i look forward to your blog posts from Japan!!!!
  • You can get into the clubs when you're 18! :) I shot a video that's a "clubgoing 101" for Tokyo Goth nights... you'll see it soon!
  • LaBelleDameSansMercy
    Do you know if 18-19 year olds can also get into the club events in other cities, like Black Veil in Osaka and Stigmatic in Nagoya? Thanks in advance!
  • Yup, all events are 18+. Black Veil is having a MADDDD New Years party -- there will be coverage on this blog!
  • LaBelleDameSansMercy
    Very cool! Thanks!
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