A HOTEL NEAR KABUKICHō

Sure, Kabukichō is known for showing a seedier side of Tokyo, but it’s a feast for the senses, a bright and shiny collection of attractions that make for an entertaining nighttime stroll. The entrance is marked by a giant neon gate, and the official ambassador here is Godzilla, whom you’ll see peeking out from among the skyline. Play in a pachinko parlor, grab a beer in a dive bar, refuel with a late-night meal in a tiny izakaya, or sing at the top of your lungs in a karaoke bar — Kabukichō keeps the party going until the wee hours.

Kabukichō is also home to Golden Gai, a step back in time before the neighborhood was modernized. Along the network of six narrow alleys connected by small passageways, you’ll find more than 200 bars, many so small they can only fit a handful of patrons.