Kyabakura, Lounge, Girls' Bar or Club? Japan's Hostess Venues Compared
Japan has several kinds of venue where women keep you company over drinks. From the street they look alike, but they work differently: who talks with you, how long a “set” lasts and what ends up on the bill. Here is how they compare, using the price lists the venues publish themselves (checked 3 November 2026).
At a glance
| Girls’ bar | Kyabakura | New club / lounge | High-end club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who talks with you | Staff across the counter | Hostesses at your table, often in turns | Hostesses at your table, at a calmer pace | Experienced hostesses, many guests are regulars |
| First set (median of published lists) | ¥3,300 | ¥7,000 | ¥7,700 (new club), ¥8,000 (lounge) | Rarely published |
| Feel | Casual, short stays | Lively and dressed up | Relaxed, a little more grown-up | Formal, often for hosting clients |
| Good for | A first, easy try | A night out with friends | Conversation in a smaller group | Business hosting, usually with an introduction |
Girls’ bar
Who talks with you: Staff across the counter
First set (median of published lists): ¥3,300
Feel: Casual, short stays
Good for: A first, easy try
Kyabakura
Who talks with you: Hostesses at your table, often in turns
First set (median of published lists): ¥7,000
Feel: Lively and dressed up
Good for: A night out with friends
New club / lounge
Who talks with you: Hostesses at your table, at a calmer pace
First set (median of published lists): ¥7,700 (new club), ¥8,000 (lounge)
Feel: Relaxed, a little more grown-up
Good for: Conversation in a smaller group
High-end club
Who talks with you: Experienced hostesses, many guests are regulars
First set (median of published lists): Rarely published
Feel: Formal, often for hosting clients
Good for: Business hosting, usually with an introduction
Prices are per person for the first set, before service charge and tax. Drinks for the hostesses, nomination fees and extensions come on top; how the bill works explains each line.
Girls’ bar
The staff stay behind the counter and talk with you from there; nobody sits beside you. Sets are usually 40 to 60 minutes, and the lists we check run ¥2,750–4,950. It is the cheapest and easiest way to see what this side of Japanese nightlife is like. More in what a girls’ bar is.
Kyabakura (cabaret club)
Hostesses sit beside you, pour drinks and keep the conversation going, and several may take turns during a set. Most sets are 60 minutes. The median first set is ¥7,000, and the range is ¥2,800–17,000. You can ask for a particular hostess (shimei) for a fee. More in what a kyabakura is and what shimei means.
New club and lounge
“New club” (ニュークラブ) is the name used in Sapporo, Osaka and Fukuoka for a hostess club a step above a kyabakura. In Tokyo, a “lounge” is usually a smaller, calmer venue. Fewer hostesses, and each stays longer at your table. The median first set is ¥7,700 at new clubs and ¥8,000 at lounges.
High-end clubs
The clubs of Ginza and Kitashinchi are where hostesses are known for conversation and for looking after business guests. Most do not publish prices, and a first visit usually goes through an introduction. More in Ginza or Kitashinchi and hosting clients.
Which to choose
- First time, and you want it easy: a girls’ bar.
- A night out with friends, with hostesses at the table: a kyabakura.
- A quieter conversation: a lounge or new club.
- Hosting a client: a high-end club, arranged in advance.
Every one of these is for guests aged 20 and over. Prices change, so check the price list at the door before you sit down. You can browse the venues by type and open any venue to see its published prices.
Still not sure which kind suits your night?
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ClearTab Japan