Most hostess clubs (kyabakura) and lounges in Tokyo are ordinary businesses that charge what their price list says. The problems visitors read about are concentrated in a small number of venues, and they almost always start the same way. This checklist helps you choose a safe one.

The checklist

Before you go:

• The venue has an official website or official social media with a price list. Our Tokyo hostess club prices page lists venues by area with their published prices and the date we checked them.
• You chose it yourself, not someone who approached you on the street.
• You know the price structure: set charge, extensions, nominations, drinks for hostesses and service charge. See how the bill works.

At the door:

• The venue has a visible name and entrance.
• Staff tell you the price before you sit down, and it matches the published list.
• Ask how extensions work and whether staff will check with you before extending.

During the evening:

• Keep your drink in sight and do not accept drinks you did not see poured.
• Keep track of drinks you buy for hostesses.
• Pay with your card in your hand, and check the amount on the terminal.

Warning signs: walk away

• A stranger on the street offering cheap drinks, a “special price” or an English-speaking club.
• No price list, or staff who will not tell you the price.
• A price far below what other venues in the area charge.
• Staff who take your card before you have ordered.

If any of these appear, leave before you order. Our guide to avoiding overcharging explains what to do if the bill is wrong.

Who to call

• Police: 110 if you are threatened or stopped from leaving.
• Japan Visitor Hotline (Japan National Tourism Organization): 050-3816-2787, 24 hours, in English, Chinese and Korean.

In short

A safe hostess club is one with a published price list, chosen by you, where the price is confirmed before you sit down. Following that is far more useful than any list of “safe venues”.