Japan is often portrayed as a land of polite bows and serene temples, but it also has a wonderfully strange side. If you are tired of the usual shrines and sushi, this is my list of the craziest things to do in Japan: experiences that made me laugh, made me think, or tested my stomach. From flexing bodybuilders at Muscle Girl Bar, live rope art at Decabar, Tokyo’s themed SM bars and the costume party Department H, to a spit bar in Osaka, attending your own funeral at Vowz Bar, buying pearls from a vending machine and eating fish that are still alive in Fukuoka, most of them are things I have tried myself.
The list below runs from the weird to the downright wild, but if it is pure adrenaline you want, start with the record-breaking coasters at Fuji-Q Highland, where the drops come with views of Mount Fuji.
1. Get Motivated at Muscle Girl Bar
Located in Ikebukuro, Muscle Girl Bar is the place for anyone who wants their drinks served with a side of flexing. The staff here are competitive bodybuilders, and unlike most themed bars in Tokyo, you are encouraged to film and take photos the entire time.
The bar runs on an all-you-can-drink system with drinks in huge, heavy glasses. Nobody forces you to drink, but the loud, motivating atmosphere, with the staff cheering and posing, pushes you to finish your glass and go for another. You can take on strength challenges to earn “Muscle Dollars” and spend them on “muscle services”, like a playful slap from a bodybuilder for the friend who dared you to come. It is loud, silly and one of the most fun nights out in Tokyo.
2. Watch Japanese Rope Art at Decabar
On the edge of Kabukicho, Decabar is a small alternative bar that feels more like an underground stage than a club. Its signature act is kinbaku, a Japanese rope art built on precise knot work, balance and trust between two performers. With the lights dimmed and techno in the background, it plays out like physical theater, and the room goes completely quiet while it happens.
The crowd is a mix of alternative fashion fans, artists, regulars and curious travelers, and nobody expects you to do anything but watch. It is also where I saw DJ Sumirock, the oldest club DJ in the world, celebrate her 90th birthday. Go on a Saturday from around 23:00 and bring cash.
3. Step Into a Themed SM Bar in Shinjuku
Tokyo has a whole category of small themed bars where the staff play strict, theatrical characters, and the best-known are the so-called SM bars in Kabukicho and Shinjuku Ni-chome. Think of them as role-play bars: the hostess plays a stern “queen”, guests get teased and playfully scolded, and most visitors simply sit at the counter, have a drink and watch the show.
They are expensive for a bar. The cover charge usually starts at around ¥3,000 per hour, and with drinks and extras the bill can easily reach ¥10,000 or more, so always ask about prices before ordering anything. If you are curious about Tokyo’s subculture and go with an open mind, it is one of the strangest bar experiences in the city.
4. Order a Drink at a “Spit Bar” in Osaka
It sounds like an internet myth, but it is real: in Osaka there is a tiny bar called Noko Noko where the bartender spits into your drink as part of the service. Viral videos made it famous, and while most people will happily stick to watching the clips, the bar does exist and has a small group of loyal regulars.
It is the definition of a niche experience and definitely not for everyone, but it shows how far Japan’s concept bars are willing to go. Unlike the armpit onigiri rumor, this one is not a joke.
5. Dress Up for Department H in Uguisudani
If you want to see Tokyo’s most creative crowd in one room, go to Department H. Held on the first Saturday of every month at the Tokyo Kinema Club in Uguisudani, it is one of the longest-running alternative parties in Japan and calls itself a “communication salon”. Expect drag queens, kigurumi performers in full-body character costumes, latex and rubber outfits and stage shows that are hard to describe.
Two things make it special. First, there is a costume rule: plain clothes are not welcome, so come dressed up. Second, no alcohol is sold inside, but you can bring your own. Regulars stop at a convenience store for ice, beer and spirits and share drinks with strangers, which makes it surprisingly friendly and social for such a wild-looking night.
6. Attend Your Own Funeral at Vowz Bar
This one sounds morbid, but it turned out to be one of the most meaningful afternoons I have had in Tokyo. At Vowz Bar, a bar run by Buddhist monks, you can book a funeral experience for yourself: you lie in a coffin while a monk in full robes chants the prayers that would be said at your real funeral.
The idea behind it is not shock value. Confronting the end of life for a few minutes is meant to make you appreciate the present, and it works surprisingly well. If you want a contrast, do what we did and start the day with butterbeer at the Harry Potter Café in Akasaka.
7. Party in a Church Bar in Shibuya
In the middle of Shibuya’s nightlife, Dogenzaka Church is a nun-themed bar designed like a small chapel, complete with church benches and a dance floor. It is half bar, half club, and the music changes from techno to reggae depending on the night.
It is also one of the cheapest themed bars on this list: when I went, drinks were around ¥800 and the weekend entrance only a few hundred yen with a one-drink minimum. It is a great first stop before you head deeper into Shibuya at night.
8. Buy Pearls from a Vending Machine
Japan has vending machines for almost everything, but in Akihabara you can find one that sells real Akoya pearls. Akoya pearls are Japan’s famous saltwater pearls, known for their deep shine and perfectly round shape since Kokichi Mikimoto perfected pearl culturing over a century ago.
Buying one from a machine in a back alley is about as Japanese as shopping gets: old-world luxury meets a coin slot. I explain what you actually get and how to judge the quality in my guide to Akoya pearls and the Akihabara vending machine.
9. Extreme Dining: Raw Chicken, Fish Milt and Insects
For the truly brave, Japan’s food scene has some challenging offerings:
- Torisashi: raw chicken sashimi. It is a regional delicacy, especially in Kyushu, but for most Westerners eating raw poultry is the ultimate gamble.
- Shirako: fish milt, the sperm sacs of cod or pufferfish. It has a creamy, custard-like texture and is served raw with ponzu or lightly grilled in winter.
- Insects: grasshoppers, bee larvae and river insects were everyday protein in rural Japan for centuries. Today you can find cricket ramen and roasted grasshopper snacks in specialty shops. More in my article on eating insects in Japan.
For more dishes most people would never dare to touch, check out my weird Japanese food guide.
10. Exotic Meat at Terakoya in Shinjuku
In the back alleys of Kabukicho, Terakoya is one of the most adventurous izakayas in Tokyo and a legend among travelers looking for extreme food. While the main streets serve predictable ramen and sushi, the menu here goes far beyond seafood.
Depending on the season and what the kitchen has sourced from specialized hunters, you might find crow, turtle, horse, rat or even monkey, along with insects, snakes and snake-infused medicinal sake (mamushi). Many of these dishes are served in the spirit of yakuzen, medicinal cooking that is believed to boost stamina and health, which gives what looks like a dare a real cultural background.
Despite the menu, it is a classic, cozy izakaya with shoulder-to-shoulder counter seats, where conversations start naturally over the strange dish in front of you. It is not a place for picky eaters, but if you are planning an adventurous food night in Tokyo, Terakoya is the final boss.
11. Drink “Dancing Fish” in Fukuoka
Head south to Fukuoka and you can try Shirouo no Odorigui, the “dancing eating” of tiny, transparent ice gobies while they are still alive. This seasonal delicacy, typically available in early spring, is served in a glass with vinegar and sometimes a raw egg.
The tradition is to swallow them whole and feel the fish wiggle on the way down. It is a famous local experience found in specialized riverfront restaurants in Fukuoka and the ultimate test for adventurous eaters.
12. Think Twice: Animal Cafes
Not every crazy experience is a good one. Tourists flock to owl and otter cafes for the cute factor, but the reality is often deeply unethical. In many of these places you can see staff handling the animals roughly when they are not “performing” for photos, and nocturnal animals are kept under bright lights in tiny spaces. This is the one entry on this list I recommend you skip.
Bonus: The Myths You Will Not Find
Some “crazy Japan” stories online are simply not true. The best example is armpit onigiri, the viral rumor of rice balls shaped under the arm instead of by hand. It is an internet joke, and you will not find it on any real menu in Japan. For more of what is real and what is not, read my Japan travel myths vs. reality.
Pro tip: Most of these places are in Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro. Always carry cash, as many small bars rarely take cards, and expect a table charge (otoshi) at izakayas. For planning the rest of your nights, see my Tokyo Nightlife Guide and the Kabukicho guide.
Craziest Things to Do in Japan FAQ
What are the craziest things to do in Japan?
Japan hides a wonderfully strange side behind its polite, orderly image. Some of the craziest things to do in Japan include getting cheered on at Muscle Girl Bar, watching rope art at Decabar, attending a mock funeral with monks at Vowz Bar, pulling pearls from a vending machine, and eating live dancing fish. This guide walks through twelve of them.
Are these weird Japanese experiences safe for tourists?
For the most part, yes. Japan is one of the safest countries to travel in, and most of these bars and venues are used to curious visitors. The usual rules apply: respect the house rules, ask before taking photos, and remember that some themed bars are adult venues, so check the concept before you walk in.
Where in Japan can you find the strangest bars?
Tokyo is the center of it, especially Shinjuku, where tiny themed bars are packed into a few narrow streets. Osaka adds its own loud, irreverent spin, and you will find oddities scattered in other cities too. If you only have one night, Shinjuku gives you the highest concentration of weirdness.
Do you need to speak Japanese for these experiences?
It helps, but it is not essential. Many of the more tourist-friendly spots have some English, and the experience often speaks for itself. A few basic phrases and a willingness to play along go a long way, especially in the smaller, more local bars where English is limited.
Are themed bars in Japan expensive?
Many charge a cover or seating fee on top of drinks, which is normal for small themed venues. It is rarely a budget night out, but it is usually the kind of memory worth paying for. Check whether a cover applies before you sit down so there are no surprises on the bill.
Is Japan good for unusual nightlife?
Few places do unusual nightlife better. Beyond the famous districts, Japan rewards anyone willing to push open an unmarked door and see what is inside. That mix of safety and genuine strangeness is exactly what makes a night out here so memorable.
Author
Get My Personal Travel Maps
Leave a Reply