If you’ve ever looked into Japan’s nightlife scene, you’ve probably heard of girls bars, cabakura, or even lounges and clubs in Ginza. They all involve women serving drinks and talking to male customers—but they operate on very different rules, atmospheres, and price points.
As someone who’s been to all of them—either for work, research, or social reasons—let me guide you through the real differences. This isn’t your average bar crawl.
🥃 Girls Bar（ガールズバー）
✅ Overview:
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Casual, affordable, and easy to enter.
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The women stay behind the counter and talk with customers from across the bar.
💡 Key Points:
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Light conversation, low pressure.
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No physical contact or deep emotional play.
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Popular with younger Japanese men and tourists.
💴 Typical Cost:
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¥3,000–4,000/hour base
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Drinks: ¥1,000–¥2,000
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Often no heavy service charges
🍸 Cabakura（キャバクラ）
✅ Overview:
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Short for “cabaret club.” A structured experience where hostesses sit next to you, pour your drink, and engage in flirtatious conversation.
💡 Key Points:
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Rotating hostesses every 30 minutes.
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Hostess may text you later (yes, that’s intentional).
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Fantasy-oriented but not sexual or physical.
💴 Typical Cost:
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Entry: ¥5,000–¥10,000/hour
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Hostess drinks: ¥1,500–¥3,000 each
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Service & tax: often 30–40% added
👗 Ginza Club（銀座クラブ）
✅ Overview:
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This is the most elite form of hostess entertainment in Japan.
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Often referred to simply as “クラブ (club)” in Japanese—but not to be confused with nightclubs.
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Membership- or invitation-only in most cases.
💡 Key Points:
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Hostesses are highly trained in etiquette, conversation, and hospitality.
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Customers are typically executives, politicians, or celebrities.
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No loud music, no games, no rotation system—one-on-one conversation only.
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Customers are introduced, and trust is the currency.
💴 Typical Cost:
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¥30,000–¥100,000+ per visit
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Bottles are kept with your name and re-used
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Expect significant bottle charges, seating fees, service fees
👉 You don’t “walk in” to a Ginza club—you get introduced.
💼 Lounge（ラウンジ）
✅ Overview:
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A hybrid between cabakura and Ginza club.
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Less formal than Ginza, but more structured than a cabakura.
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Hostesses sit with you, but may not rotate often. Some lounges work on hourly rate + referral bonus system.
- And they usually dress casual not like in dress at cabakura.
💡 Key Points:
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Many lounges work as “set lounges” or “casual lounges.”
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Some allow hostesses to invite their own customers (持ち客”mochi kyaku”).
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It’s a stepping stone for hostesses aiming for Ginza-level clubs.
💴 Typical Cost:
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¥10,000–¥30,000+ depending on location and style
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Often used for “entertaining” business clients in a quieter setting
🆚 Comparison Table
|
Feature |
Girls Bar |
Cabakura |
Ginza Club |
Lounge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Staff position |
Behind bar |
Sits with you |
Sits with you |
Sits with you |
|
Service style |
Casual |
Flirty/Fantasy |
Polished, elite |
Semi-formal |
|
Entry requirement |
Walk-in OK |
Walk-in/mild intro |
Intro only |
Walk-in or intro |
|
Rotation |
None |
Yes |
No（but many at a time） |
Yes |
|
Talk topics |
Free talk |
Surface/flirty |
Refined/social |
Flexible |
|
Pricing level |
¥ |
¥¥ |
¥¥¥¥+ |
¥¥¥ |
|
Foreigners welcome |
Yes |
Sometimes |
Rarely |
Case-by-case |
🧠 Final Thoughts from a Local
So which one should you try?
- Girls Bar – Good for casual first-time experience.
- Cabakura – Fun if you’re okay with paying for flirtation.
- Ginza Club – If you’re invited, it’s a cultural experience of a lifetime.
- Lounge – More social, often less intimidating than cabakura.
These venues are not interchangeable—they reflect different levels of formality, money, and social trust in Japanese culture.
If you’re ever invited to a Ginza club, say yes—but bring your best manners (and your best suit).
And if you’re just curious, start small. Tokyo’s nightlife has layers—and discovering them is half the fun.
