The Best Nightclubs in Osaka: 7 Standout Clubs

Osaka might not have a reputation for clubbing that Tokyo does, but as the major club center in the Kansai region, Osaka’s nightlife brings in huge crowds.

Trying to make a list of the top clubs can be tough. Weighing personal preferences against solid crowd-pleasers always presents a challenge.

Fortunately, Osaka has some venues that consistently deliver a good time. Start your evening at one of the following clubs – and then see where the night takes you.

Some of the clubs are Osaka staples. Others are newcomers.

All the clubs on the list are foreigner friendly. They attract a mix of Japanese clubbers and foreign visitors and residents.

Ready to start your adventure through Osaka’s club scene? Let’s begin our night with an Osaka icon.

1.  Giraffe

The Giraffe nightclub is an Osaka mainstay.

With crowds of around 700 on weeknights and 1,500 per night on the weekend, Giraffe is one of Osaka’s biggest clubs.

The club is part of the Dotonbori neighborhood. They have a solid reputation for delivering a good time.

The club opens quite early (at 7:00pm). This makes it a great place to start your night. It attracts a crowd of young locals and a good mix of international visitors as well.

The club has two dance floors you can move between: Under and Giraffe.

Under

Under on the second floor plays international hip-hop, R&B, reggae, and EDM hits.

This floor attracts clubbers who love music.

Giraffe

Giraffe on the fourth floor creates a fun party atmosphere. It features classic songs everyone knows and loves.

Both floors have bars. You can also chill with a drink at the Oriental Lounge Bit on the third floor.

Promotions

Giraffe holds special events on a regular basis. They have lots of promotions aimed at ladies as well.

Everyone loves the Happy Rain promotion. Women pay no cover charge when it rains (no matter what day of the week it is). You also get free drinks if you’re a woman over 21.

Giraffe closes quite early (at 1:00 am). Not ready to go home yet? I suggest you do what the locals do and head next door to G3 to continue the party.

I also suggest getting to the club before 9:00pm to avoid waiting in line to enter.

Cover Charges

Monday – Thursday – Before 9:00pm

  • Ladies: Free
  • Men: 1,000 yen (includes two drinks)

After 9:00pm

  • Ladies: 700 yen
  • Men: 2,500 yen (one drink included)

Friday – Before 9:00pm

  • Ladies: Free
  • Men: 1,500 yen (includes one drink)

After 9pm

  • Ladies: Free
  • Men: 1,500 yen

Saturdays and the Night Before a Holiday

  • Ladies: Free
  • Men Before 9:00 pm:  1,500 yen  (includes one drink)
  • Men Before 9:00pm:  3,000 yen (no drink included)

Other Things to Note

  • They have all-you-can-drink plans for both men and women. The plans run from 1,500 to 3,500 yen.
  • The club offers discounts for foreign residents and students studying in Japan. You’ll need to show a residence card or student ID to get them.

For More Information

Giraffe Japan Homepage

2 & 3.  G2 and G3

Giraffe runs G2 and G3.

These clubs cater to the crowd who sticks around after Giraffe closes.

G2

You can’t beat G2’s convenience. The club is directly above the Nagahoribashi Subway Station.

G2 describes itself as Japan’s first all-night club. They play an eclectic mix of tunes.

Hours

Monday – Thursday

2:00am – 7:00am

Friday, Saturday, and the Night Before a Public Holiday

1:00am – 7:00am

Cover Charges

Monday – Thursday

  • Ladies: 1,000 yen
  • Men: 2,000 yen

Friday – Sunday and Before Holidays

  • Ladies: 1,000 yen
  • Men: 3,000 yen

*Cover charge includes one drink

For More Information

G2 Homepage

G3

G3 sits right across from the Glico running man sign in Dotonbori.

The club attracts a young, foreigner-friendly crowd. It’s a great place to meet other English-speaking people who live in Osaka (if that’s what you’re looking for).

Hours

Sunday-Thursday

10:00pm-4:00am

Friday, Saturday, and the night before a public holiday

9:00pm – 4:00am

Cover Charges

Sunday-Thursday

  • Women: Free
  • Men: 2,000 yen (includes one drink)

Fridays, Saturdays, and Days Before a Holidays – 9:00pm – 11:00pm

  • Women: Free (and you get a free drink!)
  • Men: 1,500 yen (includes one drink)

After 11:00pm

  • Women: Free
  • Men: 2,500 yen (includes one drink)

For More Information

G3 Homepage

4.  Cheval

Cheval is a Japanese first.

It’s the first nightclub to offer a smoke-free dance floor. The club has two floors – one smoke-free, the other without restrictions.

The staff is friendly, and the music makes you want to get up and dance. The DJs offer a good mix of EDM and house.

The club is in Shinsaibashi (but please note – it’s a long walk from Shinsaibashi Subway Station!).

The high cover charges attract a slightly upscale crowd. In spite of the high entrance fees, the crowds usually get quite big – even on weeknights.

Please Note – The club has a strict dress code. No business clothes are allowed. Also, no tracksuits, sweaters, sandals, or croc shoes.

Hours

Sunday – Thursday

11:00pm – 4:00am

Friday – Saturday

10:00pm – 4:00am

Cover Charges

All the prices below include one drink.

Sunday – Thursday and on holidays

  • Ladies: 1,000 yen
  • Men: 2,500 yen

Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before a holiday.

  • Ladies: 2,000 yen
  • Men: 3,500 yen

For More Information

Cheval Osaka Homepage

5.  Ghost Ultra Lounge

The Ghost Ultra Lounge is also known as Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Ghost plays popular hip-hop. It attracts a good mix of both Japanese and foreign guests.

This club is in Shinsaibashi as well. The inspiration for the name comes from the classic luxury car.

This club really plays up their luxury persona. They pride themselves on the glamorous look of the dance floor area.

The club features genuine stone floors, the largest LED light display in the world, and frequent celebrity performances.

The cheap cover price and great atmosphere draw lots of people. The biggest crowds turn out on the weekend.

The club comes into its own after midnight. Having said that, I suggest coming earlier to avoid the lines to get in.

Also, if you’re a woman, coming early lets you take advantage of the free locker and cloakroom promotion.

Hours

10:00pm – 5:00am daily

Cover Charges

Sunday – Thursday – Before Midnight

Men & Women: 700 yen

*The price includes one drink, and, if you’re a woman, free cloakroom and locker services.

After Midnight

  • Women: 1,000 yen (includes one drink)
  • Men: 1,000 yen (includes one drink)

Fridays – Before Midnight

Men & Women: 700 yen

*The price includes one drink. If you’re a woman, you also get free cloakroom and locker services.

After Midnight

  • Women: 700 yen (includes one drink)
  • Men: 1,500 yen (includes one drink)

Saturdays – Before Midnight

  • Women: 700 yen (includes one drink, free cloakroom, and locker use)
  • Men: 1,500 yen (includes one drink)

After Midnight

  • Women: 700 yen (includes one drink)
  • Men: 1,500yen (includes one drink)

Special Events and the Night Before a Holiday – Before Midnight

Men & Women: 700 yen

*Includes one drink, and, if you’re a woman, free cloakroom and locker services.

After Midnight

  • Women: 1,500 (includes one drink)
  • Men: 1,500 (includes one drink)

For More Information

Ghost Ultra Lounge Homepage

6.  BERG Osaka

A relative newcomer to Osaka’s dance scene, BERG distinguishes itself by its focus on quality hip-hop.

It aims to give you the tip of the hip-hop iceberg – hence the name. Don’t understand the metaphor? They consider themselves the cutting edge of hip-hop culture in Osaka (like the tip of an iceberg).

BERG only opens on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Because of this, it tends to go under the radar.

The club wants you to have a luxurious night out. They boast a wine-list as carefully curated as their sound.

The audience is mostly Japanese, and the music is on point. Some of the guest DJs are an acquired taste, but for the most part, BERG consistently delivers a good time.

The club is in the Shinsaibashi neighborhood. It’s just a short walk from Shinsaibashi Station.

Hours

Friday – Sunday

1:00am – 5:00am

Cover Charges

For Foreigners

  • Women: 750 yen
  • Men: 1,500 yen

For Japanese Nationals

Friday

  • Women: 1,500 yen
  • Men: 2,500 yen

Saturday

  • Women: 2,000 yen
  • Men: 2,500 yen

Sunday

  • Women: 1,000 yen
  • Men: 2,000 yen

For More Information

BERG Osaka Homepage

7.  Mood Nightclub

Mood just opened in March 2018, but the club is quickly building a solid reputation for itself.

The promoters go out of their way to make sure you have a good time. They can sometimes get you in without paying the entrance fee. Look for them outside in the area around the club.

The sound system is brand new (and sounds like it). The DJs play mostly house and hip-hop.

The club often hosts international artists. Most of the staff speak English, and the venue is very foreigner friendly.

They have two floors. One floor is for dancing, and the other gives you a nice space to relax.

Hours

11:00pm – 5:00am daily

Cover Charges

  • Weekdays: 2,000 yen (includes two drink tickets)
  • Weekends: 2,500 yen (includes two drink tickets)

*Prices may change during special events.

For More Information

Mood Nightclub Homepage

Summary: Club Rules and Etiquette

  • Most of the clubs on our list focus on hip-hop. A few play house and EDM. Don’t like these music types? You can get recommendations about where to go from the club staff. They usually don’t mind giving you recommendations (even if it’s another club).
  • The clubs won’t sell you alcohol if you’re under 21. It doesn’t matter to them what the rules are in your home country. Most refuse entry to anyone under 21 as well (Giraffe is the only exception – 20 years old to enter).
  • You’ll have to show ID to get in. Anything with your picture and age on it from your home country usually works. Japanese student and residence cards work as well.
  • All the clubs have a dress code. Some are more strict than others.
  • Use your common sense when you go clubbing. Behave respectfully. Don’t use drugs. Carry some cash for the taxi ride home, and, most importantly of all, enjoy yourself.

Insider Tips

Make sure you keep track of the time on your big night out. The subway and JR trains stop running around midnight – and they don’t start again until 5:00 A.M. This can make getting back to your hotel a challenge!

Something You Should Know About the Trains

The trains and subways stop running around midnight in Osaka.

This affects the crowds at the clubs. Many clubbers leave early to catch the last trains during the week.

The clubs tend to be a lot livelier on the weekends. The parties usually go well into the night.

Want to stay past midnight? No problem.

You can always take a taxi.

If You Take a Taxi

  • The size of your taxi determines your fare. The bigger vehicles cost more.
  • There’s a twenty-percent surcharge added to your fare between 11:00pm-5:00am. Even so, the taxis are still a good deal if you’re with a group and split the fare.
  • Carry some cash with you. Many taxi drivers don’t take credit cards.
  • Osaka taxis charge 660 yen as the base fare. After you’ve traveled two kilometers (1.25 miles), they charge 80 yen for each additional 296 meters (about 1/5 of a mile).

What Club(s) Do You Want to Hit Up in Osaka?

Also, please let us know if you’ve been to any of these clubs before. What did you think of the place? Did we miss any spots in Osaka we should have mentioned?

Please let us know in the comments below.

Top Attractions in Osaka

Photo of author

Louise

Louise first arrived in Japan in 2003 as a JET Programme participant, intending to stay for just one year. She had no idea she would end up spending eleven years exploring the country that has become her second home. Although able to navigate the big metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka with ease, Louise's real love is rural life, spending six years in beautiful Shimane prefecture. Now back in her native New Zealand, Louise is exploring her passion for writing.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Send this to a friend