Guest viewing is limited

Kyoto clubbing experience + advice

GreyHair

TAG Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2017
Messages
29
Reaction score
17
* warning *, fairly long post.

I've been to night clubs I think 4 or 5 times. when I was in Tokyo and did that I managed to hook up 2 times but I'm beginning to think I got more lucky than anything, you probably don't need any particularly good nampa skills to hook up in clubs but still. (also, maybe, it's somewhat easier in Tokyo for a foreigner? People mentioning gaijin hunters and all. correct me if I'm wrong though, as you can clearly tell I don't have much - if any - experience in this field)
anyhow, I recently decided to hit a club again, this time in Kyoto, and I'd like to get some advice and possibly be told if / what I did wrong, what to expect and / or how to improve.

so, with the "lets hook up" plan in mind, my idea was to enter the club not too soon (I went in around 12 am) and stay until 4-5 am or until it closes, then at first take a look around, drink something and make some (Japanese males 95% of the time) friends, maybe dance although I'm awful at it, have a good time and all. you could say it's also for just being able to hit more easily on girls later, or just to find a group of people to approach group of girls with. or just to pretend the night wasn't a complete waste if I managed to make a few friends and have some fun.
I don't have many issues in making friends with the Japanese males being there, or sometimes foreigners too.

in this case, I did that, met a few people, and then started talking to girls. at first with this other guy and then his friends (it was always a 2 on 2 situation though, not like 5 guys talking to 2 girls) and then by myself. also let me be honest, I wasn't just trying to talk to "so beautiful i would marry on the spot" sort of girls, I just kinda threw myself to girls to whom I wasn't even that much attracted.
as you probably guessed by now, it didn't go too well. the excuse I heard the most was "i have to go to the toilet" and then quietly disappear, which is pretty hilarious but I guess they just don't feel like saying "I'm not interested so bye". then a few girls would just turn over to her friends (did I mention every single one of them was not by herself? I guess that's normal for a night club though) and talk to them instead - basically ignoring me. I'll take those as hints to not being wanted. I mean I think it's pretty easy to tell when they're not interested, e.g. they don't ask you anything and you're the only one talking, and / or barely look at you. or at least, that's what I think.
as far as talking and approach goes, I was simply asking for her name/where she lives/what she does etc. while talking about myself and so on, I'm guessing the standard conversation, nor that I think what you say matters that much in clubs. after that I was planning on asking her to dance or drink something with me but I almost never got there because they either left earlier or clearly showed no interest. at some point after that (assuming there is mutual interest) you either make out and easily go to an hotel, or just ask her if she wants to go for a walk outside while secretly bringing her to the nearest hotel/your apartment. or just get her number.
I think I read in here from someone that one good approach is to move to girl around the club with you, so dancing/drinking together - I guess I moved them by making them go to the toilet ww

that being said, and here's the advice/questions part, I don't know if: I did something wrong / could have done something better or differently for better results. if I gave up too soon on them and if me thinking "they clearly aren't interested" was too quick of a judgment. AND if I'm supposed to hit on like every girl I see while also expecting A LOT of rejections, (I think I hit on 10 girls or so? Can't remember that well and it's not like I was counting) then just move on.
also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like looks are the most important thing in clubs, yes? Then I guess you could also say I'm not good-looking enough to being able to constantly hook with someone there. I usually see other foreigners there with better looks than me, if that can give you any indication.

there was this one girl who - I thought - approached me. generally speaking I believe the approach of Japanese girls in clubs is a shy movement towards you, looking at you and that's about it. it happened a few times (those times when I also managed to hook up) and I also think someone else in here mentioned this.
but this was during the time I was talking to one of those friends I made there, so I guess she could have approached him instead, although I thought she was looking at me.
anyway, she also got a bit more touchy than what I usually get (besides the obvious get close to your hear because you cant hear shit with the loud music), and after talking I asked her if she wanted to dance or drink and said something like "I'm fine here, but you can go if u want", then more or less started ignoring me. I guess she wasn't interested after all?

funnily enough, I had better results after leaving the club after it closed and talking to a bunch of Japanese people outside in front of the club until 6-7 am. it was a bunch of guys and 2 girls but almost all the guys left pretty soon - long story short: I managed to add one of those girls on LINE, and I think she was somewhat interested and said something like "I like your beard" but I was pretty fucking tired so she might have not.

in the end, if nothing else, you could say I'm improving in being more social or in just talking to girls I possibly want to bone, since I remember the first I hit a club I barely spoke to anyone.

Soooo - if any nampa/clubbing expert here would like to give me some feedback or advice regarding what I wrote it'd be appreciated.

I'm planning on hitting clubs again, but I might try Osaka next. that one I went was supposedly the best and most crowded in Kyoto but it was much smaller than I thought. not many people inside it either, on Saturday night.

- -

another unrelated thing, I had some questions regarding a girl who I "matched" with (not tinder but same shit) and she wants to actually meet. is it ok to ask about that in this section as well?


~a dude
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: owlet
dude that sounds fucking terrible .. good on you for trying though
 
Was it that "World" club? I've been there a few times - they see too many tourists I think.
Hopefully you'll have more luck in Osaka
 
Lol, again I'm not sure if I just got lucky those 2 times in Tokyo, or if the club I went to in Kyoto just isn't a great place for that sort of thing. or if I'm just not good-looking enough to be successful in clubs : P

Maybe girls saw you trying to hit on other girls and lost their appetite? I dont know. You dont wanna look desperate.
I honestly have no idea, the club isn't very big but there is more than just the dance floor, and I've been more or less everywhere. maybe a few of them saw me? I didn't pay much attention to that to be honest.

Was it that "World" club? I've been there a few times - they see too many tourists I think.
Hopefully you'll have more luck in Osaka
yeah it was that club. You've had any luck there? Or you can recommend other ones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AliceInWonderland
also I might have made it sound worse than how it actually was.
thinking about it now - the number of girls I talked to were probably less than 10, and a couple clearly had no actual interest in hooking up (with anyone), or at least that's the impression I remember I had.
regardless, I always thought the average guy was supposed to face a lot of rejections in night clubs too? : P
 
  • Like
Reactions: AliceInWonderland
also I might have made it sound worse than how it actually was.
thinking about it now - the number of girls I talked to were probably less than 10, and a couple clearly had no actual interest in hooking up (with anyone), or at least that's the impression I remember I had.
regardless, I always thought the average guy was supposed to face a lot of rejections in night clubs too? : P

Yeah, that's not that many girls for a whole night out.

as far as talking and approach goes, I was simply asking for her name/where she lives/what she does etc. while talking about myself and so on, I'm guessing the standard conversation, nor that I think what you say matters that much in clubs. after that I was planning on asking her to dance or drink something with me but I almost never got there because they either left earlier or clearly showed no interest

One thing you might consider is that general strategy / conversational pattern is what basically everybody else does. Which means you're hoping that she likes you *in spite* of your conversational material.

People go to clubs and bars to have fun and spread good energy, not have a chat that's like a job interview. So rather than having logical conversations that sound very routine, adding interesting / odd tangents or breaking up these "pattern" responses into something more interesting will spread smiles and laughs all around.

I mean I think it's pretty easy to tell when they're not interested, e.g. they don't ask you anything and you're the only one talking, and / or barely look at you.

Lots of Japanese girls won't give you much in the way of conversational material or huge IOIs (indicators of interest). That doesn't necessarily mean they don't like you, it just means you may not have caught their attention that much yet. once again, having unique / fun conversational topics makes a big difference. In the absence of that, spread energy rather than information. On top of that, if she leaves from chatting with you, you can always talk to her at a later point in the night. Maybe she really DID need to go to the toilet, and maybe in an hour, you're more warmed up conversationally, and she's a bit more bored of whoever's been talking to her and her response to you will change. Plus, persistence is admirable and attractive.

Maybe girls saw you trying to hit on other girls and lost their appetite? I dont know. You dont wanna look desperate.

Thats true. On the flip side, if other girls are laughing and touching you, other girls across the room might be more curious.
 
Yeah, that's not that many girls for a whole night out.



One thing you might consider is that general strategy / conversational pattern is what basically everybody else does. Which means you're hoping that she likes you *in spite* of your conversational material.

People go to clubs and bars to have fun and spread good energy, not have a chat that's like a job interview. So rather than having logical conversations that sound very routine, adding interesting / odd tangents or breaking up these "pattern" responses into something more interesting will spread smiles and laughs all around.



Lots of Japanese girls won't give you much in the way of conversational material or huge IOIs (indicators of interest). That doesn't necessarily mean they don't like you, it just means you may not have caught their attention that much yet. once again, having unique / fun conversational topics makes a big difference. In the absence of that, spread energy rather than information. On top of that, if she leaves from chatting with you, you can always talk to her at a later point in the night. Maybe she really DID need to go to the toilet, and maybe in an hour, you're more warmed up conversationally, and she's a bit more bored of whoever's been talking to her and her response to you will change. Plus, persistence is admirable and attractive.



Thats true. On the flip side, if other girls are laughing and touching you, other girls across the room might be more curious.

I know they must differ from night to night, but can you give an example of interesting/odd tangents that have worked for you?
 
  • Like
Reactions: AliceInWonderland
I know they must differ from night to night, but can you give an example of interesting/odd tangents that have worked for you?

So one specific example would be to take every question that you're asked of pretty much everybody.. Such as "why did you come to Japan"
And think of a few odd answers, like
"I came for the tuna"
Or

"What is your job?"
And you reply
"Cardboard box salesman"
 
Lots of Japanese girls won't give you much in the way of conversational material or huge IOIs (indicators of interest). That doesn't necessarily mean they don't like you, it just means you may not have caught their attention that much yet. once again, having unique / fun conversational topics makes a big difference. In the absence of that, spread energy rather than information.
thanks for the detailed reply, I'll try to follow your advices next time I go to a club.

could you elaborate a bit more on the "spread energy part"? You mean just go dancing and such?

also another thing: I've had a situation where I talk to a girl, she's engaging in the conversation a bit so I'm thinking she might be interested, then she goes away in another zone of the club and I've seen her talk to other guys there.
in this instance, should I just wait a bit and then try to find her again later, or maybe try to follow her right away and insist on talking/engaging with her?
 
could you elaborate a bit more on the "spread energy part"?

In general, men often think of their words as being the most important thing they communicate, and view communication as an exchange of information, like two computers sending packets back and forth. In clubs, however, the actual information being passed back and forth matters less than the energy, vibe, and emotions. So dancing is good, yeah, but also nonsensical / off the wall statements and using communication to have FUN rather than send her information (such as, her/your job, living situation, age, frequency of coming to X or Y venue or place, etc). This shift is difficult for people who don't usually engage in chaotic or expressionistic communication and are more used to informational communication (for example - computer programmers, engineers, etc have a very logical / information exchange based focus for work, and this often means they aren't used to expressing themselves in this other way or it can take some time to warm up those different conversational gears)

also another thing: I've had a situation where I talk to a girl, she's engaging in the conversation a bit so I'm thinking she might be interested, then she goes away in another zone of the club and I've seen her talk to other guys there.
in this instance, should I just wait a bit and then try to find her again later, or maybe try to follow her right away and insist on talking/engaging with her?

Not great if she's walking away from you. Try to make your approach compelling and interesting off the bat so she wants to stay. That said, if she walks off you can always (and should) reapproach later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AliceInWonderland
- using communication to have FUN rather than send her information (such as, her/your job, living situation, age, frequency of coming to X or Y venue or place, etc). This shift is difficult for people who don't usually engage in chaotic or expressionistic communication and are more used to informational communication.
that's me right there, lol. I think I always ask for stuff like "what do you/where do you live/what do you like", and if she's isn't engaging in the conversation I also might just run out of arguments/questions.
I do understand what you mean but the thing is that I don't really know what to actually do or say to keep the conversation or interest going, besides asking about her and if they want to drink or dance. like I could pull some nonsense such as "I want to live in Japan because of the tuna" but then I'd stop there and go back to a standard conversation.
maybe it's easier to go directly to girls who are already dancing, because you already know they want to dance and it probably comes more natural to touch her/shout nonsense in her ear etc. rather than approaching ones sitting in some corner.
I also find pretty difficult to approach alone a group of 2-3 girls and being able to separate one from her group.
 
I've got some free advice...
Next time you do karaoke with any girls, choose "Dirty Work" by Austin Mahone.
This will drive the girls crazy because they see Blouson Chiemi every night on TV.

Works like a charm!
 
  • Like
Reactions: AliceInWonderland
I've got some free advice...
Next time you do karaoke with any girls, choose "Dirty Work" by Austin Mahone.
This will drive the girls crazy because they see Blouson Chiemi every night on TV.

Works like a charm!
ok, I will try. : <
 
Hi mate,

I used to live in Kyoto and know it well. Were you in World Club that night? If so, I don't reckon that's a place with great hookup potential - more of a serious club where people go to see international techno DJs & dance. If you hit Osaka, try Sam & Dave's. It's a hole, but it has a certain... reputation. They used to have a branch in Kyoto but it closed a while back.

My top tip for Kyoto is to go and drink by the Kamo River at Sanjo Bridge on Saturday nights. Just down from the bridge there you'll see a big crowd gathering to watch various bands and street performers, people get pretty pissed up (there's a Lawson by the bridge for drinks) and it's busy from 7 to 11, at which time people start heading for trains, or moving on to bars & clubs. It's a mixed crowd of Japanese (a lot of uni students), tourists & expats, and it's a really easy place to mingle and meet people, and definitely a good call if you're out alone. Even if you don't score, you'll make some instant drinking buddies to go hit other places with; a good call is to get chatting to some Japanese guys in a mixed group, chat to the fellas about football etc for a while, and they may well end up indicating which of their female companions are single & looking and giving you a little helping hand. A couple of times I got laid there when the girls came over and hit on me, which was nice, but obviously don't plan on that. Just get a bit tipsy, mingle, have fun, chat to any cute girls, if you're getting a good vibe with one suggest karaoke or a cocktail somewhere (in which case take her to a cosy bar along pontocho alley, just near there) around 11 when it's dying down, and if all else fails go hit whatever place the randoms you've been chatting to are heading to next.
 
Hi mate,

I used to live in Kyoto and know it well. Were you in World Club that night? If so, I don't reckon that's a place with great hookup potential - more of a serious club where people go to see international techno DJs & dance. If you hit Osaka, try Sam & Dave's. It's a hole, but it has a certain... reputation. They used to have a branch in Kyoto but it closed a while back.

My top tip for Kyoto is to go and drink by the Kamo River at Sanjo Bridge on Saturday nights. Just down from the bridge there you'll see a big crowd gathering to watch various bands and street performers, people get pretty pissed up (there's a Lawson by the bridge for drinks) and it's busy from 7 to 11, at which time people start heading for trains, or moving on to bars & clubs. It's a mixed crowd of Japanese (a lot of uni students), tourists & expats, and it's a really easy place to mingle and meet people, and definitely a good call if you're out alone. Even if you don't score, you'll make some instant drinking buddies to go hit other places with; a good call is to get chatting to some Japanese guys in a mixed group, chat to the fellas about football etc for a while, and they may well end up indicating which of their female companions are single & looking and giving you a little helping hand. A couple of times I got laid there when the girls came over and hit on me, which was nice, but obviously don't plan on that. Just get a bit tipsy, mingle, have fun, chat to any cute girls, if you're getting a good vibe with one suggest karaoke or a cocktail somewhere (in which case take her to a cosy bar along pontocho alley, just near there) around 11 when it's dying down, and if all else fails go hit whatever place the randoms you've been chatting to are heading to next.
hey, thanks for the tip! If I'm not going to Osaka I'll give that a try.
I think someone here also mentioned that the area around Sanjo is where most girls looking to hook up with gaijins are? I'm not sure though.
 
"the area around Sanjo is where most girls looking to hook up with gaijins are?"

Sorry man, but I don't think there is such a place. You won't find a specific area in Kyoto where the girls are specifically looking to hook up with a gaijin!

Running south from Sanjo to Shijo there's a street called Kiyamachi and an alley called Pontocho, and most of the nightlife is concentrated there; it therefore follows that there's lots of girls there. Many of them will be open to the idea of hooking up with a foreigner, sure... but don't be thinking there's a magical spot where the girls are out gaijin hunting.

If you're trying to decide between Kyoto & Osaka, just do both! Go to Sanjo bridge at 7, then if you haven't met anyone to take to karaoke etc by 10:30 or so, cross the bridge to Sanjo station and jump on the Keihan line limited express train to Yodoyabashi in Osaka, takes about 45 mins... then 2 subway stops from Yodoyabashi is Shinsaibashi, where you can hit Sam & Dave's
 
  • Like
Reactions: GreyHair
oh yeah, another good call is A Bar, it's an izakaya/pub type joint just off Kiyamachi, gets a mixed clientele and most Japanese who go there speak decent enough English. Fun place with long tables, gets crowded and they just sort if throw people and groups in together so everyone fits, which is good for chatting to randoms; makes it easy to strike up a conversation if you spot a cute girl
 
  • Like
Reactions: GreyHair
I'm planning on checking out those bars too, but as far as night clubs in Osaka go, does anyone have some recommendations?

edit: I assumed Sam & Dave's is more of a bar than an actual night club? Otherwise, my bad.
 
Last edited:
Hi mate,

I used to live in Kyoto and know it well. Were you in World Club that night? If so, I don't reckon that's a place with great hookup potential - more of a serious club where people go to see international techno DJs & dance. If you hit Osaka, try Sam & Dave's. It's a hole, but it has a certain... reputation. They used to have a branch in Kyoto but it closed a while back.

My top tip for Kyoto is to go and drink by the Kamo River at Sanjo Bridge on Saturday nights. Just down from the bridge there you'll see a big crowd gathering to watch various bands and street performers, people get pretty pissed up (there's a Lawson by the bridge for drinks) and it's busy from 7 to 11, at which time people start heading for trains, or moving on to bars & clubs. It's a mixed crowd of Japanese (a lot of uni students), tourists & expats, and it's a really easy place to mingle and meet people, and definitely a good call if you're out alone. Even if you don't score, you'll make some instant drinking buddies to go hit other places with; a good call is to get chatting to some Japanese guys in a mixed group, chat to the fellas about football etc for a while, and they may well end up indicating which of their female companions are single & looking and giving you a little helping hand. A couple of times I got laid there when the girls came over and hit on me, which was nice, but obviously don't plan on that. Just get a bit tipsy, mingle, have fun, chat to any cute girls, if you're getting a good vibe with one suggest karaoke or a cocktail somewhere (in which case take her to a cosy bar along pontocho alley, just near there) around 11 when it's dying down, and if all else fails go hit whatever place the randoms you've been chatting to are heading to next.
so I've been to a few clubs in Osaka last weekend, and to be honest I didn't like Sam & Dave at all; not sure if it got worse since you went there or if it's not my thing. basically on Saturday night at around 11-12 pm there weren't a lot of people, which was surprising, and the club itself is just a single small room with a small dance floor. main issue was that there ware 5 male gaijins for each woman there, or something. a lot of older women too (40+) -- I don't think I'll have much success there if that's the situation.
I did find a Japanese girl who clearly wanted to get laid with a foreigner that night but every time I saw her she was making out with some other guy (I counted 3 different ones) so I didn't even have the chance to speak to her.
also tried Ammona (I think?) and Giraffe. the latter was pretty nice but closes at 1 am for whatever reason. the former had a really big dance floor and you could barely move by how may people were there, probably too much. friendly atmosphere in both of those clubs though as far as I could tell

when I passed through Sanjo and that spot on Kamogawa you mentioned there were way more people than I thought (on Saturday, still) but it was pretty late so I went directly to Osaka. maybe I should have stopped there for a bit : P
 
Haha, sorry dude, perhaps I wasn't clear enough... I wasn't recommending Sam & Dave's as a good place, just as a place which has a reputation for having 'gaijin hunters'! Of course with that reputation comes a large number of 'gaijin hunter'-hunters, so it can be a sausage fest, and it's a shithole to boot... but you asked where to look for gaijin hunters, and that's the obvious place in Osaka.

Perhaps you should stop looking for gaijin hunters in particular, and just look for chicks you like who might also be into you... do give Sanjo a go some time. If I were in Kansai right now, that's where I'dve gone tonight if I didn't have other plans
 
so I've been to a few clubs in Osaka last weekend, and to be honest I didn't like Sam & Dave at all; not sure if it got worse since you went there or if it's not my thing. basically on Saturday night at around 11-12 pm there weren't a lot of people, which was surprising, and the club itself is just a single small room with a small dance floor. main issue was that there ware 5 male gaijins for each woman there, or something. a lot of older women too (40+) -- I don't think I'll have much success there if that's the situation.
I did find a Japanese girl who clearly wanted to get laid with a foreigner that night but every time I saw her she was making out with some other guy (I counted 3 different ones) so I didn't even have the chance to speak to her.
also tried Ammona (I think?) and Giraffe. the latter was pretty nice but closes at 1 am for whatever reason. the former had a really big dance floor and you could barely move by how may people were there, probably too much. friendly atmosphere in both of those clubs though as far as I could tell

when I passed through Sanjo and that spot on Kamogawa you mentioned there were way more people than I thought (on Saturday, still) but it was pretty late so I went directly to Osaka. maybe I should have stopped there for a bit : P
Haha, sorry dude, perhaps I wasn't clear enough... I wasn't recommending Sam & Dave's as a good place, just as a place which has a reputation for having 'gaijin hunters'! Of course with that reputation comes a large number of 'gaijin hunter'-hunters, so it can be a sausage fest, and it's a shithole to boot... but you asked where to look for gaijin hunters, and that's the obvious place in Osaka.

Perhaps you should stop looking for gaijin hunters in particular, and just look for chicks you like who might also be into you... do give Sanjo a go some time. If I were in Kansai right now, that's where I'dve gone tonight if I didn't have other plans
This place sounds exactly like "Gaspanic" in Roppongi before they closed, haha!
I went there once with a group of foreigners and it was full with guys and some older women. I ended up intensely dancing with a sexy Japanese woman around end 30s but the gaijin man in the group didn't want to try to pick her up because she was much older than him.
His loss, she was really sexy, haha.
 
Haha... I went to that Gas Panic once or twice... yeah, Sam & Dave's is a similar sort of place, but not quite as shitty as Gas Panic was. Bigger space, bit less crowded, less sticky walls, less of a fire trap, less feeling you're about to get crushed to death in some sort of crowd collapse! The only thing I ever wanted to do in Gas Panic was get the fuck back outside
 
  • Like
Reactions: AliceInWonderland
Haha, sorry dude, perhaps I wasn't clear enough... I wasn't recommending Sam & Dave's as a good place, just as a place which has a reputation for having 'gaijin hunters'! Of course with that reputation comes a large number of 'gaijin hunter'-hunters, so it can be a sausage fest, and it's a shithole to boot... but you asked where to look for gaijin hunters, and that's the obvious place in Osaka.

Perhaps you should stop looking for gaijin hunters in particular, and just look for chicks you like who might also be into you... do give Sanjo a go some time. If I were in Kansai right now, that's where I'dve gone tonight if I didn't have other plans
my bad too for misunderstanding.

speaking of going to Sanjo, did you ever do that during a Sunday night or any other day besides Friday/Saturday? I'm not sure if it's worth checking out or if it's just gonna be a completely deserted place.
 
I used to walk past most midweek evenings after work, and there was often some sort of gathering but with a much smaller crowd. Friday is pretty busy, but Saturday definitely is best as that's when you get all the live bands, street performers etc doing their thing. Sunday, I'm afraid I have absolutely no idea!
 
  • Like
Reactions: edson