This is an updated version of my “Tokyo salsa guide” post.
Also see the Tokyo salsa info section for monthly events listings.
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It’s my intention to add a page on my website containing a guide to salsa venues in Tokyo, but at the moment it’s way down the priority list at the moment since almost the entire website needs rebranding and reworking.
So until it’s ready, here’s a quick list of salsa venues I’ve been to – hope this helps a little in the meantime.
Updated: 28 July 2009
Salsa Caribe (a.k.a. Yuno’s second home in Tokyo LOL):
2F Reine Roppongi Bldg. 5-3-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 3746-0244
URL: http://salsacaribe.jp/en/index.html
It’s a good place for visiting salseros to drop in since it’s pretty much guaranteed there will be salsa dancers on any day of the week. Classes are held every evening from around 7pm till 9pm, and the style of dancing that follows afterwards is determined by these classes to an extent. At present, the rota looks like this:
Monday: On2 lessons by Nao&Masa, who have trained with Jhon & Liz of Salsamania, San Francisco.
Quiet night predominantly on2 post-lesson dancing, with decidedly mediocre music (resident DJ gets a day off on Mondays). That may not sound great, but it can be surprisingly good, with plenty of room to dance.
Tuesday: On1 lessons by Hiro & Taku, rising stars of Tokyo salsa.
Very busy, mostly on1. Later in the evening, teachers from other classes (Ryoko, Mitsue, Jonathan & Hana…) join Hiro & Taku for their weekly buddy session, so if you want to catch the creme of Tokyo salsa during the week in one visit, this is a good spot to aim at.
Wednesday: NEW On2 lessons by Jonathan & Hana, who are members of Adolfo Indacochea’s Latin Soul Dancers. Early days yet, but I expect this night to turn mostly on2.
Thursday: On1 lessons by Tomoko. Mostly on1 after-class dancing.
Friday: On2 lessons by Wakana, who studied with Eddie Torres the mambo king. After the class weekend dancers move in until the place is packed full. If you really want to dance, wait till after midnight, when most of these start leaving to catch their trains home. Open till 5am.
Saturday: On1 lessons by Miu. Very busy night with mainly on1 crowd, except when Salho (see below) is on. The midnight exodos is often quickly replaced by hardcore all-nighters moving in from other salsa events that finish around midnight, so it often stays hot and heaving late into the night and even until the 5am kick-out time – with a constantly increasing ratio of on2 dancers.
Sunday: On1 lessons by Mitsue (a.k.a. Mitsuo from Los Hombres Brillantes, the bad boy persona of this talented lady). Another popular night, busy until the last train exodos.
Studio Pepe2:
B1F Business Apartments, 7-17-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-5474-8019
URL: http://www.studio-pepe.com/ (Japanese only)
Studio Pepe’s second studio is designed to be used both as a dance studio and party space. It has a nice club-like feel usually lacking in dance studios, and is venue for some of the best mambo events in Tokyo on weekends, including Mucho Mucho Mambo, Samurai-In and Mambongo (check event schedule with the venue – or me). You can also dance every Thursday at the “Club Pepito” on2 social after Macomo’s mambo lessons.
Copacabana:
3F Taimei Building, 3-11-6 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-5414-3627
URL: http://www.salsa-copacabana.com/
This tiny club benefits from lessons from two different teachers as its sister (non-salsa) club Sheesha also hosts salsa lessons. Students (and teachers) from Sheesha lessons move downstairs to Copacabana for social dancing. Having no entry charge during the week is another attraction, together with cheap beer promos. Tuesday is the best night, I’m told.
Salsa Sudada:
3F Fusion Bldg. 7-13-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-5474-8806
URL: http://www.salsasudada.org/
If Cuban/Casino is your style, try this place instead of Caribe. Cuban style is taught here, so you are much more likely to see Cuban style dancers. Good music, good food, good atmosphere, but not much room for dancing when busy, and can get rather sleezy.
El Cafe Latino:
1F Win Roppongi, 3-15-24 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3402-8989
URL: http://www.elcafelatino.com/
Another option for a spot of Cuban/Casino dancing and “drink and be merry” sort of fun. Having two floors helps.
Salsa Hotline Night (Salho Night):
@ Aoyama Max Climax, 5-51-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Usually last Saturday of month
Contact SHJ for details – URL: http://www.salsa.co.jp/ (Japanese only)/tel: 03-5411-4818
Monthly event organised by Japan’s biggest salsa promotors outfit and the host of the Japan Salsa Congress, Salsa Hotline Japan headed by the iminitable George Watabe. This is probably the biggest salsa night held in Japan (apart from Japan Salsa Congress, of course) and regularly attracts hundreds of dancers both on1 and on2. It might be worth noting however, that:
- It finishes early at 11.30pm.
- The performance showcase showcases a LOT of performances, and also hosts competitions in April-October, so you end up sitting and watching for up to an hour.
- It can get too busy to dance, especially during the competition season (with the supporters of competitors showing up to cheer on).
