Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2009

Nozomu Seki, 27 Office worker

It really depends on what kind of girls you would like to meet. Each neighborhood of Tokyo has its own demographics—like Yotsuya, where lots of smart, successful women hang out. In general, Shinjuku is a good place to go; obviously not Kabukicho, but there are a lot of people there and many things to do, like watching a movie at Wald9. I would recommend for you to simply start at the shopping arcade Alta, where you will surely meet fashionable girls.

Yasuko Oogushi, 32 Designer

For meeting people, I recommend Aoyama nightclub Le Baron (www.lebaron.jp). It is always featured in magazines, and my friend who works there tells me it’s always a good time. Otherwise, taking up a hobby is a great way to meet singles. For example, the NHK Culture Center (www.nhk-cul.co.jp) has many interesting courses. Taking dancing lessons is a good way to meet a lot of girls.

Osamu Kato, 35 IT Engineer

Clubs are always a good place to meet singles, and there are a lot of good ones in Tokyo, like Club Asia (www.clubasia.co.jp). But if you’re not into clubs, I would recommend a pub in Kichijoji that I really like called Rogue (1-11-6 Kichijoji-Minami-cho, Musashino-shi; www.beerpub-rogue.com). Unlike at normal bars, you can really talk to strangers here, where the atmosphere is good to relax, drink and meet interesting people.

Hiroyasu Sato, 25 Businessman

I would definitely recommend Tokyo Tower as a place to go meet people. Besides the fact that the view from the top is amazing, it is quite the symbol… There’s nothing like a stroll through the wax museum, and at night the view is pretty romantic. Best of all, meeting the girl of your dreams at such a symbolic place would be fantastic.

Misaki Oguma, 18 Student

Sakuragicho is a really nice place to go for a date or to meet people. It is beautiful, especially at night, and there are a lot of things to do. You can go to the amusement park or Yokohama World Porters shopping center (www.yim.co.jp) depending on your mood. You’ll surely find someone who catches your eye.

Sou Tamura, 29 Hair Stylist

If I wanted to meet singles, I would use the SNS service Mixi (www.mixi.jp). The site is a good way to meet a lot of people from different walks of life. Otherwise, going to a club is always a good idea. For example, Camelot in Shibuya (www.clubcamelot.jp) is spacious and attracts lots of people. I went to an event for singles there once, and it was a lot fun.

Yuka Mori, 21 Accountant

For a place to meet someone, I would recommend Akasaka. A lot of people from all over the world and Japan go there. It has an interesting atmosphere and a quaint traditional Japanese feel that you don’t get from other places in Tokyo. It is a huge tourist spot, and meeting your match while being immersed in Japanese culture would be fantastic!

Kimi Griffith, 19 Student

Just walk down the street in Roppongi! Or hit the bars—I go to Gas Panic (www.gaspanic.co.jp) quite a lot and it’s always a good place to check. The fact that there are a lot of people there from different backgrounds makes it just a fun place to go.