Look, if you're reading this hoping I'll tell you 1 OAK is overpriced nonsense — I get it. Half the clubs in Roppongi charge you stupid money for a mediocre experience. But 1 OAK isn't one of them. It dropped a d&b audiotechnik sound system into the space, commissioned a massive Roy Nachum painting above the DJ booth, and built the kind of bottle-service operation that actually delivers what you're paying for. Thirty tables, multiple VIP zones, and a door policy strict enough to keep the vibe right. Is it for everyone? Absolutely not. But if you're going to do bottle service in Tokyo, this is where you do it.
Here's something most people don't realize: with the original New York location evicted for unpaid rent, the LA spot closed, and Las Vegas gone with The Mirage, 1 OAK Tokyo is now one of only two remaining locations worldwide — alongside Dubai. What started as a Manhattan export has become a Tokyo institution. The club recently relocated from its original Roppongi address to neighboring Azabu-Juban — same scene, same crowd, just a few blocks south of where it used to be.
Who Actually Goes to 1 OAK
This is the part most reviews get wrong. They'll tell you it's "celebrities and rich people" and leave it at that. The reality is more interesting.
Yes, there's a moneyed crowd — finance guys, visiting executives, tourists celebrating. But the backbone of 1 OAK's regular crowd is Japanese hip-hop heads who don't have many other options. If you love hip-hop culture and want a proper upscale hip-hop club experience in Tokyo, there's 1 OAK and then there's a big gap. The music programming, the energy, the crowd that actually knows the tracks — it fills a niche that most Tokyo clubs ignore in favor of EDM or techno.
The other thing nobody mentions: runway models. Tokyo Fashion Week, brand events, agency parties — a surprising amount of the fashion industry's after-hours scene ends up at 1 OAK. On any given Friday or Saturday, you're sharing the dance floor with people who were on a runway twelve hours ago. The club doesn't advertise this — it just happens because the vibe and the door policy attract that crowd naturally.
And then there's the international factor. 1 OAK is one of the most foreigner-friendly clubs in Tokyo, with bilingual staff and a genuinely diverse crowd. You won't get turned away for not being Japanese, and you won't feel like the odd one out.
The Real Price Breakdown
Let's talk money honestly, because most guides either lowball the costs or make it sound like you need a trust fund to walk in.
General admission (walk-in):
- Men: ¥3,000–¥5,000 depending on the night
- Women: typically ¥2,500–¥3,000
- Special event nights can run higher
Guest list (more on this below):
- Reduced or free entry — yes, really
Drinks at the bar:
- Standard cocktails from ¥1,000
- Mojitos and premium cocktails: ¥1,500–¥1,800
- Beer: ¥800–¥1,000
VIP tables — here's where it gets real:
- Thursday/Sunday: ¥60,000 minimum (one bottle). This is the move if you want the VIP experience without going broke.
- Friday/Saturday: ¥150,000–¥1,000,000 per table depending on position and the night
- Average weekend table: around ¥280,000
The hidden cost nobody warns you about: There's a 30% tax and service charge added to every VIP bill. So that ¥150,000 table? It's actually ¥195,000 when you settle up. Factor this in before you book.
The upside: there's no separate table charge and no time limit. You pay the minimum spend on alcohol and you're set for the night.
VIP Zones: Know What You're Booking
1 OAK runs 30 tables across three distinct zones. Knowing the difference saves you from overpaying for the wrong spot — or underpaying and feeling like you're in the nosebleeds.
Main VIP (2–10 guests per table) Prime tables near the DJ booth and dance floor. Best energy, best visibility, best for groups who want to be seen. This is what most people picture when they think "VIP at 1 OAK."
DJ Zone (2–8 guests) Tables closest to the DJ. If your group wants to be in the absolute center of the action with the music hitting hardest, this is it. Smaller capacity, more intimate.
Premium Stage (4–12 guests) Elevated area with the best views of the entire club. Premium pricing reflects the premium position. This is where you go for larger groups or when you want to survey the scene from above.
On weekends, 26 of the 30 tables are individually priced. Thursdays and Sundays, everything drops to the ¥60,000 minimum — genuinely one of the best VIP deals in the Roppongi/Azabu-Juban area.
Guest List: The Smart Way In
Here's the insider move that saves you real money: get on the guest list. Most tourists don't even know this exists.
The guest list gets you reduced or free entry on most nights. You can request it through the club's official channels or booking platforms. Give them your name, the date, and your group size. It's not guaranteed, but it works more often than not — especially on weeknights.
A few tips:
- Gender ratio matters. Mixed groups and groups of women get priority. A group of six guys with no women will have a harder time.
- Arrive before midnight. Guest list perks often have a cutoff time.
- Dress the part. Guest list doesn't exempt you from the door policy (more on that next).
Dress Code: They're Not Kidding
The 1 OAK dress code is strict and they enforce it without apology. This isn't "smart casual" in the Japanese sense where clean sneakers pass. This is closer to Manhattan velvet-rope territory.
For men:
- Collared shirts or designer-brand tops
- Tailored pants or premium jeans (no distressed denim)
- Leather dress shoes or high-end designer sneakers only
- No shorts, sandals, athletic wear, jerseys, or hats
- Watches and accessories actually factor into the decision
For women:
- Cocktail dresses, designer pieces, or elevated separates
- Heels are essentially standard
- Statement jewelry and designer bags expected
- This isn't Shibuya club wear — think upscale
The door staff will turn people away. I've seen well-dressed tourists get stopped for the wrong brand of shoes. It feels harsh, but it's what keeps the atmosphere at the level that justifies the prices. When in doubt, overdress.
Music and the Sound
The d&b audiotechnik system at 1 OAK is legitimately impressive. Clean, punchy, zero muddy distortion — the kind of sound where you feel every bass hit without your ears ringing the next morning.
Music programming leans into:
- Hip-hop and R&B — the core identity. Commercial hits, trap, and deeper cuts
- Open format — the resident DJs know when to pivot to house, top 40 remixes, or throwbacks
- Live performances — TYGA, A$AP Rocky, Desiigner have all performed. The Chainsmokers, Skrillex, and Alesso have done guest DJ sets
The DJs here read the room well. They know their audience — people who want recognizable tracks mixed with enough underground credibility to keep it interesting. Don't expect an experimental four-hour techno journey. That's what WARP is for. 1 OAK is about energy, and it delivers.
Celebrity Spotting (It's Real)
The celebrity factor at 1 OAK isn't just marketing. The brand's connections — even with the original New York location gone — still pull A-list performers and surprise appearances. Major hip-hop artists, Japanese entertainers, international socialites — the club's Instagram reads like a who's who.
Insider tips:
- Celebrities usually arrive after 1 AM
- Thursday through Saturday are the best nights, especially when major artists are in Tokyo for concerts
- Follow the club's social media — they drop hints about special guests
- The private booths are where the real action happens, away from the main floor
Practical Details
Hours: Thursday–Sunday. Doors open at 10 PM (Fridays and Saturdays) or 11 PM (Thursdays and Sundays). Last entry at 3 AM. Closes at 5 AM.
Age: 20+ (Japan's legal drinking age). Bring valid ID — they check.
Location: Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku — a short walk from Azabu-Juban Station (Oedo / Namboku Lines) or about 10 minutes from Roppongi Station on the Hibiya Line. Right in the heart of the international nightlife district.
Payment: Cash and credit cards accepted. Cashless-friendly.
No smoking inside.
Reservations: Book VIP tables at least a week out through official channels. Weekend reservations during peak season or holidays (Golden Week, Halloween, NYE, Christmas) need even more advance planning — tables sell out fast.
The Verdict: Is 1 OAK Tokyo Worth It?
For most people hitting up Tokyo nightlife, 1 OAK is a special-occasion club, not a weekly spot. And that's fine — that's by design.
Go if:
- You're celebrating something and want it to feel like an event
- You love hip-hop culture and want Tokyo's best upscale hip-hop club
- Celebrity-adjacent nightlife genuinely excites you
- You want the VIP bottle-service experience done right
- You're visiting from abroad and want a foreigner-friendly club with real energy
Skip if:
- You're looking for underground music or experimental sets
- Budget is your primary concern (try our budget clubs guide instead)
- Pretentious door policies ruin your night
- You want to meet regular Tokyo locals at a neighborhood bar
The smart play: Go on a Thursday or Sunday, book the ¥60,000 minimum table, bring a group to split it, and you'll get the 1 OAK experience at a fraction of the weekend price. That's the insider move that most visitors miss.
1 OAK Tokyo delivers exactly what it promises — and in a city where incredible nightlife costs a fraction of what you'd pay in New York or London, it earns its premium by being genuinely good at what it does. Not just expensive. Good.
Planning Your Night at 1 OAK
Check upcoming events and set expectations before you go:
- Tonight's Events in Roppongi — see what else is happening nearby
- Browse All Tokyo Events — full calendar with genre and area filters
- See Roppongi Venues — compare 1 OAK with other options in the area
