Hyoketsu Japan After Dark_Sydney How To Experience Japan After Dark In Sydney

Japan After Dark

Japan is undeniably a progressive melting pot of creativity and bustling culture—and Japan after dark is always vibing. To help you level up your night out in your city—Tokyo-style—we’ve teamed up with Kirin Hyoketsu—your new go-to bevvie made with vodka, soda, and frozen natural lemon. Whether you’re on the hunt for the best ramen, hidden Japanese omakases or coolest karaoke bar to belt out a tune, we have you covered.

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Pull Up A Stool At One Of Sydney’s Outstanding Omakase Dining Experiences

Following a raft of new omakase openings in Sydney, this once-underground style of decadent Japanese dining has become hugely popular—evidenced by month-long waitlists and the sheer volume of restaurants adding omakase to their menus—but if you can’t jump on a plane to Tokyo, these vibing intimate restaurants will transport you to the streets of Japan after dark. Expect seasonal produce and impeccable levels of service.

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Japan After Dark

In Your City

Click on your city below and explore it through a Japanese lens— and with a Kirin Hyoketsu in hand.

BRISBANE

- SAMMY, SYDNEY EDITOR

"On Sydney's ever-growing list of omakase experiences, Besuto is extra special. Hidden above a city laneway, enter via a neon red foyer and a Japanese zen garden. Expect an intimate 12-seater with 20 courses."

- GEORGIA, SYDNEY DEPUTY EDITOR

"Down to its hand-drawn menus and glowing lantern, Nomidokoro Indigo feels like a transplant direct from Japan. The staff can guide you and the snacks always hit the spot."

Sydney’s Japanese food scene is absolutely thriving. A neat collection of omakase-style chef's table experiences have opened in Sydney recently, adding to the city's already impressive lineup of Japanese fine dining and authentic-style restaurants. Whether you’re salivating over sashimi or needing nigiri, Sydney’s inner-city suburbs are peppered with new world and fusion-style Japanese restaurants to satiate your taste buds. From Surry Hills to Potts Point and down the pebbled alleyways of The Rocks, we’ve curated the best Japanese restaurants to hit up after dark.

Dig Into Our Curated List Of Sydney’s Best Japanese Restaurants

- ERIC, DIGITAL DESIGNER

"Easily becoming an institution in its own right, Cho Cho San does no wrong from the fresh sashimi platter all the way down to the grilled-to-perfection Striploin. A highlight would be the yuzu martini(s) which pair well with every course served."

Sydney loves her sushi. From dainty and deceptively simple nigiri to loaded and creative temaki, sushi is best when it's plentiful. It’s perfect for a quick after-dark snack or a glorious, stuff-your-face-style feast—and it’s equally as good when it’s fancy as it is when it’s cheap as chips. Chopsticks at the ready, we’ve curated the freshest list for you to conquer after dark.

Roll On At Sydney’s Best Sushi Joints

in Sydney

Beats & Streets

A sleek Japanese izakaya, which, just casually, packs 22 karaoke rooms. While you can most definitely sit down to a quiet dinner and hit the karaoke rooms after, each room actually sports menu screens so you can belt out 90s pop ballads and sink the likes of sashimi, deep-fried chicken, grilled oysters and tempura hand rolls, all at the same time. The best bit? Karaoke goes for $7 per person, per hour—every single day.

Belt Out A Karaoke Ballad At Lantern By Wagaya

- ELISE, HEAD OF STUDIO

"Goros is a surefire way to keep the vibes going into the wee hours—the karaoke rooms, izakaya-style bar, arcade games and dancefloor keeps the energy at an all-time high. It brings back fond memories of winding through the back alleyways of Shinjunku’s Golden Gai."

Whether you’re a karaoke fiend or not, Goros is a go-to. Not only is this street-style bar the stomping ground for delicious Japanese fare and arcade games but this place has two epic karaoke rooms which obviously means double the opportunity to belt out Tiny Dancer.

Rally The Crew For A Night Of Karaoke And Arcade Games At Goros

Formed in Kyoto University’s music club, Otoboke Beaver is a high-energy, NME-acclaimed Japanese girl gang with a powerful stage presence—even Dave Grohl is a fan. Catch them in all their glory on their debut Australia and New Zealand tour, but be sure to snap tickets to their upcoming gig at SXSW before it sells out.

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Catch Japanese Punk-Rock-Garage Band Otoboke Beaver At Sydney’s SXSW This October

in Brisbane

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- RANYHYN, BRISBANE EDITOR

"Yoko ticks all the boxes no matter what kind of vibe you’re after, whether it’s yuzu slushie cocktails and river views on a sunny afternoon or izakaya plates and late-night vinyl DJs for a hot date.”

Omakase, which translates to "I'll leave it up to you," is the Japanese culinary experience of handing over the reins to your chef for an all-hands-in degustation. Think of it as a gastronomic game of "trust fall,” really–but instead of questionable corporate team building, you’re rewarded by the best-of-the-best in seasonal produce and seafood. Omakase is a fun, all-encompassing way to roll with the punches and savour the art of Japanese dining–and it’s coming up fast in the Brisbane foodie scene. Here’s where to see how it’s done.

Pull Up A Stool At One Of Brisbane’s Outstanding Omakase Dining Experiences

- MADDY, COMMERCIAL PROJECT EXECUTIVE

"Honto is the crown jewel of The Valley. Walk through its doors and transport yourself to a space that’s unlike anything else in town. The menu pays homage to Japan with a local twist and the decor is ultra-moody— the perfect date night spot."

Whether hot or cold, clean or dirty, hearty or sweet, Japanese is unique in its ability to fit every occasion with the all-encompassing power to keep things fresh, vibrant, and interesting while respecting tradition. We thought it was time to brush up on Brisbane’s best Japanese restaurants. If you're after a hefty bowl of ramen, you'll find the city's best here, but for all-out Japanese feasts, we’ve curated the best Japanese restaurants to hit up after dark.

Dig Into Our Curated List Of Brisbane’s Best Japanese Restaurants

If you’re looking to liven up your after dark adventures, having your food thrown at you is one way to do it. Yes, it happens at Brisbane's teppanyaki restaurants—and it’s a total vibe. Think juicy, tender, saucy protein thrown into your bowl (or mouth, if you please). With a whole lot of this Japanese-style nosh around town, we’ve curated the hottest on the Brisbane grill.

Catch Your Dinner At Brisbane’s Best Teppanyaki Joints

in Brisbane

Beats & Streets

Catch Japanese Punk-Rock-Garage Band Otoboke Beaver At The Princess Theatre

Located in the centre of Fortitude Valley is Brisbane's beloved Japanese restaurant, Kenjin. Step inside and be transported to Japan, with cherry blossom trees overhead, a koi wall and plenty of neon lights. The best part? Kenjin also has its own nightclub just through a set of double doors dubbed After Dark, which is open from 9.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

Hit The Late-Night Dance Floor At After Dark

SYDNEY

BRISBANE

SYDNEY

SOPHIE, SENIOR STRATEGIST

"WAGAYA on Brunswick Street is an absolute institution. I have been going there with my friends since I was 19! It’s perfect for big groups and I love how easy it is for everyone to order. The food is always so delicious, and it’s BYO—how can you go wrong?!”

Experience Japan after dark in your city

Experience Japan After Dark In Your City

Japan After Dark

in Sydney

Eats

Image Credit: Instagram