There are several clubs in Tokyo's Roppongi district which are affordable and friendly to the visiting q as well as the long term resident. Here is a list of my personal favorites that if you are planning to visit or have been living here for awhile and haven't been to one of the following that you should definitely check out.

Roppongi Area

This list includes Nishi-Azabu which is about 5-10 minutes walking distance from the main roppongi crossing. It also includes Roppongi hills which is in-between.

Bar-Atmosphere

There are several good locations in Roppongi, first we'll start off with places that feel more like a bar.

Gas Panic

Gas Panic in Roppongi is located on the main street as well as on a side street a few minutes from the primary crossing (this is called Bar 99). You can find a map of their locations here.

Gas Panic is often referred to by gaijin living in Japan as a 'meat factory.' This is a free entry bar/club with a DJ usually blasting the latest hip-hop tracks and many, many Japanese college girls who cannot afford entrance fees tend to go. The problem with this bar is that you must always have a drink in your hand. So if your trying to club on the 'cheap' you'll need to really nurse your Heineken (suggest this as it's a dark bottle and you can hide that your drink is empty if you don't want to buy another).

The club on the main street is always packed while the other bar generally has a little more wiggle room. Expect to be approached by a lot of people as everyone is generally packed in like sardines in half a can. The proper etiquette is to hold your drink up by your head as you maneuver around the floor. If your a single male the club is an easy pick up spot, if your a female you'll want to check your expectations at the door. Most of the Japanese in the club are not very fluent in English and usually have suspect hygiene. Be prepared to push a lot of people off you if you enter the premises personal space means nothing here.

Overall the club serves it's purpose. It's cheap, happenin' and lets you get some dance on while losing yourself in a massive crowd. It's dark and fun and can be a good time if your trying to keep within a budget. I'd recommend everyone go there once, at least to see what the lowest scale alternative is before going somewhere better.

Hub

Hub, The English Pub is a great cheap place to get your pre-game on. It's got a good sports bar atmosphere and has some of the cheapest drinks in Tokyo (try shots for 480 yen!). It's a good place to get some snacks and fill up if your feeling hungry when you get to roppongi. There are many locations so I'll just provide the website for now: http://pub-hub.com/

I generally go to Hub in the early evening to get some drinks and feel the buzz before going to a club. Often times the clubs are very expensive and it will cost you 2-3x what it would cost you to get the exact same drink in Hub. (Try 1200 yen shots in some clubs, no thanks). The food is also good and I definitely recommend the 'KariKari Pasuta' which is basically deep fried pasta noodles which are heavily salted. Very delicious and a good item to munch on while talking to your friends.

Sometimes there are sporting events which will fill the entire bar out, otherwise it's generally relaxed and there is space to move and feel comfortable. It's definately not a pick-up joint and is very friendly to both men and women.

Bar Sheesha*

This is my absolute favorite bar to go too. It's a hooka-bong (water tobacco) bar which you can relax and enjoy some good music in. The place is smaller (on the 7th floor of a building off the main street) and a little cramped if you arrive too late, but it's definitely a hidden gem of Roppongi. The sheesha (as we call it here) is excellent, cheap and always available. The drinks are very cheap if you arrive between 9-11pm which is happy hour (all drinks are 500 yen). Sheesha runs about 1000 yen for a bong and whatever flavors you choose.

Sheesha flavors can be mixed here (I never knew this when I first went) so definitely ask them to mix it up for you. The website for this bar can be found here: http://gourmet.gyao.jp/0004006272/

The atmosphere here is quite relaxing and it's definitely a good place to bring a romantic partner for a night out. It's private and dark and while not secluded you feel like your alone at times. There is even a belly dancer around midnight on most weekend-nights (Friday/Saturday) which is quite interesting. I haven't seen her recently but I think she's still there on Friday nights at the very least.

Be prepared to wait in the elevator and there are no stairs. There is usually a tout downstairs that will help you find it (usually someone screaming "Bar Sheesha!"). Just grab his attention and he'll show you the elevator. The entrance is located between TGI Fridays and Roppongi Crossing on the far side of the street from the train station's main entrance.

Club Atmosphere

Here we get to the more traditional definition of a 'club' and some of the better counterparts in the Roppongi area.

Muse

This club is now carding gaijin so be prepared to bring some form of identification. You may also be required to announce some Japanese phrases to prove your not a bum trying to come in and cause problems (they don't want to be shut down). It's not a big hassle but be prepared. Also wear proper shoes, pants and a shirt. Absolutely no flip-flops or shorts are allowed (My friend was rejected for the flip flops even though he had jeans on).

The club itself is located in Nishi-Azabu (which is a little bit away from Roppongi Crossing). The website can help you find it: http://www.muse-web.com/

You'll be surprised at how big this small entranced club is. It spans 2 floors underground and has 2 different types of music. It has a huge island bar in the first entrance with a poker table and pool. There are some booths to get private in this area and then you have the option to go downstairs to the more techno/rave feeling part of the club.

Downstairs there is also ping pong and darts in a quieter part of the club as well as the trance floor. The trance floor is especially nice as there is a second bar which serves stronger drinks than the upstairs bar (who is usually in a hurry to serve as it's very crowded). There are also private booths and lots of places to sit down.

Upstairs, besides the primary island bar (which is quite large usually there are 4 bartenders it's so big) there is the main dance floor. This houses the more hip hop, house, pop music and is always packed. This area is like Gas Panic (see above) but does not feel as cheap. There are lots of chairs and sitting places as well as a 3rd smaller bar off to the side. The dance floor has some tables but if it's packed don't expect to use them (or at least to retrieve your drink).

The club is very good for finding a 'romantic' partner for the evening and is often associated with the catch phrase "You can't lose at muse." Even I met my fiance there and it is definitely a good place to go if your feeling lonely and want to make friends of all varieties.

Feria

This club is very popular and a lot of my friends frequent it. It's a bit upscale, a bit expensive to get in and usually filled with more gaijin than the other clubs. Unlike some clubs, this one charges women entrance as well as men (ha!) which deters the poorer fellows from going. It's definitely up-scale and the few times that I've been there there was always a lot of hip-hop gangster looking men and Russian looking models.

There are several floors, accessible by an elevator inside the club. It's not far off the main crossing (website here: http://lounge-feria.jp/). Though you need to fight through quite a few crowds to get there. It's off a side street and at first you aren't sure you've arrived it's so quiet at the entrance usually.

This club is a nice break from the normal meat factories but it does have a Hip Hop floor on the upper level. It's a good place to go but I haven't been enough times to write more about it as the cover always makes me shy away (I hate paying entrance fees).

Shibuya Area

This is about most of the clubs I've been too in the Shibuya Area. This area is quite popular with most Japanese club-goers and there are fewer English speakers and gaijin in the area (mostly resident/long term gaijin go there)

Bar-Atmosphere

A lot of the chain bars that are in Roppongi (read HUB and Gas Panic) are in Shibuya, but there are a few unique clusters of bar-like clubs to attend.

Pure

This is a downstairs basement 'club' that is more of an open bar. The place gives you a plastic cup for 3,000 yen and let you drink ALL night long as much as you want. The dance floor is crap and there is a secluded 'womens' only section that men aren't allowed to go too. When I went here with my buddy we were shocked to see most women run to that section and never come out. Needless to say it was mostly dudes on the dance floor staring longingly at the women's section (which had it's won dance floor...come on!)

This was a nice place to warm up the night if you can afford the cover fee, but it's very hip hop oriented and not friendly for finding some company. Be prepared to bring your own entertainment in a crowd or lots of friends. If your ready to try it out you can find directions here: http://www.clubpure.com/

Club Atmosphere

Typical clubs in Shibuya are not typical clubs anywhere else...

Club Atom

This club is on what we like to call 'Love Hotel' Hill. It's a cross between a Gyaru-girl hovel and a cool rave. The club has several floors but no gaijin were visible anywhere in the club. Downstairs is a rave like 'cave' with smoke and flashing lights. A lot of gyaru-girls were there as well as gyaur-esque guys who do not look friendly towards foreigners invading their privacy.

The club itself is well kept and had a middle floor that was more like a typical trance floor. It was quite expansive and gave lots of room to dance. The upper floor was dedicated to hip hop and had a bar which served excellent drinks. This floor was a bit smaller though and difficult to maneuver on.

Club Atom is a good club to go too if your feeling adventurous and want to see what Japanese clubbing is really about (lumbering like a zombie in a smoke filled room trying to avoid touching anything around you...). Directions here: http://www.clubatom.com/index.php

Womb

The worlds 3rd best Trance Club (at one point). It's HUGE and absolutely fantastic to go too if your into trance music. The club is very fun to go too and the drinks aren't too expensive. The entrance fee is very high and you need to be quiet entering/leaving the club.

One time when I went with a group of University Friends there was a police raid. We were locked on the second floor while the police inspected the bottom floor of the club. It was a bit scary and hasn't happened since but it's something to be aware of.

The trance here is usually famous and shows are held every weekend. It's one of the best trance locations to go too in Shibuya and something you'll want to spend all night at as the main performers don't come on till 1-2pm.

You can find directions here: http://www.womb.co.jp/