Club Circus

The moment you pull open the large sound proof door that leads to Osaka‘s  Circus nightclub, you will know if this is the type of venue you want to frequent or not: The sound that greets you is utterly different to all the other clubs in the area.

This is the sort of club where the patrons are used to old school legends scratching records, knowing that the listeners will understand the technical aspects of every scratch. It’s where three-hour-long experimental hiphop sets take place; and where European bands with unpronounceable names rearrange sonic canvases into twisted experimental art.

In short, it is a club for people who are really into the art of clubbing. Once you have adapted to the unique sounds coming from the speaker, you might want to head to the dance floor.

Photo by: Circus Night Club Inside the circus.

The space is small and intimate, meaning that you are never are never far from another reveler losing it to the B-side of some obscure song dug up from the 90s. You don’t even need to stop the good vibes to get a drink, as the bar itself is attached to the dance floor. While you may not be able to hear a word anyone says, you at least don’t need to miss a single sound to grab something to liberate your movement.

While the clubbing scene in Osaka has recently been struggling because of stricter laws and less people going out, one of the unexpected advantages has been that clubs like Circus have started catering to the people who view their clubbing as a kind of art even if that art is often more Dali than da Vinci.

From the intimate dance space to the futuristic-looking VIP area, Circus is the sort of club where you’d expect to find the sounds of the now… and the sounds that your future grandkids will consider cutting edge.

Hit up even more venues and nightlife in Japan.