The best Christmas party and bonenkai venues in Tokyo for corporate holiday parties are Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu for a big Japanese feast, TY Harbor for a waterside brewery dinner, Two Rooms Grill|Bar for terrace views in Aoyama, the Andaz Tokyo's rooftop for skyline drinks, and Karaoke Kan and Round1 for a fun night out.
A dramatic Edo-style restaurant for big group feasts.
Gonpachi's wooden, lantern-lit hall serves soba, yakitori and robata grill dishes, with private rooms and party courses for groups.
It's famous as the inspiration for a fight scene in Kill Bill.
Good to know: Ask about party courses and private-room minimums.
1-13-11 Nishi-Azabu, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0031
A waterside brewery restaurant with its own craft beer.
TY Harbor brews beer on site and serves American grill food by the canal, with private hire options for company parties.
The terrace and canal lights are lovely at night.
Good to know: Book a private area for groups over 20.
2-1-3 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 140-0002
A grill and bar with a big terrace over Aoyama.
Two Rooms has a lively bar, a grill restaurant and a terrace with city views, and hosts private events and buyouts.
A favorite for international teams.
Good to know: The terrace is heated in winter.
5F AO Building, 3-11-7 Kita-Aoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0061
Skyline drinks 52 floors up.
The Andaz Tokyo's rooftop bar and event spaces at the top of Toranomon Hills offer sweeping city views for smaller corporate parties.
Smart and central.
Good to know: Ask the hotel about private-dining and event packages.
1-23-4 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0001
Private karaoke rooms for an after-party.
Karaoke Kan has branches across Tokyo with private rooms of every size, food and drink plans, and party rooms for big groups.
Karaoke is the classic second stop of a bonenkai.
Good to know: Book a party room in advance for December weekends.
30-8 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0042
Bowling, karaoke, arcade games and sports in one building.
Round1's multi-floor entertainment centers have bowling lanes, karaoke, arcade games and sports, with group packages.
Good for active team parties.
Good to know: Pick a Spo-Cha all-you-can-play plan for groups.
1-14-14 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0002
A bonenkai, or 'forget-the-year party', is the Japanese year-end office party held in December. It's the closest thing to a corporate Christmas party, usually a set-menu dinner with all-you-can-drink.
By October for Friday nights in December. Restaurants offer set-price party courses (often with nomihodai, all-you-can-drink) for groups.
As a rough guide, izakaya party courses with all-you-can-drink cost about ¥5,000 to ¥8,000 a head; hotel and upscale venues cost more.
Karaoke in a private room, bowling at Round1, or a brewery dinner at TY Harbor keep groups mixing better than a long seated dinner.