Where to watch the 2022 World Cup in Tokyo

This Brazilian bar in Kichijoji may well be one of the most colourful places to watch the World Cup. The walls, and even the ceiling, are covered with Brazilian football team flags and bright posters from the South American nation.

Fans of the Japan national team will also find Alvorada a welcoming place during the World Cup, with the games against Germany on November 23 (10pm kick-off) and Costa Rica on November 27 (7pm kick-off) being screened. It’ll cost ¥3,800 to watch the games, which includes an all-you-can drink deal from 30 minutes before kick-off until 30 minutes after the game. Bar snacks are also included in the package.

Some other World Cup games will also be shown, but for these you’ll just have to pay the standard table charge of ¥350. You can check the schedule here.

Venture into this basement bar on Aoyama-dori and you’ll find a huge 80-inch screen showing live football. You’ll also find lots of Guinness, but not just on the drinks menu. The Irish brew is also used in many of the bar’s food offerings, such as fish and chips and beef curry.

The bar is showing most of the World Cup games that kick-off at 7pm and 10pm – you can check the schedule on the website. You don’t have to pay extra to watch the matches here, just the usual table charge of ¥500, but reservations are encouraged.

Football shirts on the wall is always a sure sign that you’re in the right place for live football. And you’ll see plenty of footy memorabilia displayed around Dining Bar Estadio, which isn’t surprising considering it's run by the company behind Soccer Shop Kamo, a series of stores all over Japan selling football shirts and merchandise.

Live football is a main staple of this Shibuya bar, and there are a couple of packages available for the World Cup. For Japan’s games against Germany (Nov 23, 10pm) and Costa Rica (Nov 27, 7pm), the ¥4,500 deal gets you two drinks and a plate of bar food with four items. If you don't mind the early hour, you can watch the 4am kick-off against Spain on December 2 for ¥3,000 with two drinks and a snack.

Packages for games not involving Japan cost ¥1,000 with one drink. You can check the full schedule on the bar’s Instagram account and make reservations through the website.

Diehard football fans should definitely have Fiori on their list because this sports bar in Shinjuku is showing every World Cup game. Yes, that means the 4am kick-offs, too. But don’t worry if you’re a bit blurry eyed from a few too many pre-dawn matches; you’ll have no problem seeing the action on any of the bar’s four big screens.

Screenings for the first two Japan group stage games are already sold out, but tickets are still available for the 4am kick-off against Spain on December 2. It costs ¥3,500 (with three drinks) to watch the Samurai Blue matches. Tickets can be purchased from Fiori’s website.

As for the other World Cup games, it costs ¥2,500 (with two drinks) for 7pm and 10pm kick-offs, and ¥2,000 (with two drinks) for 1am and 4am matches.

As you can probably guess from a bar that has the word ‘foot’ in its name, Footnik is serious about football. So you can be confident of a good atmosphere for the World Cup, with almost every game being screened live.

A ticket is required to watch the Japan games, with two options available. If you’re happy standing, there’s a ¥6,000 package with unlimited drinks for the duration of the match. To secure a seat, it will cost ¥12,000, which also includes unlimited drinks during the match, plus a set meal (appetiser and main).

For games not involving Japan, there’s no additional charge if you’re fine standing. You only have to pay extra if you want a seat, which costs ¥4,000 and includes two drinks.

You can buy your tickets from the Footnik website. Both Footnik venues in Ebisu and Osaki will be offering the same deal for the Japan games, but the screening of other matches may vary depending on the location.

Always a safe bet for a pint, Hub is a familiar sight on Japan’s bar scene. This chain does a good job of recreating the British pub experience with its beers and dishes like fish and chips.

It’s also a reliable option for live football. During the World Cup, each Hub location will be showing different games, so check the website for the schedule. But Japan games are going to be broadcast in most venues. There’s no cover charge or ticket required to watch the World Cup at Hub.

Hub isn’t just confined to Tokyo, either. There are also pubs in Tohoku, Nagoya, Kansai and Kyushu. You can see the full list of venues on the website.

This sports bar-izakaya, just a few minutes’ walk from Koenji Station, has long been the go-to venue for fans of sports teams from Fukuoka, the hometown of Kiten’s owner. But during the World Cup, the focus will be on the Japan national team.

Kiten is showing World Cup games on a giant 100-inch screen; tickets to see Japan in action cost ¥3,000, including one drink. Tickets are sold out for Japan’s first two group games, but you can still watch the 4am kick-off against Spain. Reservations are necessary and can be made here.

For World Cup games not involving Japan, the usual table charge of ¥300 (¥600 on Saturdays and holidays) applies. Reservations are also encouraged, and you can check the schedule on the bar’s website.

Los Cabos is a popular destination for darts fans looking to play a few games over a pint or two. But Los Cabos isn’t just about throwing darts. You can also watch live sport here.

For the World Cup, most venues will be showing Japan national team games. To join the fun, you’ll have to pay ¥5,000, which will get you three drinks and a discount coupon to use on your next visit. Reservations are required, and you can book your place online. This deal is available for all three of Japan’s group stage games, including the 4am kick-off against Spain.

Japan’s World Cup games will be shown at the Los Cabos venues in Ueno, Akihabara, Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama and Osaka. Some World Cup games involving other teams will also be shown – you can see the schedule here.

This is one of the more interesting places to watch the World Cup. As the name of the bar suggests, you can throw axes here (safely at targets, we should add). Perfect if the football has left you feeling a bit frustrated.

You can book axe throwing sessions from 30 minutes (¥2,480) up to three hours (¥6,980) in length, and also upgrade your axe to a throwing star, knife or playing card for ¥500. When you get tired from all the throwing, take a break with bar food like pizzas, hot dogs or fries. Shisha is available as well.

For the World Cup, The Axe Throwing Bar in Asakusa is showing all the games that kick off at 7pm and 10pm. You can also get a ¥500 discount on axe throwing and shisha from one hour before kick-off. You can see the full schedule and make reservations on the website.

The Axe Throwing Bar venues in Osaka and Nagoya are also showing the games.

If you’re looking for a slightly fancier place to enjoy the World Cup, The Belcomo might just be for you. This all-day restaurant is in the five-star Aoyama Grand Hotel in Gaienmae; it will be screening Japan’s games against Germany on November 23 and Costa Rica on November 27.

Despite the luxurious surroundings, you don’t have to break the bank to watch the games. For both matches, there’s a ¥1,000 package that gets you a standing place and one drink. But you can also splash the cash if you like.

For the Germany game (kick-off at 10pm), you can get a seat towards the back for ¥5,000, which also includes a glass of champagne and bar snacks. Spend ¥10,000 and you’ll be sitting up front near the screen, sipping on champagne (one bottle per group) and dining on a wider selection of food.

The Costa Rica match starts at 7pm, and it costs ¥10,000 to sit near the back with one bottle of champagne per group and a food selection that includes pasta and steak. To sit near the front, you’ll have to spend ¥15,000, which will also get you one bottle of champagne for your group and a slightly wider food selection. You can see the full menus on the hotel’s website.

Tickets for the World Cup screenings need to be purchased in advance from the restaurant’s website.

This cosmopolitan spot in Kichijoji is a great place for world music and food from around the globe. Venture through the menu and you’ll discover dishes from Africa, the Caribbean, Central American and South America – that’s if you don’t get sidetracked by the incredible array of world beers, cocktails and spirits.

Tear yourself away from these temptations and you’ll also notice that World Kitchen Baobab shows live sport, including all three Japan group stage games. You need to pay a table charge of ¥500 and buy two drinks to watch along on the big screen. Reservations are encouraged and can be made on the website.