Clubbing in Japan is a kick. The country's zeal for global pop trends and its prominent club scene draws big-name DJs and performers from the international circuit. Japan's hodgepodge approach to urban planning means that clubs seem to blossom nearly anywhere — in the back alleys of unsung neighborhoods such as Tokyo's Yoyogi, with its funky music haven, Zher the Zoo, or behind nondescript docks in the Hyogo Prefecture capital of Kobe. Despite recent crackdowns on after-hours dancing, Japan's club scene continues to thrive past the midnight hour, buoyed by itinerant hipsters with wads of cash.

But knowing which clubs to go to, and how to get there, can be mystifying. If you're like me, you stumble home in the wee hours clutching handfuls of flyers — brightly colored glossy paper rectangles luring you to the next night's gig, sans context or reason. By breakfast, you won't remember what they were supposed to mean or why you kept them.

The Internet has trimmed the paper chase a bit, but online adverts for nightlife still confuse. One person's classifieds are another's headache. Nice to know there's lots to do — not so nice to not know what to do.