If you’re trying to place Denko Pluto on the map of Tokyo nightlife, don’t. It’s not meant to be found that easily. This Tokyo-based creative collective is reshaping Japan’s dance music scene by dragging it out of the expected. The collective moves sideways through the city, introducing music events to spaces where it’s not supposed to live.

Founded by a group of DJs, designers, and artists, Denko Pluto emerged from a desire to break boundaries: between genres, between people, and between cultural assumptions. Inspired by the golden age of trance, think soaring melodies from the ‘90s and early 2000s, the collective blends euphoric nostalgia with the texture of modern electronic experimentation. Their sound ranges from spacious ambient to propulsive club sets.

Aoi, one of the founders, noticed the cultural silos on his campus. Japanese students here, international students there, everyone in its own bubble, separated by language barriers. “I wanted to create opportunities where both Japanese and international students could naturally expand their networks, even without relying solely on language.” Aoi shares. The solution Denko Pluto came up with: a party. But not just a party. One that used setting as language. If the space spoke of Japan, then maybe the music could do the rest.

“in Japan, dance music and club culture still lack mainstream acceptance compared to other countries, often carrying negative stereotypes.” says Aoi, “Through these events, I hope to help break those misconceptions, not only for international students and tourists, but also for Japanese people, by showing that dance music and club culture can be positive, inclusive, and culturally enriching experiences.”

And it’s working. Because in Japan, where dance music still lives under a layer of social static, Denko Pluto is giving it a unique platform. By choosing open, everyday spaces, a temple, a hotel, the collective is inviting everyone in. You can be a curious guest, a first-time tourist, or a Tokyoite passing through.

For their next event, planned on July 25, they selected a one of a kind venue: WPÜ SHINJUKU. This new venue isn’t a club. It’s a hotel, and there’s a reason for that. “We believe that hosting an event in this hotel fundamentally changes the meaning and presence of DJ sound compared to a typical club setting. In a hotel environment where travelers, residents, and staff coexist, the music becomes part of the ambient sound for some, while for those on the dance floor, it is the main attraction.” Aoi shares.

WPÜ is a creative melting pot combining a student residence, café, craft beer bar, gallery, and radio station under one roof. It’s a place where long-term Tokyoites, backpackers, and the city’s creative class pass each other in the hallway.

The event will begin with ambient and experimental performances, gently guiding guests into the space. Then, as the evening comes, international DJs and local selectors will take over. Going into the night, there will be an afterparty at Saloon Daikanyama.

The lineup: 犬堂健心 / Isi audi, Koshiro / Ma Lilith / Lewo Chyba / Juang* / 学び / Fushi / Denko Pluto
Pop-up installation: reallyhitit
Afterparty: Saloon Daikanyama (with free entry for event guests)