You've finally made it. The Club Sunshine storyline is heating up, and you're staring down the barrel of the Mars Area. Honestly, the Cabaret Club Grand Prix is probably the best part of Majima’s side of the game, but it’s a total grind if you don't know where the Yakuza 0 Mars Area partners locations are actually hiding. You want those fans. You need that market share. Without the partners, you’re just a guy in a tuxedo trying to outrun a rival who has way more money than you.
It's about Sotenbori. It's about dominance.
Most players make the mistake of thinking they can just win a few battles and call it a day. That’s a trap. If you don't sign these local businesses, your fan growth is going to crawl. You’ll be stuck grinding the same mid-tier sessions while Hino—that arrogant jerk running Club Mars—laughs all the way to the bank.
Finding these spots isn't always intuitive. Sotenbori is a maze of neon lights and narrow alleys. Some of these shops look just like any other background asset until you see that little prompt to interact. I’ve spent way too many hours running Goro Majima in circles around the river just to find one tiny takoyaki stand that refused to sign a contract.
Why You Need These Specific Partners Right Now
Market share is everything. In the Mars Area, the "fans" metric determines how many customers walk through your door and how much they’re willing to spend. By securing the Yakuza 0 Mars Area partners locations, you effectively buy fans. It’s the fastest way to trigger the rival battles.
The Mars Area is the first real hurdle. It’s the tutorial for how the rest of the Grand Prix will go. If you mess this up, you’re going to struggle when you get to Jupiter, Mercury, or God forbid, Moon. You need to think of these partners as passive income for your reputation.
You’re looking for ten specific businesses. Some are cheap. Some feel like a ripoff. Buy them all anyway.
The Shofukucho Connection
Start your search in the Shofukucho district. This is the heart of the Mars territory. You’ll find Bunza Pawn Shop here. It’s an essential one. It costs a bit of yen, but the fan boost is solid. Most players miss it because they’re too busy running toward the objective markers, but you have to actually stop and look at the storefronts.
Then there’s Gandhara. Yes, the video booth place. Majima’s a man of the world, right? It’s a classic Yakuza location, and in this game, it serves as a key partner for the Mars Area. It’s located on the south side of Shofukucho.
👉 See also: Wordle Today January 21: Why This Specific Word is Ruining Everyone's Streak
Don't forget M Store Shofukucho. Convenience stores are the backbone of your fan base. It’s cheap. It’s easy. Just walk in, talk to the clerk (or the interaction point), and hand over the cash. It feels weird to "partner" with a 7-Eleven knockoff to run a hostess club, but hey, that’s 1988 economics for you.
Tracking Down Every Yakuza 0 Mars Area Partner
The list isn't huge, but the locations are spread out just enough to be annoying. You’ve got Shogi Player, which is tucked away near the southern part of the map. It’s not a shop in the traditional sense, but it counts.
- Le Miel: This is a cafe. You’ll find it on the west side of Shofukucho. It’s one of those spots you probably walked past ten times while chasing a sub-story.
- Pachinko 777: It’s on the far west side. It’s a big building, hard to miss, but easy to forget you can actually partner with it.
- Sotenbori Ticket: A small booth. These tiny ones are actually the best for quick fan boosts.
- Nyan Nyan Tei: A restaurant. Everyone in Sotenbori has to eat, and apparently, they all want to talk about Club Sunshine while they do it.
There is also Lumbung Sari. It's an Indonesian restaurant. It’s a bit more niche, but in the 80s boom, everything was viable. You’ll find it in the Shofukucho area as well.
Wait. There's more.
You need to hit Seiwa Ferris Wheel. It’s one of the more expensive ones in this tier, but the payoff is massive. It’s located near the river. If you’re standing on the bridge looking at the water, you’re close.
📖 Related: Call of Duty Black Ops Three Xbox 360: What Really Happened to This Version
Dealing With the Cost
Initially, the prices might seem high if you haven't been doing the Real Estate Royale with Kiryu over in Kamurocho. But Majima earns money differently. One good night at Club Sunshine will pay for three or four of these partners.
The investment pays for itself within two "Open for Business" sessions. Seriously.
If you’re short on cash, go find a Mr. Shakedown and... actually, don't do that. Unless you’re really good at dodging, Majima gets wrecked by Shakedown early on. Just run the club. Use your best girls. Even a "bad" night in the Mars Area is enough to fund your expansion.
The Mistakes Most People Make
People get lazy. They buy three partners, see the bar move a little bit, and think they can just grind the rest out through club management.
That’s a mistake.
✨ Don't miss: Resident Evil 7 Antique Coins: Why You’re Probably Missing the Best Upgrades
Each partner you miss is a multiplier you’re losing. When Club Mars starts sending their "punks" to harass your customers or when Hino starts his "fever time" events, you need every single fan you can get to keep your earnings stable.
Also, check your map. The partners you’ve already bought will have a specific icon. If an area of Shofukucho looks "empty" of icons, there is probably a business there waiting for your money. Walk up to every door. Look for the "Check" prompt.
The Hidden Value of the "Sotenbori" Vibe
Yakuza 0 is all about atmosphere. The reason these Yakuza 0 Mars Area partners locations matter isn't just numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about the "Leisure King" style of gameplay brought to the cabaret world. You are essentially marking your territory.
When you own the pawn shop, the ticket booth, and the local eateries, Hino loses his grip on the neighborhood. It’s psychological warfare.
Completing the Mars Area Circuit
Once you have all ten partners, your market share will skyrocket. You’ll trigger the final confrontation with Hino much faster.
Here is a quick rundown of the spots you should have checked off:
The convenience store (M Store), the pawn shop (Bunza), the video booth (Gandhara), the cafe (Le Miel), the Indonesian spot (Lumbung Sari), the ticket booth, the pachinko parlor, the shogi spot, the restaurant (Nyan Nyan Tei), and the Ferris wheel.
If you’re missing one, it’s almost always the Sotenbori Ticket booth or the Shogi Player spot. They are small. They don't have big neon signs. Look closely at the southern alleys.
Actionable Steps for Total Dominance
Stop what you're doing. If you’re currently in the middle of a Club Sunshine session, finish it and get out on the street.
- Do a manual lap of Shofukucho. Don't use the taxi. Walk the perimeter first, then spiral inward.
- Interact with everything. If a door has a prompt, press it.
- Keep 50 million yen handy. That sounds like a lot, but for these partners, it's plenty. Most are relatively cheap compared to the later areas.
- Check your Business menu. It tells you exactly how many partners you have signed in each area. If it doesn't say 10/10 for Mars, you aren't done.
The Mars Area is just the beginning. Once you clear this, you’ll unlock more hostesses and, more importantly, you'll start earning the kind of money that makes the rest of the game a breeze. Get the partners, crush Hino, and move on to the next rival.
The faster you lock down these locations, the faster you can get back to the actual story—or, let's be real, back to the disco dance floor. Sotenbori is yours for the taking, but only if you own the ground you're walking on. Go buy those shops.