Best gay bars in tokyo
A Guide to Lgbtq+ Bar Etiquette in Japan
Tokyo’s famous same-sex attracted district, Shinjuku Ni-Chome, has one of the world’s extreme concentrations of LGBT-friendly businesses. For the most part, it’s a place where first-timers can hold out without needing to worry too much about particular customs or cultural knowledge.
Ni-Chome is used to tourists but, those who crave to sneak into smaller, more local LGBT bars might find some cultural practices surprising. In Japan, manners are everything, so here are some insider tips on what to expect when visiting LGBT bars off the thrashed path, and how to get the most out of the experience.
Venturing away from westernized queer bars
Photo by: Alex Rickert Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, but sometimes you gotta enterprise into the unknown.
Most gay bars in tourist spots favor Ni-Chome or Doyamacho in Osaka mimic American-style bars that feature large shot bars, dance tune and dark atmospheres where customers of various sexes, genders, sexualities and identities can drink and make merry. You can certainly discover these kinds of bars, especially in Tokyo, but the vast majority are similar to what is commonly referred to as a スナックバー
The Best Gay Bars in Tokyo: A Guide to Queer Nightlife
Tokyo is house to a vibrant and welcoming Gay community, and its gay bars are a cornerstone of the city’s nightlife. Most of these bars are concentrated in Shinjuku Ni-chome, the LGBTQ+ district of Tokyo, but there are also fantastic options spread across the urban area. Here’s a instruction to some of the best queer bars in Tokyo, offering diverse atmospheres, events, and experiences. Guest houses neighboring Hakone, Japan
1. Eagle Tokyo
Location: Shinjuku Ni-chome
Vibe: Masculine, relaxed, and friendly
Highlights:
- Eagle Tokyo is one of the most popular gay bars in Shinjuku Ni-chome, known for its chill, masculine vibe.
- The interior is sleek and modern, offering a welcoming atmosphere for both locals and visitors.
- It caters to a diverse clientele but has a reputation for being especially trendy among the bear and leather communities.
Why Visit: Perfect for unwinding with a drink and engaging in friendly conversation with an open-minded crowd.
2. Dragon Men
Location: Shinjuku Ni-chome
Vibe: Trendy, fun, and lively
Highlights:
- A stylish bar that transforms into a bustling dance venue as the nigh
Tokyo ranks as one of our legit favorite destinations ever! It's clean, extremely safe, the people just impeccable, foodgasms galore, and a fantastic gay scene with over 300 gay bars in Shinjuku's Ni-Chōme district!
Put it this way, Tokyo is so fabulous, even the gorgeous Queer Eye Fab Five team made it over here and filmed a few episodes exploring the gender non-conforming culture of Japan.
We've visited Tokyo several times over the past few years and experienced the best Tokyo's gay scene has to offer. We've put together our LGBTQ travel guide to Tokyo based on our first-hand experience to help you own a fabulous holiday there.
Heads up: We just wanted to let you know that this post contains affiliate links. That means if you book something through one of those links, we'll get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps us maintain our blog going – so thank you in advance for your support! ♥
Experience Japan on a gay tour
Psst! Want in on a secret? Our friends at Out Adventures recently launched a super kawaii tour of Japan. On this all-gay foray, travelers will ride the Shinkansen bullet train between Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. High
Tokyo's best LGBT bars and clubs
LGBTQ+
Campy! Bar
Campy! Bar
First-time visitors to Shinjuku Ni-chome, Tokyo's famous gay district, could do far worse than shimmying into this ooh-la-la joint run by celebrity...
LGBTQ+
Suzu Bar
Suzu Bar
Run by LGBT activist and spokesperson Fumino Sugiyama, Suzu blends right in among the hundreds of tiny watering holes along Shinjuku's Golden Gai. Still, it's...
LGBTQ+
Cocolo Cafe
Cocolo Cafe
Ideal for a late-night appointment, this café and restaurant is a popular LGBT hangout that gets points for its 18 diverse kinds of tea, Vietnamese coffee and...
LGBTQ+
Aisotope Lounge
Aisotope Lounge
Shinjuku Ni-chome's newest club opened in April 2012 on the site formerly occupied by Geisha. Aisotope Lounge is run by the company behind Arch and Alamas...
LGBTQ+
Arty Farty
Arty Farty
This block with a dancefloor suggestions DJs on weekends (when it often shares the fun with its sister venue, The Annex) and mint-flavoured beer any day. Arty Farty...
LGBTQ+
Alamas Cafe
Alamas Cafe
'Alamas' means diamond in the Thai language, but this chill café on Shinjuku Ni-chome's main drag exudes mo