Gay Tokyo: City of dichotomies
From ganguro girls with painted faces to stern businessmen clad in suits - their days spent behind a desk and nights behind a bar, Sapporo in hand - to young men celebrating with style a new spirit of gay liberation beginning to emerge in this conservative culture, this is a place of vast contradictions. There are mammoth towers that paint the skyline with splashes of neon, and there are quaint, tree-lined streets where passersby glimpse into Tokyo's past and away from the chaos automatically associated with this metropolis. There are temples surrounded by blooming sakura blossoms and secluded udon shops, filled with bowls of brothy noodles served by waitresses in kimonos.
The gay scene is much like these dueling ideas of calm and chaos. Ambiguity and identity haziness are the stereotypical theories of being gay in Tokyo, but behind the blurred lines there is a thriving nightlife and gay community, all housed within the confines of their friendly neighborhood of Ni-Chome.
Though there are a few gay bars or gay nights spread throughout the city, the heart of gay Tokyo lies in Shinjuku and Ni-Chome. Tokyo is separated into different wards, with Shinjuku being the most well known and the most crowded. Ni-Chome is known to have the highest concentration of gay bars of anywhere in the world, likely because of its small, densely packed area - just a few small blocks, intertwined into Shinjuku's busy business, shopping, and nightlife center.
There is undeniably a large gay population in Tokyo, but many are trapped in the closet because of Japan's legacy of strict, yet unspoken, social conformity, only now beginning to soften when it comes to same-sex desire. A seemingly straight city by day, Toyko turns into a raging gay party by night in Shinjuku Ni-Chome. Within a culture where many LGBT-ers are expected to marry into straight, traditional marriages, gay men and lesbians privately and anonymously express their sexuality at bars in Ni-Chome.
Straight by day, gay by night, most gay Tokyoites can be their true selves within the comfort and confines of these few small blocks. Though most bars accommodate non-Japanese patrons, the scene is primarily geared towards native Japanese regulars, though there are plenty of visitor-friendly clubs. Many will be jam-packed with eager visitors engaging with bartenders fluent in English. Within Ni-Chome there are myriad bars and clubs for an eventful night out, whimsical boutiques and shops (Tokyo has become the center of international fashion, with leading brands such as Comme des Garcons, Engineered Garments, and Label Under Construction based there), and outdoor restaurants and cafes -- all of which make the neighborhood charming in the midst of the mammoth nucleus of Shinjuku. Even though homosexuality remains more ignored than accepted in Japan, the gay world has plenty for those who want to experience a slice of Tokyo life.
Gay Scene
A city of vast contradictions, Tokyo’s gay scene is both of restrained and thriving.
Tokyo is separated into different wards, with Shinjuku being the most well-known and the most crowded. The gay community is continuously growing within the confines of Shinjuku Ni-chome (Area 2) neighbourhood. Seemingly straight by day, Ni-chome turns gay by night.
Ni-chome is believed to have the highest concentration of gay bars anywhere in the world because of its small, dense area – a few small blocks intertwined into Shinjuku’s busy business, shopping and nightlife center. Though most bars welcome non-Japanese patrons, the scene primarily caters for its Japanese regulars.
Many gay men still feel restrained by Japan’s strict yet unspoken demand for social conformity that is only now beginning to soften when it comes to same-sex relationships. In a culture where homosexuality is ignored more than accepted, and where people are expected to marry into traditional marriages, many gay men choose to anonymously express their sexuality at bars in Shinjuku Ni-chome.
However, Tokyo’s gay scene is not limited to Ni-chome. A number of other areas have several gay bars. Such information can be found in the Otoko-machi map (boy’s town map), a countrywide guide to Japanese gay establishments.
Getting to Tokyo
Tokyo’s main international airport, Narita, is located 66 km east of Tokyo. Avoid taking a taxi from and to the airport as the fare is exorbitantly high.
The Airport Limousine Bus is usually the most convenient way to get to the city center. The ticket desk is located right in front of you as you enter arrivals, and the bus stops are immediately outside each terminal building. Buses leave for Tokyo station, Shinjuku station, Disneyland and major hotels. Buses leave every 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 3000 yen. Expected travel time is about one and a half hours.
The JR Narita Express Train (N-EX) departs every thirty minutes and serves JR Shinjuku Station, JR Tokyo Station, JR Ikebukero Station, JR Shinagawa and JR Yokohama Station. Follow the signs from inside the terminal buildings. A one-way ticket (depending on destination) will cost around 3300 yen. It takes about 50 minutes to reach Tokyo station from Narita.
Getting around Tokyo
Train
Trains and subways are usually the most convenient form of transportation in Tokyo. The subway is always crowded but the service is punctual, fast and efficient.
Train tickets can be bought from vending machines. Each company has its own, so make sure you use the correct one (JR machines are usually green). Most machines will automatically dispense change.
You don’t need to figure out the price of your fare – buy the cheapest ticket, then at the end of the journey, top it up to the correct amount by inserting it into the yellow “Fare Adjustment” machine located near the exit gates. Train service starts around 5am and stops around midnight on most lines.
Bus
Buses are fairly easy to use. Destinations are clearly labeled on the front of most buses, and bus stops are also clearly marked. The flat fare of 200 yen is usually paid on boarding – post the money into the machine next to the driver.
The one-day Tokyo combo ticket can be used on buses as well as the subway and JR railway lines. There are no night buses. The service usually stops at around 10 pm. Timetable is available from the bus station.
Taxi
For non-Japanese speakers, taxis can be a challenge. You should have your destination written down in Japanese. Taxis are quite expensive. At nighttime, the rate goes up by 20 percent.
Tokyo Gay Bars
There are many gay bars in the Tokyo metropolitan area, but the city’s main gay nightlife is located in Shinjuku Ni-chome (District 2).
In fact, Ni-chome is home to hundred of bars, clubs and cafés. Some venues may limit access to Japanese only; others have policies based on specific themes. As a result, the Tokyo gay scene can be challenging for foreigners.
AiiRO Café
Revamped AiiRO Café (formerly ‘Advocates Café’) is the hottest street corner gay café & bar in Shinjuku. Originally opened in 2000 by the GM of ageHa, Tokyo’s best gay nightclub.
AiiRO Café offers a lively, welcoming atmosphere that attracts a very diverse crowd. A great place to start your evening, enjoy the scene and make new friends.
Very busy on the weekend with customers spilling into the streets. There is a big Japanese Shrine Gate, Torii on the entrance.
Leo Lounge
International gay bar for bears and friends with a laid-back environment, good music and friendly staff. Leo Lounge (formerly ‘GATE’) relocated in August 2014 from Shibuya to Shinjuku Ni-chome gay district.
Tokyo Gay Saunas
Curious about the gay sauna scene in Tokyo? Some saunas may be more foreigner-friendly than others.
24 Kaikan Shinjuku
Popular gay sauna and the biggest cruising place for gay men in the area. With 8 floors, the 24 Kaikan Shinjuku features a dry sauna, steam room, communal bath, solarium, video room, private cabins, snack room, lockers. The rooftop floor has tanning beds and a cold bathtub. Private cabins are expensive, so most actions take place in the common areas.
Foreigners are welcome. Upon entry, you may be asked to show your passport. Put your shoes in the locker and change into slippers, buy admission ticket from the vending machine, take the locker key and ticket to the front desk, and receive a locker key and a bag with robe and towel.
Rooms are available for overnight rent. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 24会館 has two other locations in Ueno and Asakusa.
24 Kaikan – Ueno
Not as big as Kaikan Shinjuku but no less busy. The Ueno branch attracts a more middle-aged crowd with bigger body type (bear, G-men) and their chasers. Features a dry sauna, mist room, steam room, communal baths (with different temperatures), solarium, video room, private cabins, common play area.
Foreigner-friendly. Rooms for rent available. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Gay Tokyo • Luxury Hotels
Tokyo has an exceptional range of prestigious and iconic luxury hotels offering world-class facilities and service.
Keio Plaza Hotel
A consistently popular hotel on Travel Gay Asia since we started recommending it in 2013. The Keio Plaza is located just 5 blocks from Shinjuku Station, close to gay venues like AiiRO Café, ArcH, AiSOTOPE Lounge, and the fact that this 5-star hotel offers 4-star rates also helps.
This modern high-rise hotel has 1,400 rooms, complete with first-class facilities including a gym, an outdoor pool and a massage spa.
The in-house Nan-En restaurant offers authentic Chinese cuisine from different regions, and the Kagari Japanese restaurant serves up some surprisingly exciting Japanese food.
Hilton Tokyo Hotel
Not the closest luxury hotel to the gay nightlife, but the Hilton Tokyo’s first-class facilities and service make up for it. It features a nice indoor pool, rooftop tennis courts, gym, restaurants, bars, PC stations, etc.
Offering views of the cosmopolitan Shinjuku, each non-smoking guest room is stylishly decorated and features high quality products, satellite TV with movies on demand.
The hotel is directly connected to Tochomae subway and provides free shuttle to Shinjuku Station (a 15-minute walk). AiiRO Café gay bar, AiSOTOPE Lounge, ArcH club and the Kabuki-cho nightlife district can be reached in 20 minutes.
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Located next the Shinjuku Central Park and directly linked to Tochomae Station, the Hyatt Regency offers well-appointed rooms, 7 dining options, a beautiful indoor pool, a well-equipped gym and a fabulous spa.
Guest rooms have large windows with views of the trendy Shinjuku area. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable.
The hotel provides free shuttle service to Shinjuku Station. From there, it’s just a short walk to to the all the gay bars in Ni-chome, and a huge range of shops and restaurants in the area should keep you busy all day.
Search Gay Friendly Hotel In Tokyo - Japan here:
Booking.com
From ganguro girls with painted faces to stern businessmen clad in suits - their days spent behind a desk and nights behind a bar, Sapporo in hand - to young men celebrating with style a new spirit of gay liberation beginning to emerge in this conservative culture, this is a place of vast contradictions. There are mammoth towers that paint the skyline with splashes of neon, and there are quaint, tree-lined streets where passersby glimpse into Tokyo's past and away from the chaos automatically associated with this metropolis. There are temples surrounded by blooming sakura blossoms and secluded udon shops, filled with bowls of brothy noodles served by waitresses in kimonos.
The gay scene is much like these dueling ideas of calm and chaos. Ambiguity and identity haziness are the stereotypical theories of being gay in Tokyo, but behind the blurred lines there is a thriving nightlife and gay community, all housed within the confines of their friendly neighborhood of Ni-Chome.
Though there are a few gay bars or gay nights spread throughout the city, the heart of gay Tokyo lies in Shinjuku and Ni-Chome. Tokyo is separated into different wards, with Shinjuku being the most well known and the most crowded. Ni-Chome is known to have the highest concentration of gay bars of anywhere in the world, likely because of its small, densely packed area - just a few small blocks, intertwined into Shinjuku's busy business, shopping, and nightlife center.
There is undeniably a large gay population in Tokyo, but many are trapped in the closet because of Japan's legacy of strict, yet unspoken, social conformity, only now beginning to soften when it comes to same-sex desire. A seemingly straight city by day, Toyko turns into a raging gay party by night in Shinjuku Ni-Chome. Within a culture where many LGBT-ers are expected to marry into straight, traditional marriages, gay men and lesbians privately and anonymously express their sexuality at bars in Ni-Chome.
Straight by day, gay by night, most gay Tokyoites can be their true selves within the comfort and confines of these few small blocks. Though most bars accommodate non-Japanese patrons, the scene is primarily geared towards native Japanese regulars, though there are plenty of visitor-friendly clubs. Many will be jam-packed with eager visitors engaging with bartenders fluent in English. Within Ni-Chome there are myriad bars and clubs for an eventful night out, whimsical boutiques and shops (Tokyo has become the center of international fashion, with leading brands such as Comme des Garcons, Engineered Garments, and Label Under Construction based there), and outdoor restaurants and cafes -- all of which make the neighborhood charming in the midst of the mammoth nucleus of Shinjuku. Even though homosexuality remains more ignored than accepted in Japan, the gay world has plenty for those who want to experience a slice of Tokyo life.
Gay Scene
A city of vast contradictions, Tokyo’s gay scene is both of restrained and thriving.
Tokyo is separated into different wards, with Shinjuku being the most well-known and the most crowded. The gay community is continuously growing within the confines of Shinjuku Ni-chome (Area 2) neighbourhood. Seemingly straight by day, Ni-chome turns gay by night.
Ni-chome is believed to have the highest concentration of gay bars anywhere in the world because of its small, dense area – a few small blocks intertwined into Shinjuku’s busy business, shopping and nightlife center. Though most bars welcome non-Japanese patrons, the scene primarily caters for its Japanese regulars.
Many gay men still feel restrained by Japan’s strict yet unspoken demand for social conformity that is only now beginning to soften when it comes to same-sex relationships. In a culture where homosexuality is ignored more than accepted, and where people are expected to marry into traditional marriages, many gay men choose to anonymously express their sexuality at bars in Shinjuku Ni-chome.
However, Tokyo’s gay scene is not limited to Ni-chome. A number of other areas have several gay bars. Such information can be found in the Otoko-machi map (boy’s town map), a countrywide guide to Japanese gay establishments.
Getting to Tokyo
Tokyo’s main international airport, Narita, is located 66 km east of Tokyo. Avoid taking a taxi from and to the airport as the fare is exorbitantly high.
The Airport Limousine Bus is usually the most convenient way to get to the city center. The ticket desk is located right in front of you as you enter arrivals, and the bus stops are immediately outside each terminal building. Buses leave for Tokyo station, Shinjuku station, Disneyland and major hotels. Buses leave every 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 3000 yen. Expected travel time is about one and a half hours.
The JR Narita Express Train (N-EX) departs every thirty minutes and serves JR Shinjuku Station, JR Tokyo Station, JR Ikebukero Station, JR Shinagawa and JR Yokohama Station. Follow the signs from inside the terminal buildings. A one-way ticket (depending on destination) will cost around 3300 yen. It takes about 50 minutes to reach Tokyo station from Narita.
Getting around Tokyo
Train
Trains and subways are usually the most convenient form of transportation in Tokyo. The subway is always crowded but the service is punctual, fast and efficient.
Train tickets can be bought from vending machines. Each company has its own, so make sure you use the correct one (JR machines are usually green). Most machines will automatically dispense change.
You don’t need to figure out the price of your fare – buy the cheapest ticket, then at the end of the journey, top it up to the correct amount by inserting it into the yellow “Fare Adjustment” machine located near the exit gates. Train service starts around 5am and stops around midnight on most lines.
Bus
Buses are fairly easy to use. Destinations are clearly labeled on the front of most buses, and bus stops are also clearly marked. The flat fare of 200 yen is usually paid on boarding – post the money into the machine next to the driver.
The one-day Tokyo combo ticket can be used on buses as well as the subway and JR railway lines. There are no night buses. The service usually stops at around 10 pm. Timetable is available from the bus station.
Taxi
For non-Japanese speakers, taxis can be a challenge. You should have your destination written down in Japanese. Taxis are quite expensive. At nighttime, the rate goes up by 20 percent.
Tokyo Gay Bars
There are many gay bars in the Tokyo metropolitan area, but the city’s main gay nightlife is located in Shinjuku Ni-chome (District 2).
In fact, Ni-chome is home to hundred of bars, clubs and cafés. Some venues may limit access to Japanese only; others have policies based on specific themes. As a result, the Tokyo gay scene can be challenging for foreigners.
AiiRO Café
Revamped AiiRO Café (formerly ‘Advocates Café’) is the hottest street corner gay café & bar in Shinjuku. Originally opened in 2000 by the GM of ageHa, Tokyo’s best gay nightclub.
AiiRO Café offers a lively, welcoming atmosphere that attracts a very diverse crowd. A great place to start your evening, enjoy the scene and make new friends.
Very busy on the weekend with customers spilling into the streets. There is a big Japanese Shrine Gate, Torii on the entrance.
Leo Lounge
International gay bar for bears and friends with a laid-back environment, good music and friendly staff. Leo Lounge (formerly ‘GATE’) relocated in August 2014 from Shibuya to Shinjuku Ni-chome gay district.
Tokyo Gay Saunas
Curious about the gay sauna scene in Tokyo? Some saunas may be more foreigner-friendly than others.
24 Kaikan Shinjuku
Popular gay sauna and the biggest cruising place for gay men in the area. With 8 floors, the 24 Kaikan Shinjuku features a dry sauna, steam room, communal bath, solarium, video room, private cabins, snack room, lockers. The rooftop floor has tanning beds and a cold bathtub. Private cabins are expensive, so most actions take place in the common areas.
Foreigners are welcome. Upon entry, you may be asked to show your passport. Put your shoes in the locker and change into slippers, buy admission ticket from the vending machine, take the locker key and ticket to the front desk, and receive a locker key and a bag with robe and towel.
Rooms are available for overnight rent. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 24会館 has two other locations in Ueno and Asakusa.
24 Kaikan – Ueno
Not as big as Kaikan Shinjuku but no less busy. The Ueno branch attracts a more middle-aged crowd with bigger body type (bear, G-men) and their chasers. Features a dry sauna, mist room, steam room, communal baths (with different temperatures), solarium, video room, private cabins, common play area.
Foreigner-friendly. Rooms for rent available. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Gay Tokyo • Luxury Hotels
Tokyo has an exceptional range of prestigious and iconic luxury hotels offering world-class facilities and service.
Keio Plaza Hotel
A consistently popular hotel on Travel Gay Asia since we started recommending it in 2013. The Keio Plaza is located just 5 blocks from Shinjuku Station, close to gay venues like AiiRO Café, ArcH, AiSOTOPE Lounge, and the fact that this 5-star hotel offers 4-star rates also helps.
This modern high-rise hotel has 1,400 rooms, complete with first-class facilities including a gym, an outdoor pool and a massage spa.
The in-house Nan-En restaurant offers authentic Chinese cuisine from different regions, and the Kagari Japanese restaurant serves up some surprisingly exciting Japanese food.
Hilton Tokyo Hotel
Not the closest luxury hotel to the gay nightlife, but the Hilton Tokyo’s first-class facilities and service make up for it. It features a nice indoor pool, rooftop tennis courts, gym, restaurants, bars, PC stations, etc.
Offering views of the cosmopolitan Shinjuku, each non-smoking guest room is stylishly decorated and features high quality products, satellite TV with movies on demand.
The hotel is directly connected to Tochomae subway and provides free shuttle to Shinjuku Station (a 15-minute walk). AiiRO Café gay bar, AiSOTOPE Lounge, ArcH club and the Kabuki-cho nightlife district can be reached in 20 minutes.
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Located next the Shinjuku Central Park and directly linked to Tochomae Station, the Hyatt Regency offers well-appointed rooms, 7 dining options, a beautiful indoor pool, a well-equipped gym and a fabulous spa.
Guest rooms have large windows with views of the trendy Shinjuku area. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable.
The hotel provides free shuttle service to Shinjuku Station. From there, it’s just a short walk to to the all the gay bars in Ni-chome, and a huge range of shops and restaurants in the area should keep you busy all day.
Search Gay Friendly Hotel In Tokyo - Japan here:
0 Comments