photo by rgnavi
Shinjuku Ni-Chome is one of the best LGBT district in the world. It is located on the east of Shinjuku station, between Shunjuku-Dori and Yasukuni-Dori. Naka-Dori is recognized as suburb’s main street, crammed with a mixture of nightclubs and bars. Many LGBT people visit here for a friendly chat or even in pursuit for a decent partner. Shijuku Ni-Chome used be a kind of place you hang back from visiting, but now more straight people and even tourists, not just LGBT people, are visiting this place. Each bar or nightclubs has its own style: a place that customers can enjoy drinks and a relaxed chat with “mama-san” and other customers, a bar or nightclub that have a show-time by ladyboys, a place that is visited by many foreigners. This column guides you how to wander about in Shinjuku Ni-Chome along with the most recommended places.
How to Pick a Place in Shinjuku 2-chome
photo by s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com
Many bars in Shinjuku 2-chome has their own rules or dress codes; gay only, lesbian only, dragged-up only and such. If you are LGBT, pick one that suits you to look for someone you can get along with, or dress up as a lady and visit a dragged-up only bar. If you are not, you can try bars or nightclubs that are for general tourists, so called “tourists bar” or “MIX bar”.
Enjoy a Ladyboys Show “Hige Girl”
First-timers and ladies welcome! “Hige Girl” is a show-bar where you can hold a drinking session, banquet, matchmaking party or even a wedding after party. Enjoy your drink in the specious room with couches, or go wild with happy bubbly ladyboys. You can even have a life counseling if you make a booking. Of course their show-time is professional and the program is renewed every quarter. If you see their top favorite Belle, the center of the show, you will be stunned by her beauty. She is a top dancer as well as a charming talker. Her beauty make you forget she is a male.
Hige Girl
5F, 1-2-8 Kabukicho Shinjuku-Ku Tokyo
03-5292-1275
Everyone Welcome! MIX Bar “ARTY FARTY”
MIX bar “ARTY FARTY” is popular among gay and lesbian foreigners. More gay customers visit here and many of them have found a date here. This is a MIX bar so straights are also welcome. Since this place is multi-national, they have a good selection of alcohol drinks as well as a variety of non-alcohol cocktails.
ARTY FARTY
2F, 2-11-7 Shinjuku Shinjuku-Ku Tokyo
03-5362-9720
Everyone Welcome! Gay Bar “ageha”
At “ageha”, you can enjoy a drink with young hot guys. The stylish interior is inspired by a bar in a tropical island. As well as gays, straight men and women, anyone is welcome! No matter what your sex, sexuality, state of mind is, they utilize all their skills to guarantee a wonderful time.
ageha
3F, 2-10-3 Shinjuku Shinjuku-Ku Tokyo
03-3350-4932
All Ladies Welcome! Lesbian Bar “BAR GOLD FINGER”
Ladies only bar “BAR GOLD FINGER”, produced by the event organizer well-known as Japan’s first woman only event. NO male allowed. But all female is welcome: bisexual, lesbian, straight. The best lesbian bar in Tokyo.
BAR GOLD FINGER
1F, 2-12-11 Shinjuku Shinjuku-Ku Tokyo
03-6383-4649
Perfect for a Quick Drink “Aiiro CAFÉ”
Welcoming its customers with the recognizable bright red “torii” gate, “Aiiro CAFÉ” is popular among foreigners. All staff are friendly and some of them speak English. This place is best to visit at weekends. Huge parties are held at weekends busy with foreign tourists from all over the world. No boundaries of sex, races or nationalities.
AiiRO CAFE
2-18-1 Shinjuku Shinjuku-Ku Tokyo
03-6273-0740
Current Reality of LGBTs
Did you know that one in thirteen, 7.6% of our population is sexual minority? This is very close to the proportion of over 80 in Japan’s population that is 7.9%. This may be more than you imagined. You may just not know your class mates, neighbors, or even your friends are LGBT. Lately, LGBT people are becoming more recognized in Japan. However, it is still a lot behind compare to US and European societies. In 2001, Netherlands first legalized same-sex marriage. In 2015, same sex marriage became legal nationwide in US, the same as opposite sex marriage. Compare to these countries, Japan is still on its way of recognition of same-sex marriage. It is just Shibuya-ku and Setagaya-ku of Tokyo recognize same-sex partnership under their codes or include it in the basic outlines.
Summary
In today’s modern society, the internet allow us easily access information or meet people via SNS. We no longer need to actually visit an area like Shinjuku Ni-Chome to find someone who is sexual minority. That made less people go to Shinjuku Ni-Chome, and the number of bars and nightclubs have diminished as a result. It is sad that an historical area like Shinjuku Ni-Chome, that is also precious for LGBTs, disappears. Come and visit Shinjuku Ni-Chome when you travel to Japan. Your visit will help the sanctuary of LGBTs rejuvenate.
