FTM Bar in Japan: Introducing Bar G-Pit
Walking down the streets of Nichome, you’ll find all sorts of places and people. I’ve seen lesbian bars that look like classy French wine spots, gay bars with an American working-man feel, and a drag bar with a distinctly retro diner vibe. But it wasn’t until I was walking on the outskirts last month that, looking up, I saw something I’d never seen before: the wall-crawler himself.
A New Bar That Isn’t the Pits
Bar G-Pit is a newly opened FTM bar, with its big launch being less than one year ago. Its bright sign calls to many of the patrons, particularly after dark. The bar staff are all trans men, a point the owner is particularly proud of, but it is a welcome space for anyone and everyone.
“We wanted to make a place where transgender people could gather,” says the owner, Kento Inoue. “But we have a lot of easygoing working men and women who come here, too, so anyone can visit!”
The first thing you’ll notice upon entry (or gazing through the bar window from the street) is a huge statue of Spider-man, stuck to the wall to greet visitors. The window also has a lot of pop-America, including a replica of the cover of The Amazing Spider-man #129, the first appearance of anti-hero The Punisher (I’m not a nerd, don’t worry about it).
A Super Interior: Secret Identity
Venturing inside, the Spidey is there to greet you, along with a display of early-mid 2000s tech and neon lights. Wandering just a little further into the bar, there is an astonishing array of photos, toys, and knick-knacks relating to comics, anime, and other otaku interests. With this in mind, Inoue and his staff must be big comics fans, right?
“We found the statue of Spider-man, and we knew we had to put it right at the front. After that, the rest of the bar’s aesthetic just kind of came together. To be honest, I don’t know much about comics!”
A Relaxed, Chilled-Out Atmosphere
In addition to being staffed by FTM employees, a relative rarity in Tokyo (let alone Japan), compared to other, more rowdy establishments, Bar G-Pit has a very relaxed, laid-back vibe. This isn’t the kind of place to go to get messy and smooch a stranger on the dance floor, it’s a place to sit back and relax with a drink and your friends. This is not only a welcome reprieve for Nichome regulars whose bodies cannot handle another three-hour nomihodai, but also for anyone a little nervous about their first time in the area.
“We operate in an atmosphere that makes it easy for people who are new to Shinjuku Nichome to come to,” Inoue says. “And we have a lot of connections to other bars in Nichome, so we’d be happy to give customers advice on where to go based on their tastes. We want to make Bar G-Pit into an entrance to Shinjuku Nichome.”
My Personal Experience
The first time I visited, I could definitely feel that energy. After I got past the web-slinger and was guided to my seat, the cheerful bar staff asked me how I was, what I was up to, and then we started chatting about other, less small-talk things. Not only that, but the drinkers next to me seemed like they were just the kind of people Bar G-Pit wanted to attract: a couple of friends just out for a quiet drink on a Saturday night.
“Recently, we’ve had more and more customers,” Inoue says. Certainly a bar this striking and unique will get more than its fair share of word of mouth promotion, and it seems to be working. It isn’t easy to start a new bar anywhere, let alone a crowded market like Nichome, but Bar G-Pit had a butt in every seat and a drink in every hand.
Unique Features at G-Pit
Another nice quirk that the bar has is large, One Piece-esque mugs. These are super fun to drink out of, and make the visit feel even more special. I didn’t have the opportunity to try them, but the bar also serves food, including delicious looking fish and chips, and has a regular Pasta Night event.
While there aren’t any drinks deals per se, it also has a unique method of enticing customers who are feeling lucky: Chinchiro! Those who believe they’re favored by Lady Luck can pay ¥100 for a dice roll, with the chance to win free drinks! I’ve never seen anything like this in other bars, so it’s very intriguing: but I thought I’d save my luck for now.
Japan Gay Guide Verdict: Top G
Overall, this is a very chill, easy-going bar that is easy to find, accessible (although it is on the second floor, there is an elevator, uncommon for second floor bars in Nichome), and very relaxing to drink in. When someone told me recently they were getting tired of dating and adult-focused bars in Nichome, I had no hesitation giving a recommendation.
When I asked Inoue what the most interesting or exciting memory of his time at Bar G-Pit was since opening, he replied: “we’ve barely even begun, so every day is an important memory.”
I can believe it. Make sure to visit, so you too can be a part of the memories.
