Are you interested in going to lesbian bars in Shinjuku Nichome, Tokyo’s number one gay district, but not sure where to start? Going to Nichome for the first time can be overwhelming, and looking for a specific type of bar there, such as a lesbian bar, can be even more difficult.
You may be looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, or maybe for a lively party scene. Either way, this article will hopefully explain ten of our favorite lesbian bars in a bit more detail, so you can know what each one is like before you go!
Basic Lesbian Bar Etiquette
So, before you arrive, is there anything you should know? Well, yes! Like most other bar scenes, lesbian bars have a specific set of unspoken rules that patrons follow regularly. Don’t worry, they aren’t too strict.
The most important thing to remember is to always state your intentions clearly. If a woman is flirting with you, don’t play coy. Despite this sometimes being seen as attractive, it’s best not to string someone along and get their hopes up if you’re not really into them. If you are interested, say it! If you’re not, say no. No one will be offended if you tell them the truth (nicely, of course).
Another thing that’s important to learn is some Japanese. You don’t have to be fluent, but just putting in effort to learn it will be attractive to a Japanese woman. It shows that you’re serious about being here and that you put in time and preparation to come to the bar.
The last thing I’d recommend is to download the Japanese messaging app Line. This is what most Japanese people use to message each other. So, if you want to get a girl’s contact info, do it through Line. She’ll be impressed that you know her commonly-used app.
If you want to learn more about lesbian bar manners and etiquette in Shinjuku Nichome, check this article out!
The Top 10 Best Lesbian Bars
Gold Finger
When you think of a lesbian bar in Nichome, you’ll probably think of Gold Finger first. This Nichome institution is a mix bar (all-gender bar) with a ‘70s theme that features a disco ball and a mix of pop and disco music. While there’s no cover charge, you will have to buy a drink to get in. Both alcoholic and soft drinks are available.
Staff at the bar are super nice, and the establishment takes on a pretty lively atmosphere most nights of the week. Gold Finger is open seven days a week and offers a pretty good happy hour deal from 5pm to 7pm every night: two large drinks for only ¥1,000! This is a bargain considering that drinks in Nichome can easily cost you ¥1,000 each.
Do keep in mind that while the bar is a mix bar six nights per week, it does become women-only on Saturdays.
Want to learn more about Gold Finger? Check out the article below.
Tamago
According to word-of-mouth, Tamago is the oldest lesbian bar in Nichome! Its quiet atmosphere and swanky art deco aesthetic make it a must-visit for the vibe alone. Officially considered a snack bar, you’ll get complimentary snacks along with your drink (usually crackers or other tiny savory treats), and have free reign to talk with the bartender while you sip on your drink. There’s also karaoke if you want to sing some enka music to go along with the vibe, or anything else you might want to sing.
When you sit down, a collection of artsy, mosaic lamps hang above you, and the style of the place makes you feel like you’ve entered a game of Clue. Since it’s (apparently) the oldest lesbian bar in Nichome, I wasn’t surprised when the bartender told me that it’s been open for 43 years!
Do keep in mind that this bar has a cover charge, and while it’s a mix bar, the price for men to enter is actually higher than for women.
Adezakura
Another popular lesbian bar that you may have heard of is Adezakura. As a “shot bar”, where you pay for drinks as you buy them, this joint is popular among tourists, with its pounding American pop music, disco ball, and a little bit of space for dancing. It definitely has a party atmosphere, so expect to do more dancing here than having intimate conversations with your bartender.
The bar has no cover charge, but keep in mind that it’s women-only until 2am. After that, anyone can enter until closing time.
Check out this article to read more about my experience at Adezakura.
Agit
Step into a more intimate bar with Showa era decor and a dimly-lit atmosphere. Agit is the sister bar of Adezakura, and has a completely different feel than the former. It’s still loud and raucous on the weekends, but what contributes to the cacophony is not loud music but the many conversations that fill the room. When I went here, only Japanese was being spoken, so this is a good place to go if you either know Japanese well or want to practice it.
Agit has karaoke and complimentary snacks to go along with your drink. You can either choose rice crackers or a small bowl of tofu topped with imitation crab and a delicious sauce (I’d go for the tofu, personally). The bar also welcomes customers of a pretty wide age range; I saw both middle-aged and younger women there. It does have a cover charge and is a mix bar, but I only saw women on the night I visited.
Dorobune
Dorobune is as much of a cafe as it is a bar. Closing at 11:30pm on weekends, it caters more to the dinner crowd than to late night partiers. With light-colored, almost beachy decor, and four or five tables for sit-down dining (as well as a bar), this cafe/bar is a perfect place to chat and unwind after work.
It also serves a full menu, many items of which are on the higher end, such as their homemade fig butter and herb salami. They also serve heartier options like roast beef banh mi and baked camembert with honey. I tried the grilled edamame beans, which had added soy sauce and other spices, and they were delicious! I’d definitely recommend going here for dinner as well as for drinks.
Do keep in mind that Dorobune is a women-only bar, and that it does have a cover charge.
Kamari
When you set foot in this almost shoebox-sized bar, you’ll see why its narrowness is more charming than inconvenient. A place with only five or six stools, a bar counter and not much else, Kamari reminds me of the petite galley bars of the Golden Gai, but a little gayer.
Kamari is technically ninja-themed, which explains the shuriken on its sign and the unique design of its business cards (you’ll have to go there to see them). While not technically a lesbian bar, Kamari is owned by a lesbian, and many lesbians go there regularly. It also has copies of the Bian Mappu (most likely derived from “lesbian map”), a comprehensive guidebook of all of the lesbian bars in Shinjuku Nichome.
Kamari is a mix bar and does have a cover charge.
Rainbow Burritos Doumo
When you step into this slightly rickety building, you might not expect that on the third floor is a charming little bar and cafe called Rainbow Burritos Doumo. The cafe specializes in Mexican food, and is a mix bar that leans in the direction of a lesbian clientele. With not much space, only four bar stools and one small table at the end of the room, like many Japanese bars, this isn’t a place to bring a large crowd. But, if you want to come by yourself or with a friend and have a casual chat with the bartender, this is the perfect place to do it.
I tried the chicken burrito, which was well-seasoned and delicious. It cost me ¥1,000, which isn’t a bad price these days. The regular-sized burrito was hefty and left me feeling full! The bar itself is wooden, and looks worn down in a charming way. With no cover charge and a playlist that regularly plays Pitbull, what reason do you have not to check it out?
Model Tokyo
This dimly-lit women-only bar gives off an alternative or even punk vibe. It’s small, but there’s still space to walk around, and the decor comes in various shades of pink and black. There are often more bartenders than customers here, with the number of bartenders reaching up to five people at one point when I was there! Some are dressed in cute outfits such as gothic lolita fashion, while others are dressed pretty normally.
Model Tokyo also offers karaoke and has an adjoining mix bar on the second floor called Model IOXO! Keep in mind, however, that they do have a cover charge.
Ajara あじゃら
Step into this bar with the aesthetic styling of a bistro. It’s located off a side street in Nichome, which lends to its quieter atmosphere. When I visited, there were two bartenders, a woman and a man, which led me to believe it was a mix bar. When I asked, the woman told me that it was, but that mostly lesbians visited, and it was also featured in the Bian Mappu!
In addition to drinks, Ajara serves hearty dinner options such as green curry and omerice (a Japanese omelet filled with rice). On their speakers, you’ll mostly hear pop hits playing, and although they have more of a restaurant vibe than that of a bar, they do have a cover charge.
Avanti
Last on our list is Avanti, a small snack bar with a Showa era feel and a kind middle-aged woman working as the sole bartender. Although she’s kind, she’ll strike up a conversation and start joking with you right away. In addition to serving alcohol, she sometimes offers customers a taste of the food cooking in her crock pot. When I went, it was Japanese pumpkin with green peppers in dashi, and it was very good!
The bar is painted in warm colors, especially dark red, and plays retro music, mostly from the ‘60s through the ‘80s. The joint seems to cater more towards middle-aged women than young women, but all are welcome. Avanti is technically a mix bar, but men are only allowed in if they’re accompanied by a woman or invited by one. There is also a cover charge.
Queen Tokyo: Newest Lesbian Bar
A new lesbian-friendly bar, Queen Tokyo, has popped up in Shinjuku Nichome. Although it’s a mix bar, it caters primarily to lesbians and queer women. Despite being located in a small space, this bar packs a mighty punch. With karaoke, a multilingual staff and an extensive drink menu, Queen Tokyo has everything you need to have a good time. It’s definitely the type of bar to go to if you want to dance, party and sing your heart out. Maybe not so much the type of bar to have a long chat with your bartender.
When you enter, you’ll see that the wall is adorned with polaroid photos of customers that have been arranged in a heart shape, with a string of white lights in the center also shaped into a heart. The entire front facade of the bar has large glass windows, so you can see what’s going on inside before stepping in. Seating, however, is not in abundance, with the only option being a few bar stools. So, when going, be prepared to stand or to dance!
Queen Tokyo has no cover charge, so don’t worry about spending any money just to get in the door.
Are You Ready to Hit the Streets and Find a Lesbian Bar?
Hopefully, this article gives you a comprehensive (but not exhaustive) list of the types of lesbian bars in Shinjuku Nichome, and the different scenes that each one caters to. Since lesbian bars can be wild and chaotic, or quiet and personal, it’s really about what you’re looking for!
So, if you’re ready to go lesbian bar hopping, bring some cash, know the basic rules, and prepare to have one hell of a time in Nichome!
