After learning about the first Muscle Girls Bar in the world, I knew I had to visit it. Always avid of new experiences, I couldn’t wait to see this place filled with buff women I had researched so much about.
The Arrival To Muscle Girls Bar
My reservation was at 8pm. Avid of new experiences, yes, but a bit scared, I had asked a friend to come with me. I arrived at 7:45pm, and waited out front of the unassuming building. It looked like any old Ikebukuro red district building, with flashy posters for bars and hostesses that somehow all blend together. I spotted the “M” for “muscle” that I had seen online; it looked like a big nose ring. Or a dumbbell, I guess.
I saw the people from the previous reservation slots come out of the building, chatting and laughing. I couldn’t help but notice two obviously gay couples, which reassured me – I will not lie that I feel most comfortable in queer-friendly places.
The Entry Protocol
Once my friend arrived, just before 8, we got in the line that had gotten quite a bit longer since I got there. Soon, it shortened little by little, until we got to the bouncer. She checked our reservation, announced that two people were getting in over a walkie-talkie, and opened the door. Instantly, we were hit by loud music and strobe lights – exactly what I was expecting.
We got sat right next to the stage, alongside one of the two long blue LED counter tables. We got assigned our server, a fit woman with an extravagant haircut and some piercings. She told us that we each needed to pay 4000 yen in advance. I was a bit confused; I had seen on their website that it cost 1500 yen + 20% tax (1800 yen) for half an hour. I told her that we wanted to stay for half an hour, but she told us it wasn’t possible. Well, I guessed that it was easier for them to have customers in for a full hour (and I soon got to learn why). Still, the math just wasn’t adding up to 1800 + 1800 = 4000; my best guess was that it was easier to deal with full bills. Nonetheless, I forked over the money, and we got started ordering drinks. I asked for an apple sour, a neon green drink that seemed to be popular around the bar. The waitress brought the drinks not much later than one minute after, and she flexed her biceps as she handed them to us.
The Experience
Drink in hand and sipping, I then got to looking around a bit more. If the waitress we were assigned was not the most amicable, I saw that the one right nearby was tirelessly entertaining her guests, flexing, dancing, and smiling. The clientele were a majority of men; some salarymen, some LGBTQ+ people, and a lot of foreign tourist groups.
For the first part of the hour, the waitresses were busy serving clients. Some patrons were getting up on the stage one after the other, trying to do 50 bench presses in a row to win 10 muscle dollars, the currency for tips at the bar and worth 1000 yen. The weight on the machine then went up, and the clients could win more muscle dollars. I did not try it myself, but it was fun watching all those shirtless men get a try at the challenge…!
Regular Show
All of a sudden, the servers went back to the alley in the center, and the music and lighting changed. They started to perform a choreography, full of poses and flexes, and involving a bit of stripping when they took off their jackets – under the woohs of the customers. A few also played on the dancing pole (one the stage) and traction bar (in the center of the alley). There were lots of things going on at once, but somehow not in an overwhelming way; rather, in a way that you could look anywhere and something was happening. It was very entertaining.
Special Show For Paying Customers
Seamlessly blending into the regular show, began the “paid” show; that 5000 yen per person performance that involved squeezing fresh fruits directly into a jug and into the mouth of patrons that paid for it. Even without having paid the price, us regular price payers could enjoy this part; it was simply not right in front of our eyes. Just glancing to the right, we could see a shirtless man get a faceful of oranges – no pun intended.
After the show, started the muscle dollar gigs: group photos between customers and servers in striking poses, getting picked up like a princess, getting slapped as hard as possible across the face; again, without paying for those extras, we could enjoy them in the corner of our eyes.
Closing Thoughts
Overall, there is no denial that the Muscle Girls bar is an experience totally unique in the world. With a varied cast of servers and customers alike, everyone should be able to find something they like about the concept. Sure, the pricing is a little confusing and the drinks may not be the best, but that doesn’t really matter in the face of the entertainment value; the free show and additional possible attractions are what truly make this bar a go-to when visiting Tokyo.
Japan Gay Guide is not affiliated or sponsored by Muscle Girls Bar.
