Nichome’s long-running reputation as a “gayborhood,” along with its significant (and increasing) popularity among men coming to Japan has left some people questioning — sometimes in our DMs — “is there a lesbian equivalent of Nichome?”
Well, the answer is… yes: Nichome! Although bars for men are more prevalent in the area, it is also the home to the majority of Tokyo’s watering holes for women who love women. Many of these bars can even be sampled on the JGG Lesbian Night Tour! Let’s go through a few of them, so that you’ll know what you can look forward to!
Queen Tokyo
One of the newest bars for queer women, Queen Tokyo is the sister bar of King Tokyo, and is happily located just across the street (perhaps for some friendly sibling rivalry!). Although it is a mixed bar, meaning that men are permitted entry, it focuses on being a welcoming space for women, and in particular women who may be starting to question or explore their sexual orientation.
With staff who speak English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, Queen is extremely welcoming to overseas tourists, and has a raucous, infectious energy that will get anyone hype as their night starts up. For the more exuberant among us, it also offers karaoke, giving you a chance to show off your lungs, as well as meaning that the music selection is different on any given night.
You can find out more about Queen Tokyo here!
Diamond Holic
Diamond Holic, in contrast with Queen, is women-only: no men are permitted entry whatsoever. With a deep red interior design, you’ll have rose-tinted glasses on from the moment you arrive. Diamond Holic is a shot bar — which doesn’t mean that it only serves shots, but rather that drinks are served on a “pay as you go” basis, rather than with a check at the end of your night.
A local favorite, Diamond Holic regularly holds a number of events, celebrating staff birthdays, music genre-specific nights, or costume parties. It is also the organizer of Diamond Cutter, the premier women-exclusive club event in Tokyo. This is a bar for people who really want to experience the local scene for queer women, and is a stop on your Nichome tour that you won’t forget in a long time!
Gold Finger
Now we’re talking. Gold Finger is to Tokyo lesbian bars what Rolls Royce is to cars: it’s got the reputation and the goods to back it up. A veritable Nichome institution, Gold Finger has a history going back all the way to 1991, and today it is the best-known women-focused mix bar in the entire city.
Now, while it is a mix bar, Saturdays are women-only, and even on days that men are permitted, they are heavily outnumbered by women. Once you make your way inside, you are greeted with a cozy and trendy interior with happy and enthusiastic staff and patrons. This bar is popular with both locals and visitors, so you can truly experience the best of both worlds. There are a number of good drinks deals, including the potentially dangerous shots option — the more you buy, the cheaper they become! It is also offers free popcorn… lesbian flavor popcorn. Try it for yourself!
You can find our detailed thoughts on Gold Finger here!
Kingdom
The JGG Lesbian Night Tour comes to its conclusion in Kingdom, a new Nichome legend, where you can enjoy pumping music, great dancing, and even a show! Kingdom is themed as an edgier, freer bar than even among those in Nichome, so don’t be surprised if you come across people in provocative, perhaps even scandalizing outfits!
The conclusion of the night features performances from gogo boy dancers and fun and funny drag queens. This is a high-energy dance locale for everyone to let loose — it’s the end of the night, so if you’ve got any energy left, burn it!
You can find out more about Kingdom with an experience report right here!
In Summary
Nichome is so much more than a hub for gay men, and lesbian, queer, and bisexual women from all backgrounds can find something for them in the biggest LGBTQ+ neighborhood in the country. If you want to get a taste without needing to plan or stress, why not take one of JGG’s curated Lesbian Night Tours? We’re looking forward to seeing you!
