Make it a Night to Remember!
The gay nightlife in Shinjuku’s Nichome district is second to none. No matter what your taste – in music, food, drink, or potential partners – you’re bound to find something ( or someone) to pique your interest. But with so many options, it can be easy to get overwhelmed, so for first timers, here’s Japan Gay Guide’s quick and easy outline for an unforgettable Nichome night.
A Night in Nichome
So, before you kick off your night, the first thing to do is actually get to Nichome. The closest station is Shinjuku Sanchome, on the Fukutoshin, Marunouchi, and Shinjuku lines. From here, exiting C5-C8 puts you about a two minute walk away from the entrance to Nichome and the delights of its nightlife. Shinjuku station itself – the busiest train station in the world – is served by many lines, including the famous Yamanote line, and is roughly a ten minute walk from the gay nightlife of Nichome. You can either walk underground towards Shinjuku Sanchome station and leave from there, or you can step out of the East Exit and walk down Shinjuku Dori street.
Alamas Cafe in Nichome
The first thing you’ll want to do is grab a bite to eat. Nichome has a veritable smorgasbord of options available, but I’d recommend Alamas Cafe. It sits right in the center of a number of gay bars and clubs, and serves delicious Mexican food as well as lovely cocktails. The restaurant opens at about 6pm, so if you get here as it opens, you’ll not only get a seat (and be able to talk to the friendly and helpful staff) but you’ll be well set up for the second part of your night.
Drinks at King Tokyo
After dinner, you should take advantage of all the nomihodai (all-you-can-drink) options that are available in the early evening. Many gay bars in Nichome offer this, but a safe bet is King Tokyo. It is a mix bar, which means that it welcomes people of all genders and sexualities, so you don’t have to break up your group if you’re with men, women, or non-binary people. Its nomihodai offer is a steal at ¥1,500, and lasts from 6pm to 9pm, so make sure you go early to take things easy on your wallet (but try to be careful to take it easy on your liver, too!).
Dance Your Calories Off at AiSOTOPE Lounge
As 9pm approaches and the free flowing booze is replaced by pay-as-you-go drinking at most bars, why not limber up those legs that have been sitting at a table or counter for the last few hours and hit the dance floor? Shinjuku is home to a lot of clubs, and Nichome naturally is home to several gay clubs, but AiSOTOPE Lounge is a real highlight. With multiple floors playing different music, and regular events that give its patrons unique experiences night after night, no two visits are the same. It is worth checking the website before you go, however, as some nights are exclusively men only or women only.
Decisions, Decisions...
As midnight approaches, you’ll have some choices to make. Trains in Tokyo tend to close as the little hand on the clock passes 12 – and the nearest station, Shinjuku Sanchome, starts closing its entrances at 11:30pm. So if you’re not living or staying in central Tokyo and you want to go home, you should think about wrapping up by around 11pm, as a taxi to the capital’s outskirts could get pricey, otherwise.
Or, if you want to keep partying a little more, you could always consider stopping at a love hotel. While love hotels, as the name suggests, are aimed at couples looking for a place to get intimate, they are also affordable options for those who want to sleep for just a few hours until the trains reopen at around 5am.
But for those who don’t want to let these precious minutes slip by, many of the bars and clubs in Nichome stay open early into the morning, with 5am and 6am closing times being the norm on Fridays and Saturdays. If you can keep your eyes open and party until the sun comes up, then go for it! Just make sure you don’t have a busy morning booked. If you ever get hungry, the ubiquitous convenience stores are open 24/7, and offer simple yet tasty food to keep rumbling bellies at bay.
Looking For More?
And so ends your easy to follow, one-night whistle-stop tour of Nichome! But be aware: for convenience, this guide has stuck only to a few locations that are very close together. There are lots more bars, clubs, and more nightlife to explore and enjoy. If you’re making a second visit, why not check some of our other guides for ideas? Or, if you’re feeling bold, why not make a friend at one of the places we’ve detailed, and get a recommendation? Just because you’re partying like it’s your last night in Shinjuku doesn’t mean it has to be!
If you want to know a full-day plan in Shinjuku Nichome, check this article below!
