Curious about Tokyo’s premier gay and LGBTQ district, Shinjuku Nichome? It has quite the reputation for having a little bit of everything: gay clubs, lesbian bars, drag shows, all-gender cafes, and more. Nichome is known for its fun and friendly atmosphere, but it can still be a little bit intimidating when going there for the first time.
In this article, I’ll try to lay out the five most important tips to remember when visiting Shinjuku Nichome. I’ll also explain each one in enough detail for them to be easy to follow, and mention a few of my personal recommendations to spice things up a bit!
5 Essential Tips for Going to Nichome
If You’re Not Sure What You’re Looking for, Try a Mix Bar!
There are a few different kinds of bars in 2 chome: there are gay bars that only allow men, lesbian bars that only allow women, and “mix bars”. Mix bars are venues where anyone is allowed in, regardless of gender identity. For someone who isn’t exactly sure what they’re looking for in Shinjuku Nichome, mix bars are a good option to meet like-minded people, have a good time, and get tips about more specialized bars that might be right for you.
Some mix bar still primarily cater to one type of clientele, however. For example, Bar Gold Finger is a lesbian bar that allows anyone to enter six nights a week, but only allows entry to women on Saturdays. It still attracts primarily lesbians, but most of the time, anybody can check it out. When I visited Gold Finger on a mix night, the crowd was women for the most part, but there was a smattering of men here and there.
Get to Know the Staff, Not Just the Patrons
Unlike many areas of Japan with ultra-polite, formal customer service, Shinjuku Nichome has a more relaxed atmosphere where staff are friendly, and usually want to talk. Since most of the bartenders and performers are queer themselves, they are working here with the purpose of meeting like-minded people, and not just getting a paycheck.
In smaller, more intimate venues, it’s easy to strike up a conversation with your bartender about a range of topics. In Nichome, conversations don’t always stay safe for work, and you’re bound to learn some… unique Japanese slang if you hang around the district for long enough.
At Campy! Bar, a well-known and popular drag bar in Shinjuku Nichome, every night there are drag queens working at the bar whose job it is to converse with customers. To get into a conversation with one of these queens, you will probably have to buy them a drink, but the price is definitely worth it for some spicy conversation.
For a More Chill Experience, Go on a Weekday
This may seem counter-intuitive if you’re looking for a raucous night out. But for those that like a more relaxed atmosphere where you can actually hear whoever you’re talking to, consider coming on a weekday, when it is less crowded. Don’t worry, there will still be a good number of people there to chat with, but it may not be as congested or noisy.
Chances are there will also be more tourists on a weekday. This could actually be a good thing, though. If you don’t speak much Japanese and still want to meet people who you can easily converse with, going on a weeknight will increase your chances of meeting some other English speakers who’re probably checking out Nichome for the first time too. Finding your fellow newbies can also make your trip there a little less intimidating.
Arrive Early for Happy Hour Discounts
According to John, a Nichome regular, a surprisingly good time to come is at around 6pm. This is when a lot of the happy hour discounts start, which can allow you to get a really good deal on drinks.
For example, KING Tokyo, a gay bar (that’s also a mix bar), offers all-you-can-drink for only ¥1,500 every night from 6pm to 9pm. This is an extremely good deal, since one drink in Nichome can easily cost you ¥1,000 or more. Bar Gold Finger also has a happy hour every night from 5pm to 7pm, where you can get two large drinks for just ¥1,000!
If you’re concerned that arriving at an earlier hour means there’ll be no one there to socialize with, I wouldn’t worry too much. At times when I’ve come to the district early, there have always been crowds of people chatting and having a good time. Besides, if you’re someone who likes a more laid back atmosphere, coming earlier may be another good strategy to circumvent some of the chaos.
Touristy Bars Are Still a Lot of Fun!
It’s completely understandable that while you’re in Tokyo, you may want to avoid spots that are too touristy. With ridiculous crowds and inflated prices, who wouldn’t want to do more sightseeing off the beaten path
While this is a good general rule of thumb, for Shinjuku Nichome, one tip that I have is that going to the most popular bars and venues, where you’ll probably find the most tourists, is not always a bad idea. In fact, all of the bars I’ve mentioned are pretty well-known and popular, and I’ve never gone to one of these places and had a bad time.
As I said before, especially if you don’t speak Japanese, meeting tourists can actually be fun. You can exchange info about where you’re traveling from, how long you’ll be in Japan, and even whether you’d be able to meet up again some time. No one that I’ve met in 2 chome has been someone I’ve regretted meeting, whether they’re Japanese, a foreign resident or a tourist.
I’m sure there are also some very good bars that are a little off the beaten path, and feel free to call me uncultured, but I haven’t actually explored any yet. I’m definitely not opposed, though, and I’ll get back to you on which lesser-known spots end up being my favorite.
Keep These Tips in Mind for Your Next Night Out in Nichome!
Everyone is looking for something a bit different, so I’ve tried to include a variety of tips for people with various lifestyles and goals who are visiting Nichome. If even one of these tips ends up coming in handy for you, I’ll be happy I put in the time and effort to research them. In the meantime, have a blast exploring Tokyo’s #1 gay district!
Make sure to check this article below for more information about Shinjuku Nichome culture!
