Curious about Tokyoâs 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, Iâll try to lay out the five most important tips to remember when visiting Shinjuku Nichome. Iâll 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 Youâre Not Sure What Youâre 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 âmix barsâ. Mix bars are venues where anyone is allowed in, regardless of gender identity. For someone who isnât exactly sure what theyâre 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, itâs easy to strike up a conversation with your bartender about a range of topics. In Nichome, conversations donât always stay safe for work, and youâre bound to learn some⊠unique Japanese slang if you hang around the district for long enough.Â
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 youâre looking for a raucous night out. But for those that like a more relaxed atmosphere where you can actually hear whoever youâre talking to, consider coming on a weekday, when it is less crowded. Donât worry, there will still be a good number of people there to chat with, but it may not be as congested or noisy.Â
Chances are there will also be more tourists on a weekday. This could actually be a good thing, though. If you donât 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 whoâre 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.Â
For example, KING Tokyo, a gay bar (thatâs 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 youâre concerned that arriving at an earlier hour means thereâll be no one there to socialize with, I wouldnât worry too much. At times when Iâve come to the district early, there have always been crowds of people chatting and having a good time. Besides, if youâre 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!
Itâs completely understandable that while youâre in Tokyo, you may want to avoid spots that are too touristy. With ridiculous crowds and inflated prices, who wouldnât 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 youâll probably find the most tourists, is not always a bad idea. In fact, all of the bars Iâve mentioned are pretty well-known and popular, and Iâve never gone to one of these places and had a bad time.Â
As I said before, especially if you donât speak Japanese, meeting tourists can actually be fun. You can exchange info about where youâre traveling from, how long youâll be in Japan, and even whether youâd be able to meet up again some time. No one that Iâve met in 2 chome has been someone Iâve regretted meeting, whether theyâre Japanese, a foreign resident or a tourist.
Iâm 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 havenât actually explored any yet. Iâm definitely not opposed, though, and Iâll 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 Iâve 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, Iâll be happy I put in the time and effort to research them. In the meantime, have a blast exploring Tokyoâs #1 gay district!
Make sure to check this article below for more information about Shinjuku Nichome culture!
