KING TOKYO in Nichome
With its large, bright, inviting sign, King Tokyo stands out as one of the true lords of Tokyo’s gay haunts. Situated in the heart of Nichome, surrounded by bars, cafes and restaurants that might be considered royal attendants, King is a small yet intimate bar that is at the same time inviting, exciting, and fun. It is one of the city’s most open and accepting bars: while the majority of its clientele are gay men, it prides itself on being open and accepting to patrons regardless of gender or sexual orientation, and has a supremely relaxed dress code, so there’s no need to dress to impress if you’re just looking for a quick drink in a fun atmosphere after work – though no one will complain if you do decide to get dolled up.
King is very popular among international customers, and the friendly, enthusiastic bar staff speak English and Japanese making it the perfect first port of call for tourists looking to check out Tokyo’s gay nightlife. The staff are also professionally trained to handle difficult or uncomfortable situations delicately, discretely, and effectively, so any visitors can rest assured that they are safe at all times – especially as the bar is watched over by Kirby, Gengar, and Hatsune Miku.
The interior has a space for dancing, plays bop after bop night after night, and regularly hosts special events such as “Otoko no Matsuri” (or, “Men’s Festival”) to make sure that regulars always have something to look forward to.
Alexander, a regular customer says,
There’s always someone interesting to meet here, and there’s a different vibe every night.
In the week it’s chill and you can relax, at the weekend it gets crazy and exciting.
Address: 1F, 2-11-10 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022
Opening hours: 6pm-5am, Fri-Sat; 6pm-3am, Sun-Thu
KINGDOM TOKYO in Nichome
The King Group family is also expanding this year, with the July opening of Kingdom, a standing gay bar that has live DJs and focuses on the taboo, fetish, and sexual fantasies with weekly events and entertainment. It is the rebirth of Icon Club, long considered one of Nichome’s hottest spots to get a little nuts. Now it is entering a new age, where customers can let loose while they share the joys of being tied up.
It’s the perfect place for those who want to take a walk (or maybe be walked) on the wild side. All hail the King!
Address: 1F, TOM Building, 2-10-7, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0022
Opening hours: Sun-Thu, 6pm-3am; Fri-Sat, 6pm-5am
Eagle Tokyo Blue
A relative newcomer to the scene, Eagle Tokyo Blue is a part of the larger Eagle Tokyo Group, just a few doors down from its predecessor and sister bar, the original Eagle Tokyo. It has quickly gained a strong reputation for its friendly atmosphere for those looking to kick off (or show off) their heels. Customers love the cheerful, lively, multilingual bar staff, who have been known to not only mingle with the visitors, but also to occasionally hand out free shots to incentivize a relaxed, sociable vibe – perfect for a watering hole that is known as one of the city’s best shots bars.
Eagle Tokyo Blue is also the home of Opulence, the largest international drag show in Japan, and Agartha, one of the country’s largest gay parties. It also regularly hosts guest DJs to pump up the volume and the dancers, in addition to its nightly popular music grooves.
It also offers saucy souvenirs for tourists who want to have a permanent keepsake of their time in Tokyo, when they were soaring with the Eagle.
Bartender and artist NAXX gave his brief outline of the bar’s appeal, telling Japan Gay Guide,
We’re a very inclusive bar. Gays, lesbians, and straight people are all welcome. It’s a very popular place, and last year Lil Nas X came to visit us. After that, a lot of people started coming here, it was crazy!
Address: Casa Verde 1F, B1F Shinjuku 2-11-2, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0022
Opening hours: Fri-Sun, 6pm-4am; Mon-Thu, 8pm-4am
Dragon Men
Dragons might have a scary reputation in folklore, but there’s nothing frightening about this welcoming bar that has been a firm favorite for gay locals, foreign residents, and tourists for well over a decade. The bar itself is in a unique ‘S’ shape, allowing for easy access for anyone looking to enjoy Dragon Men‘s famous relaxed, sociable vibes, all under the watchful eyes of the svelte dragon sculptures that hang from the ceiling.
But though it has a reputation as a chilled out, easy-going place for queer people and allies from around the world to get together, this isn’t to say that things don’t get exciting. Dragon Men often plays host to male gogo dancers, as well as innovative DJs to play set mixes hotter than dragon flames. Speaking of heat, Dragon Men is a terrific spot for anyone visiting Tokyo in the summer months, as it has an open-air outdoor space to enjoy the twinkling stars on clear nights, as well as have a more quiet, cooler locale for guests to share intimate conversations.
Hiro, a bartender, explains,
We’re a gay bar, but at the weekends, we’re a club. We’re easy to find, and because our staff speak English, it’s easy for tourists to have a good time here. We also have staff from Mongolia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. We’re a very multi-lingual gay spot.
A safe bet for Nichome regulars and tourists alike, Dragon Men is the perfect place to start your night, or to have a nice nightcap in a gay-friendly, chilled out atmosphere.
Address: 2-11-4 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0022
AiiRO Cafe
Finding your favorite new gay bar can often feel like a spiritual experience, but how many actually have a Torii shrine gate at the entrance? AiiRO Cafe is an open-air gay bar that is not just a great place to make friends, meet guys, and have a delicious, refreshing drink, but it prides itself on being a gateway for newcomers looking to explore the gay community in Nichome, as well as Tokyo more broadly.
The English-speaking staff are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to gay events, bars, cafes, and other establishments throughout the city – which, when there are roughly 500 gay bars in Nichome alone, is extremely helpful. While you help yourself to a terrific tipple, feel free to ask about other places that suit your particular needs or interests, and they will point you in the right direction… unless you’re already so charmed by AiiRO that you make it your local, which is a strong possibility.
As well as catering to international visitors, as well as domestic tourists from Japan, AiiRO Cafe hosts regular events for its long-term patrons, and every weekend you can see glamorous drag queens and muscly gogo dancers eager to share a drink and a conversation with you.
A long-term associate of AiiRO, Cody, highlights some of the bar’s unique features that draw a lively, friendly crowd. “We’re a tachinomi, a standing bar. So there are no chairs, which means that people stand next to each other, and naturally start talking to each other, so you can make friends easily. On our anniversary party, it started raining, but it became a great memory for everyone, because we all went outside and danced in the rain.”
Address: 7th Tena Building 1F, 2-18-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo, 160-0022
Opening hours: Mon-Thu, 6pm-2am; Fri-Say 6pm-5am; Sun 6pm-12am
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