Top Three Shibuya Gay Bars
Shinjukuâs Nichome district is, as everyone knows, the capital of LGBTQ+ life in Tokyo, and indeed Japan itself. Thatâs what makes it the perfect place to dip your toes into Japanâs gasy culture, with one of our tours!
But what if you want to go for a drink in a gay bar after youâve been on a JGG Tour⊠and youâre not in Nichome? Not even in Shinjuku? What if youâre in the trendy pop-culture and tech hub of Shibuya?
Fear not, for under the watchful gaze of Hachiko, there are options for those who want to go into friendly gay bars with charming staff and bubbly regulars, so letâs go through a few of them today.
Shibuya Home
A short walk from Shibuya station, this is one of the most popular gay bars for visitors and locals, this âsight-seeing barâ truly is a must-visit for anyone in the area. It considers itself a âsight-seeing barâ because it is a place for anyone and everyone to see and be seen. When the bar was opened in 2013, Takejirou (Homeâs Mama-san) envisioned it as a place that anyone could and should visit, regardless of gender, sexuality, race, or nationality.
A natural-born caregiver, Takejirou has made Home synonymous with hospitality. Upon entering the bar, guests are given a âwelcome tequilaâ shot, and when pouring drinks from the bottle, he always wants guests to say âstopâ when they think itâs enough. And make sure that you do say âstopâ: he has said that when foreign guests say âno, no, no!â, his reply is âthat isnât âstop!ââ
You can also get an all-you-can-eat snack selection, as well as enjoy karaoke for an extra „1,000 for all-you-can-sing. Its signature drink is a coffee martini: and they are clear itâs a real coffee martini, not an espresso martini.
With exuberant staff and a steady stream of customers, this bar will make anyone feel right at Home.
Shibuya 246
The words most associated with Shibuya 246 tend to be along the lines of âquaint,â âcosy,â and âcharming,â but donât be fooled â this place is as fun as any other. It bills itself as âthe friendliest gay bar in Shibuya,â and as the place to have an authentic Japanese gay bar experience.
It is especially popular with patrons from their 20s to their 40s, with discounts for those specifically in their 20s. There are also discounts for groups of five or more customers, who can enjoy all you can drink Kinmiya shochu and karaoke for up to three hours before midnight. The karaoke is a main draw for this bar, with songs doing for „200 per ditty, and unlimited singing for those who pay „800 for four or more songs.
They also periodically have shows by gogo boy dancers to keep things hot and lively as the night gets dark and cool!
Bar VIVO
Taking its cue from âVivoâ being âto liveâ in Latin, Bar VIVO exists to be an energetic yet chilled out location for anyone who doesnât necessarily want a rager of a night â but would still like the option.
Staffed by gay men described by the bar as ârefreshing(?)â â yes, question mark theirs â you can indulge in karaoke, but in a separate annex, so as not to disturb people who donât want things too loud. In addition to the typical âshotâ service, where customers pay for their drink as they buy them, as is custom in most European pubs and bars, Bar VIVO also has a âbottle keepâ service, so that anyone who is going to come back for a few visits can purchase a bottle to keep behind the bar waiting for them whenever they come back, like an old friend.
The bar serves a wide range of drinks and mixers, and holds special events. Occasionally, they even allow customers to try their hand at being a Mama-san! Now thatâs the way to live!
In Summary
Shibuya has a lot to offer, and the gay nightlife is non exception. After youâve finished a guided tour of Nichome, and youâre familiar with Japanese gay bars and customs, you too will be able to get the most out of the groovy bars in trendy town.
