Tokyo LGBTQ Night Tour

What your day looks like

Long ago, Asakusa was the playground for young straight people. Through the 1920s and 1930s, before Shinjuku and Shibuya were much to speak of, it was Asakusa and Ueno where the middle class went out for a good time, did their shopping, and just lived life in the hustle and bustle. As time passed, the map of the city changed, and this holds true for the LGBTQ+ scene too. It’s hard to imagine young gay men going out for a good night of revelry in Asakusa, but the older generation (as in 60s+) still has quite a solid home here.The difference between Asakusa and Shinjuku isn’t just age group, but also format. In Asakusa, everything is still very hush-hush. Gay bars are hard to identify. Then there’s the gay saunas, and the cruising park too. Again, most Japanese have no idea this is going on in Asakusa. They only know of 2-Chome, if anything.Most of the people at these various gay venues have something in common: Extreme closeted living. Nowadays, slowly but surely, if not acceptable to be openly gay, it is becoming acceptable to at least not be married (of course I mean to someone of the opposite sex). In the old days however, there was tremendous pressure for men to be married by 30 and women to be married a good seven years before that. Even today in Japan, fighting the system rarely works out very well, so getting married is exactly what Community members did. Then think sexy thoughts and have a child or two. However, as it turns out, those urges don’t go away! Thus the world of secret lives, where going out with friends might mean something extra friendly and going to soak in the baths may involve some splashing out, and a walk in the park with the dog may extend to a bit of a wilderness experience. After walking around Asakusa, we’ll catch the subway to Shinjuku’s 2-Chome district. Before diving into the big scene. However, a little food is in order. Not good to drink on an empty stomach after all! We have a few nice options to choose from in the restaurant district just across the road from 2-Chome’s bars. Local places with food Tokyo businessmen and youth alike tend to really enjoy. Your light meal and one drink is covered as a part of your tour. Part three of our evening together finally takes us to where it all comes together today, Shinjuku 2-Chome. Also, it should be noted that whereas Asakusa’s scene is really only directed at older gay men, the 2-Chome scene includes not only something for men of varying ages and categories, but also something for women looking for the company of another woman.2-Chome is the most openly gay district in Japan. Especially over the last 5-10 years, more and more bars have been open to the street or having large glass windows. The veil is being lifted and people seem pretty ok about it. Our stroll about the ‘hood will walk by casual, kink, steamy, hookup spaces, and more. We know the district well. Afterwards, we’ll end the night with a drink in one of the less cruisy bars so as to allow you to see the community in casual mode.Although our gay Tokyo tour doesn’t visit these areas, Shibuya has a sprinkling of gay bars and the Shimbashi area has a sizeable gay scene oriented towards the (generally closeted) Japanese businessen type. Ask your guide for more info!