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TripOut Gay Travel:
Tokyo

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Gay Friendly Rating: Gay Friendly Rating Tolerant and friendly; but be mindful about PDAs.
One of the world’s most exciting, fashionable, and trend-obsessed cities, Tokyo packs a dazzling assault on the senses for even the most jaded world traveler.

Tokyo Fast Facts:

  • Gayborhood The Shinjuku neighborhood is crammed with closet-sized bars, slightly larger dance clubs, "host bars" (read: hustler), a 24-hour gay sauna, and naughty bookstores.
  • Tokyo's denizens live and die by the subway schedule: taxis are so expensive, many will stay up in a bar or arcade all night (or even the 24-hour gay saunas!) if they miss their last train home.
  • Pick up the English-language free monthly, Tokyo Journal (), for events, dining, and queer-interest listings. And visit bento.com for an indispensable up-to-the-second guide to Tokyo dining written by expats.
  • If you're going to have sushi once in Toyko, wake up super-early and head to the Tsukiji fish market. Their sushi and sashimi breakfasts are transcendent - and right off the boat.
  • There are periodicals dedicated to "street style" - the looks of today's funky (and pretty queer-lookin') youth on the street. Pick up Fruits and Choki Choki magazines as souvenirs.
  • Since it's a no-no to smoke in some busy areas, like Shibuya and Roppongi Hills, there are space-age glass housings clearly marked "Smokers Style" that you can lock yourself inside and get, er, stylish with your tobacco. Or look kinda pathetic.
  • The Tower Records in Shinjuku and Shibuya are best places to sample new CDs thanks to a bevy of listening stations.
  • As noted above, taxis are REALLY expensive, so be ready to stay out all night or shack up close to where you're partying!
  • There are no street addresses in Tokyo - just confusing sets of building/block/neighborhood numbers. So call the business or place you're heading and ask them to fax a map (or have your hotel's concierge print it off the internet).
  • Japanese grub is pretty healthy, so if you crave the deep-fry, hit a Katsu restaurant: they specialize in crispy, fried pork cutlets.
  • Time Out's Tokyo city guide ($19.95) is an excellent bring-along and includes a section for Gays and Lesbians covering bars, parties, sex clubs, "love hotels," and more.

Tokyo: Exhilarating Metropolis

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In Tokyo, the word “gay” isn’t lost in translation - it’s just said VERY discreetly. One of the world’s most exciting, fashionable, and trend-obsessed cities, Tokyo packs a dazzling assault on the senses for even the most jaded world... Read More Tokyo: Exhilarating...
Related

Tokyo Top 5

Don't leave town before checking out...
  1. Park Hyatt Tokyo
  2. Tsukiji Fish Market
  3. Isetan Food Hall
  4. Arty Farty
  5. @home Cafe

Recommended In Tokyo:

Send us a recommendation!

Hotels & Inns

Restaurants

Bars & Clubs

  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Advocates Cafe 7th Tenka Bldg.
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Advocates Tokyo 7th Tenka Bldg.
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Annex 1F Futami Bldg
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Arty Farty Dai 33 Kyutei Bldg. 2F
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Bar Atom 2F Futami Bldg.
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Dragon Men 1F Stork Nagasaki Bldg.
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 1
    GB Shinjuku Plaza Bldg B1F
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Itsumo
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Kinswomyn Daiichi Tenka Bldg 3F

Shopping

Sights & Activities

More Tokyo: Related Websites

  • http://www.tokyo.to The English-language free monthly, Tokyo Journal has events, dining, and queer-interest listings.