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Shinjuku 2-chome & Asakusa: An Amazing Adventure into the LGTB History and Scene of Tokyo
4.7
12 Ratings
Taito City
Join us on an amazing adventure into the LGBT history and scene of Tokyo. Explore Shinjuku 2-chome, Japan's largest gayborhood, and experience the vibrant culture of Asakusa. Discover the past and present of Japanese gay society on this inclusive tour.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
6 days
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Highlights
- Asakusa - Sensoji (Temple) forms the deeply historic heart of Asakusa, but the shopping, dining, and entertainment areas alongside its approach is also the center of Tokyo’s “elder gay” population. A century ago, Asakusa was in many ways what Shinjuku and Shibuya are like today. In fact, the Asakusa to Ueno stretch was so popular back in the early 20th century that Asia’s first subway was built between those two areas (this is now known as the Ginza line). As the area aged, the clientele aged and changed faces too, and especially in more recent years, there has been a plethora of gay bars, saunas, and even cruising areas for the daddies and granddaddies of the gay persuasion. We’ll walk around the neighborhood, talk about history, cultural context, and take a gander at some notable sights from the outside.
What's Included
- 2 drinks included (choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
- Dinner provided
- Gratuities included
- Alcoholic beverages available
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup (please inquire – this may be available for an additional charge upon request)
- Transportation (you’ll need 270 yen for the one subway ride we take)
Additional Information
Behind every stoic Japanese businessman face there is a secret, thus one aspect of ‘honne tatemae,’ which loosely translates to something along the lines of keeping the publicly acceptable face forward, and the true face within. This, combined with Japanese culture’s general disdain for public affection, might make Tokyo seem to not have as vibrant an LGBT presence as hoped. Worry not: In a city as big as Tokyo, there is of course a thriving gay scene – if you know where to look. Tonight, you’ll not only see Japan’s largest gayborhood, Shinjuku 2-chome, but Asakusa in the evening as well. You’ll also get a solid primer in Japanese gay society, both past and present. We’ll stop along the way for a local Japanese meal (veg options available), and a couple of drinks too. Get ready for a well-rounded adventure into the heart of homosexuality in Japan, led by a friendly native (or equivalent) speaker of your selected language who knows what it means to be gay in Japan.
- Minimum age is 18 years
- Japan’s drinking age is 20 years.
Location
Kamiya Bar
Please meet on the corner outside this famous bar/restaurant. Easily accessible by two different subway lines.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(12 Ratings)
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S197whtammyl
Mar 11, 2024
The best tour! - I took many day tours during my visit to Japan and Cecilia is the absolute best guide. This tour covered historical sites, traditions, cultural insight, sampling of local bar food, and vibrant night scene. My other tours were interesting, but this one delved deeper in explaining the customs and culture which became alive with Cecelia's life experience and stories. After touring the area you aren't shuttled into the same place that everyone visits and actually get to pick which bar you want to visit. I highly recommend this experience to everyone, and a special thanks to Cecelia for her warm and personable guidance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scott_s
Feb 28, 2024
Good Overview of the LGBT+ Scene - This was a nice little tour. Our guide, Mayo, did an excellent job pointing out various places and providing information as we walked. They answered all of the questions we had as they shared a bit of the local scene…which was a lot larger than we had imagined.
We had a nice stop for dinner and went to a bar for a drink. I do wish we had been able to do the tour on a weekend instead of a Tuesday night because there would have been more venues open and active. I would recommend the tour for a snapshot of the local LGBT+ areas.
Review provided by Viator
Richard_n
Sep 11, 2023
Mayo the Magnificent - Our guide was Mayo. Fantastic! Very knowledgeable, articulate, helpful and friendly. A great evening. We we’re having such a great time we ran overtime. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Adam_a
Aug 24, 2023
Learn about the gay side of things - Since it was a Tuesday, it was just me and Lukas my friendly Belgian guide. Took me out and about, explained Japanese gay culture and how it all works. Learned a ton, and eventually wound up at fun spot popular with ex-pats. Highly recommend to see the gay side of things around town and decode a lot of the area and things you may see.
Review provided by Viator
Jack_l
Jul 5, 2023
Interesting and educational overview! - Lucasz was extremely knowledgeable about the areas we toured -- as a European who has been living in Japan for a number of years, he had a unique perspective on the Tokyo community. I wish we had booked this tour toward the beginning of our trip, rather than on our last night there.
Review provided by Viator
Nickci3200gc
Jun 28, 2023
Great way to see a slice of life - We had a fantastic time with Lukas who was insightful and knowledgable about LGBT life in Tokyo! We got to see a side of queer life we wouldn’t otherwise experience as tourists. The small group was friendly and the food and drink options were great. Would recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cruiser67460335594
Apr 23, 2023
Worth the time and money!! - We just finished our LGBTQ+ tour last night with Lukas. We are glad to have booked it! We were able to see a lot of unique and out of the way places in the Tokyo area (Asakusa and Shinjuku) that would have been hard to know about without someone who knows the area. It was well worth the time and money!
Thanks Pinpoint Traveler and Lukas!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
229leviw
Apr 10, 2023
Amazing Night! - This tour was awesome. We got to see the real side of the Tokyo gay scene in the various places we visited. Lukas did a fantastic job taking us to various sights along the way. We got to see a variety of gay bars and ended up spending the rest of the evening at a few of these places. This was by far one of the most fun nights we experienced on our trip to Japan. We made new friends and partied the night away. I would definitely recommend this tour to others looking to have a fun experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marvin_f
Apr 20, 2023
AN INTIMATE AND ENLIGHTENING WALKING TOUR 🌈 - Being a week day, I was the only person on the tour and guide Luke was very knowledgeable and engaging. This is a walking tour so wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately.
I enjoy learning about the LGBT history in Tokyo's Asakusa and Shinjuku districts. We stopped by numerous establishments primarily from curbside (we did 'peek' into a few), had a ramen dinner break, and continued walking around while being told about protocols and etiquette in the LGBT community. We ended the tour visiting a lively bar that was partially 'open air' during the late spring.
I highly recommend this tour if you would like to learn about the LGBT culture and establishments in Tokyo. It was a fun evening!
Review provided by Viator
Sammi_f
Apr 24, 2023
Not Worth the Money - I was looking forward to this tour, but found myself disappointed. After about 15 minutes, the tour deteriorated into pointing at buildings as opposed to anything historical or in-depth. Some comments were made about trans people and lesbians that made it clear the tour guide did not understand politically correct terminology or appropriate language. This tour was incredibly expensive for what was offered as well, so my suggestion is to save your money and look elsewhere.
Review provided by Viator
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