17 editor picks across Japan.
17 lgbtq+ worth the night across Japan, editor-ranked. All Japan guides.
AiiRO Cafe in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the open-air gay bar marked by a blue torii at the gateway corner of the district. Pavement crowd, mixed friendly.
TipDrinks 700-900 yen, no cover. The street outside fills up by midnight on Fri-Sat, English spoken at the bar.
Campy! Bar in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the loud drag-and-friends room opened in 2013 by celebrity host Bourbonne. Mixed-orientation crowd.
TipNo seating fee unless you book a weekend sofa (1,000 yen). Cash for each round, the queens speak some English.
Bar Gold Finger in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the lesbian bar that anchors the queer-women scene. Retro decor, library corner of queer books.
TipSaturday nights are women-only; other nights mixed. No cover, drinks 700-1,000 yen, cash easiest.
Cafe & Bar Opal is an LGBTQ friendly night cafe in Susukino, Sapporo, built as a safe space for solo visitors, non-drinkers and first timers alike.
TipThe seat charge is free until 19:00 on weekends and holidays, otherwise 1,000 yen; crossdressing and any dress style is welcome.
Arty Farty in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the long-running 2F dance bar and its sister Annex. Mixed crowd, pop and house DJ sets nightly, the dance floor.
TipFree entry, drinks 700-1,000 yen. Dance side and bar side connect through the building; pace yourself, no last orders until close.
AiSOTOPE Lounge in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the biggest events room in the district. Drag, theme parties, EDM and 80s nights from a dedicated stage.
TipCover usually 1,000-2,000 yen depending on the night. Check the AiiRO/AiSOTOPE Facebook for the calendar; events typically run from 22:00.
Eagle Tokyo in Shinjuku Ni-chome is the Brooklyn-style bear bar that opened in 2016. Behind AiSOTOPE Lounge, beer-and-shots room, mixed bear-leaning crowd.
TipNo cover, drinks 700-900 yen. Open until 04:00 on Fri-Sat; sister venue Eagle Tokyo Blue is on the same block.
LaLa Too is a new half show club in Susukino, Sapporo, staging two transgender cabaret shows nightly at 21:00 and 23:00, with drinks included in the course.
TipArrive 30 minutes before your show; bookings open from 18:30 by phone, and the club is closed on Tuesdays.
Dragon Men in Shinjuku Ni-chome is one of the largest clubs in the district. Open dance floor, big stage for drag shows, all-you-can-drink set deals through.
TipCash only. All-you-can-drink set is the standard order; the dance floor opens up after midnight Fri-Sat.
Calcium House is a drag and hostess style bar in Gion, Kyoto, mixing cabaret performance with karaoke and conversation every night of the week.
TipCover runs about 5,000 yen, or 6,800 yen for an all you can drink plan.
Bar Orb is a small gay bar in Susukino, Sapporo, run by two queer women including English speaking host Kae, with a women only night every Saturday.
TipSaturdays are women only; the bar food is affordable and the spirits list is deeper than the size of the room suggests.
Apple Kyoto is a men only karaoke bar in Kiyamachi, Kyoto, one of the city's best known gay bars for meeting local and international regulars.
TipA cover charge includes a drink or snack; women are not admitted.
bell KYOTO is a modern gay bar in Kiyamachi, Kyoto, open since November 2019, combining cocktails, karaoke and a relaxed, stylish atmosphere.
TipWomen may be admitted in some cases; the bar is closed on Tuesdays.
Condor is a gay cafe bar in Susukino, Sapporo, open since July 2010, with counter seating and Monday and Thursday mix days when women may enter.
TipThe bar keeps irregular days off, posted on its own website; women are admitted only on Monday and Thursday mix days.
Banana Bar is a transgender-hosted karaoke bar in Susukino, Sapporo, whose hosts speak English and Japanese, with songs in Japanese, English and Chinese.
TipFirst-visit groups get 120 minutes of drinks and karaoke for 4,000 yen until the end of November 2026; indoor smoking is permitted.
Azure is a men only gay karaoke bar on the third floor of a Kiyamachi building in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward, with a long running local following.
TipA table charge applies on top of drinks, and the bar posts its monthly closing days on its website; some English is spoken.
Doyama-cho in Umeda is Osaka's established LGBTQ bar district, with over 100 bars, clubs, and karaoke rooms spread across two square blocks.
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