Bars, clubs and live music - The Rough Guide to Tokyo - page 175

GAY FESTIVALS
It speaks volumes about a general lack of enthusiasm among the local gay community for
being out and proud that the Tokyo Pride Parade has yet to establish itself as a regular annual
event - when it does take place, it's usually held in August. The 2013 edition, however, kicked
off the city's first “Rainbow Week” - hopefully both will now be here to stay.
Rainbow Festival Penultimate weekend in August.
More reliable is the popular Rainbow Festival (aka
Nichōme Matsuri), which features drag shows and
dancing in the street.

Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Video and
Film Festival Late July W tokyo-lgff.org. This annual
film festival is also a permanent fixture of Tokyo's gay
calendar, showing films from around the world with
English subtitles. A dance party typically rounds things off.

Campy! Χϯϐʔʂ 2-13-10 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
T 03 6273 2154; Shinjuku-Sanchōme station; map
pp.118-119. This highly colourful venue is perhaps the
tiniest of the area's many minuscule gay bars, but what it
lacks in size it makes up for in pizzazz - the drag queen
staff sure help. One of the better local venues for straight
folk. Daily 6pm-2am, Fri & Sat to 4am.
Dragon Men υϥΰϯϝϯ 2-11-4 Shinjuku,
Shinjuku-ku T 03 3341 0606; Shinjuku-Sanchōme
station; map pp.118-119. Huge, compared to the vast
majority of tiny Nichōme bars. Good music, a street-side
terrace and strong drinks served by tattooed gaijin waiters
clad only in underpants also account for its popularity.
Daily 6pm-1am.
Goldfinger ΰʔϧυϑΟϯΨʔ 2-12-11 Shinjuku,
Shinjuku-ku T 03 6383 4649; Shinjuku-Sanchōme
station; map pp.118-119. Fun, female-only bar which
throws wild parties from time to time (see box, p.177).
Daily 6pm-2am, Fri & Sat until 4am.

Kinsmen Ωϯζϝϯ 2F 2-18-5 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
T 03 3354 4949; Shinjuku-Sanchōme station; map
pp.118-119. Long-running and unpretentious bar -
you're as likely to be carousing with a mixed group of of ce
workers here as with a drag queen. Check out their famous
ikebana - traditional flower displays. Daily 7pm-1am.
Kinswomyn Ωϯζ΢Πϝϯ 3F Dai-ichi Tenka Building,
2-15-10 Shinjuku, Shinjku-ku T 03 3354 8720;
Shinjuku-Sanchōme station; map pp.118-119. Relaxed,
women-only bar where there's no cover charge, and drinks
are priced reasonably at around ¥700. Daily 8pm-4am.
Ì Paddy's Junction ύοσΟʔζδϟϯΫγϣϯ
2-13-16, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku T 03 3355 7833,
W paddys-junction.com; Shinjuku-Sanchōme station;
map pp.118-119. With its foreign and English-speaking
staff, this Irish-style pub is a great addition to the area.
They've cheap food (including excellent fish and chips),
lots of imported beers, and cocktails are just ¥300 during
the 5-7pm happy hour. Daily 5pm-1am.

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