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Lesbian-Gay Bars - Tokyo Hotels .com

A lit up busy street

To find the best lesbian and gay bars, the district to hit is Shinjuku-Shibuya, especially on the Shinjuku-Shibuya side in the Ni-Chome neighborhood. Considered Tokyo's gay center, Ni-Chome is home to the perennial favorite Arty Farty, a bar designed for boys by boys, and its nearby sidekick The Annex. Get your hand stamped at one and you can get into the other, with dancing at the Annex from 9:00 p.m. until midnight, and Arty Farty dancing from midnight until closing time.

For women, the Kinswomyn offers a friendly, women-only space to enjoy drinks and mingle; weekdays are quieter and better for chatting, while the weekends can be packed with dance party potential. For a good mix of gay, lesbian, and the gay-friendly -- as well as a great place to see and be seen -- the Advocates Cafe offers a prime Ni-Chome location and open-air seating for those balmy nights.

Despite its name, the well-known Ni-Chome club Dragon Men is open to all and features a terrace and quieter talking spaces as well as a booming dance floor. For a more elegant scene, the friendly and refined Lamp Post caters to the after-hours professional set and offers live piano on Saturdays. The 25-year-old Tac's Knot is well known for its art shows and attracts clientele interested in the arts, literature, and classical music.

If you grow tired of the Ni-Chome crush, Mango Mango behind Shibuya Station offers a Thai-inspired oasis, with a more mixed crowd on Sundays.

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