LGBT guide to Tokyo: where to party, drink, eat and sleep during Rainbow Pride celebration, and any time

Japan has become steadily more open to gender diversity, as exemplified by capital’s Rainbow Pride, which will see tens of thousands descend on the city’s Shinjuku district from today for a string of events and parties

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Scenes from last year’s Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade, which is expected to be a highlight of this year’s event. Photo: TRP2016

Published: 1:25pm, 4 May 2017Updated: 1:25pm, 4 May 2017

Japan’s LGBT scene is booming as acceptance of gender diversity grows across the country, and it couldn’t be livelier than in vibrant Tokyo.

“We are seeing an increasing acceptance towards LGBT+ individuals within Japan, and Tokyo is particularly welcoming,” says Brenden Van Stolk, organiser of the annual Tokyo Rainbow Pride. “It has numerous LGBT+ venues that are accessible and people are open.”

With the main action centred in the city’s Shinjuku Ni-chome, or District 2, the pulse throbs 24/7, with an astonishingly colourful collection of bars, cafes, clubs, restaurants and hotels packed into the area.

What better time to tap into Tokyo’s gay scene than during the annual Tokyo Rainbow Pride, with a series of events that take place throughout Golden Week – renamed Rainbow Week – that culminate in a big two-day festival at Yoyogi Park on May 6 and 7, with the parade held on the final day.

Last year, more than 70,000 revellers flocked to the park to see music and live performances, with not a dull costume in sight – from risqué Pikachu get-ups to steampunk dog outfits, bodysuits and skintight leotards.

The Tokyo Rainbow Pride Parade passes through Shibuya, Tokyo.

“In its current incarnation, it has consistently grown bigger with each passing year,” said Van Stolk. “Over the years, the number of people participating – both LGBT individuals, their allies and the public – has consistently increased, and we’ve seen a steady rise in general awareness within society as a whole.”

“The event promotes increased awareness of the LGBT community in Japan and gives members of the public who aren’t yet familiar with this an opportunity to discover more,” said Van Stolk, adding that Japan was becoming more accepting of the community, with some municipalities now acknowledging same-sex partnerships, which were previously taboo.