Event Dates
From: Awaiting dates
To: Awaiting dates
Tokyo Rainbow Week takes place every year in April, to celebrate LGBT pride with a host of events.
The first Tokyo Rainbow Pride (TRP) Parade was 26 years in 1994 and since then, the event has grown to become one of the largest in Asia. The event balances political messaging and partying to further LGBTQ rights across the country.
- Visiting for the event, stay close to Ni-chōme in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo’s gayborhood. The Mitsui Garden Hotel is rated” Fabulous” by guests with spacious rooms and a modern gym and pool.
The Event
- Next Edition: Awaiting dates – Tokyo Rainbow Pride takes place every year in late April to early May and celebrates LGBT pride with a host of events, including an energetic parade that last year saw thousands of people gather and take to the streets in fancy dress alongside floats.
- This year the highlights of the Tokyo Pride includes the Pride Festival on Friday and Sunday’s Tokyo Pride Parade, starting at Yoyogi Park and marching through Shibuya & Harajuku.
- Stay at the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu. We love its location, a stone’s throw from Shibuya’s attractions and the pride parade, offering great views and easy access to both gay-friendly spots and mainstream Tokyo sights.
Tokyo Rainbow Pride Festival
- Friday – Awaiting dates – The Festival in Yoyogi Park takes place on Friday, with a variety of booths opened in Yoyogi Park by LGBT-friendly companies and artists. The booths will be open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
- Tokyo Pride Festival features drag, shows and live music performances.
- Stay close to the venue at the Trunk Hotel, located just 3 mins rideshare or 9 minutes walk from the park. Rated “Superb” by guests, the hotel has a zen-like design with high end amenities and superb guest services.
Tokyo Rainbow Pride Parade
- Sunday – Awaiting dates – The 3km parade takes in the Harajuku/Shibuya area on the Sunday with participants marching and riding on floats.
- Tokyo Pride march starts at the Event Plaza and then snakes its way through the streets of Shibuya Ward before gliding over several gentle hills before returning to the Event Plaza.
- The parade starts at 1pm and runs until 3 pm. The event has more than 52 different groups with over 7,000 marchers.
Happy Pride Tea Dance
- Sunday – Awaiting dates – Happy Pride Tea Dance – takes place at Wall to Wall from 4pm. The perfect post-parade party running until 10 pm.
- This event is also known as the “Opening Beat of the Tokyo Pride Beats Circuit Festival.
Tokyo Pride Beats Circuit Festival
- Sunday April 21st – Monday April 29th 2024 – Tokyo Pride Beats features multiple parties held at Club Asia, mainly on the final Sunday before the bank holiday – Shōwa Day.
- Events include three different parties taking over Club Asia with a Circuit, Disco and Techno floor.
- Other events include the OPPA K Pop party and the after hours event.
Fancy Him
- Saturday – Awaiting dates – Fancyhim hosts a special afternoon event with as an exciting lineup of DJs and drag queens, at Shibuya PARCO.
Where to Party during Tokyo Rainbow Pride
- Just a convenient walk from Shinjuku, lies Ni-chome, Tokyo’s gayborhood overflowing with outdoor bars, karaoke pubs, and cozy clubs for anyone on the spectrum.
- There are countless options for food and drink. Ni-chome also features outdoor bars with large terraces.
- Stay close to the gay bars at the Tokyu Stay Shinjuku Eastside, rated “Fabulous” by guests. We love its perfect location, delicious buffet breakfast, super chilled rooftop garden and minimalist vibes.
- The closest station is Shinjuku San-chome station, one stop from Shinjuku on the Fukutoshin, Marunouchi and Shinjuku metro lines. Take the C5 exit and then just cross the street into Ni-chome.
- For a taste of old Tokyo, explore the narrow alleys of Omoide Yokocho, near Shinjuku Station. They are filled with tiny yakitori (grilled chicken) stalls and bars.
- Shibuya: Known for its iconic scramble crossing, Shibuya also offers a welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ individuals, with a growing number of gay-friendly bars and spaces.
Popular Gay Venues in Tokyo
- In Ni-Chome, there are over 300 small bars that cater to different specific groups, known as Kei in Japanese. You can find a variety of bars for heavyset men, transvestites, those who enjoy BDSM, hairy men, seniors, twinks, and young guys.
- Due to limited space, many of these unique bars can only accommodate up to 15 patrons. This limited capacity may affect the diversity of the clientele. While most bars are open to non-Japanese visitors, when the space fills up, guests not fitting the target group may be politely asked to wait leave.
- AiiRO Cafe: Start your night at this cozy spot in Shinjuku Ni-chome. Enjoy a cocktail under their iconic rainbow lantern with happy hour from 6 pm to 9 pm. Tokyo’s most popular open air bar.
- Dragon Men: A popular bar in Shinjuku Ni-chome attracting a diverse crowd. Not to big, so always seems busy. Staff are friendly and English speaking. Very busy dancefloor at weekends.
- AiSOTOPE Lounge: Situated in the bustling Shinjuku Nichome, Tokyo’s famed gay district, AiSOTOPE Lounge is Tokyo’s largest gay dance club. The venue is unique for its inclusion of a dark room, alongside hosting various themed nights. With affordable drinks and drag queen entertainment, it’s a welcoming space for everyone.
- Arty Farty: A staple in Tokyo’s gay nightlife, Arty Farty offers an expansive dance floor paired with a large bar area in Nichome, Shinjuku-ku. The club and its sister venue, The Annex, are interconnected, allowing guests to move freely between the different vibes each space offers. Friendly atmosphere with a mix of locals, expats, and travelers. Arty Farty also features special events and reasonably priced drinks, making it a popular choice any night of the week.
Where to stay?
Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to the gay bars and clubs.
Keio Plaza Hotel, Hotel Gracery, Shinjuku Granbell Hotel, Super Hotel Shinjuku
Where to stay close to all the gay bars.
Our top 4 selections with the best rates.
The Hilton Tokyo Hotel is our editors
choice in the gay district. Just perfect!
For further information and advice on
Tokyo Rainbow Pride Website Page
Gay Tokyo conveniently packed into a handful of streets all located Shinjuku Ni-Chome (pronounced nee-chomay). Ni Chome the gay center of Tokyo has over 300 gay bars, clubs, saunas, cruise clubs and everything else small packed into a couple of small blocks in the center of Tokyo. The Shinjuku neighborhood is mixed with big business, shopping and entertainment and of course Tokyo’s gay center.
2 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Located in Shinjuku’s Skyscraper District just a 5-minute walk from Shinjuku Train Station, Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo offers sweeping views of Shinjuku, free WiFi and 21 dining options.
The comfortable rooms at Tokyo Hotel Keio Plaza offer panoramic views of the Shinjuku skyline. There are a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, minibar and electric kettle. An en suite bathroom comes with a bath, free toiletries and hairdryer. Japanese-style yukata robes and slippers are provided for all guests.
160-0021 Tokyo Prefecture, Shinjuku-ku Kabukicho 2-14-5, Japan
Opened in December 2013 and situated right at the heart of the lively Kabuki-cho area in Shinjuku, Granbell Hotel offers modern and stylish guest rooms with unique design concepts.
Fitted with an air of urban sophistication, each room comes with modern facilities like an iPod dock speaker and a flat-screen TV. Video-on-demand programmes are available for an additional fee. A fridge, an electric kettle and a telephone are also included. All rooms are furnished with Simmons beds. The en suite bathroom includes a bath and free toiletries.
160-0021 Tokyo Prefecture, Shinjuku-ku Kabukicho 1-19-1, Japan
Open from April 2015, Hotel
offers , free WiFi and a restaurant, only a 5-minute walk from ’s . Seibu is a 3-minute walk.Rooms in natural colours have built-in air cleaning, a flat-screen TV and an electric kettle with green tea bags. The toilet is separate from the
, which offers a bathtub, shower, slippers and free toothbrushes.160-0021 Tokyo Prefecture, Shinjuku-ku Kabukicho 2-39-9, Japan
Opening in October 2014,
Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho is located in a bright entertainment district just a 10-minute walk from . It features a large , free WiFi and with freshly baked bread.Each
is fitted with a flat-screen TV with video-on-demand programmes, a fridge and an electric kettle. An air purifier/humidifier is also provided in the rooms.160-0022 Tokyo Prefecture, Shinjuku-ku,Shinjuku 3-7-1, Japan
Opened in May 2015, Tokyu Stay Shinjuku is ideally located in the middle of the lively Shinjuku area and just steps away from Shinjuku Sanchome Subway Station. JR Shinjuku Station is also an 8-minute walk away. Free WiFi is available throughout the property.
Fitted with white and light-wood furnishings, all rooms come with a flat-screen TV, fridge and electric kettle. Certain rooms feature a microwave for guest's convenience. An air purifier/humidifier is also provided in each room. The private bathrooms feature a shower, a hairdryer and free toiletries.
2F Homebase Building, 2-18-5 Shinjuku Ni-chome, Tokyo
Piano style cocktail gay bar a good place to start your night out
1F Futami Building, 2-14-11 Shinjuku Ni-chome, Tokyo
Popular gay dance club in Shinjuku a nice long bar and a dark cruising area in the back. Djs play nightly
Ashura Bar Shinjuku is located on Shinjuku 2-15-13 nakae bldg 3 4th floor
Welcome to a cult gay bar in Tokyo. Ashura Bar is a karaoke bar in Shinjuku Tokyo. It is a typical Japanese bar with Karaoke.
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2 Chome−11−2 1階、地下1階 Casa Verde
welcomes everyone to enjoy drinks made by there handsome bearish staff while meeting locals and other international friends
フタミビル 2F, 2 Chome-14-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
Small Korean Gay Bar can be alot of fun
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, 2 Chome−10 7TOMビル 1F
A fun gay bar with regular show and DJs
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2 Chome−15−12 高峰ビル 1FB
Gay bar with sexy muscular bar staff that speak English and Mandarin
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2 Chome−14−11 フタミビル 303
Relaxed gay bar good place to have a chat and a drink
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2 Chome−11−7 第33宮庭ビル 2階
One of Ni-chome’s larger gay bars is also one of the best places to dance, thanks to a good sound system and music ranging from house to hip hop.
2 Chome-13-16 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
This is a really cute and chill gay bar with a balcony and a great view. The owner is very friendly and speaks great English
Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2 Chome−15−9 来座 1L 笑楽校
Small gay bar with good drink prices
2-11-4 NAGASAKI STORK BLD 1F SHINJUKU TOKYO Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Biggest international gay bar in Tokyo Shinjuku This place gets realy busy at the weekends and can be a lot of fun (a must)
Plaza Building B1F, 2-12-3 Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Very popular gay cocktail bar with seating on all 4 sides of the bar
7th TENKA BLD 1F, 2-18-1 Shinjuku-Ku Tokyo JAPAN
Open air gay bar in Shinjuku-Nichome, the largest gay town in Tokyo.
open daily from 6pm.
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We have chosen hotels in Tokyo that keep you close to all the shops,restaurants & bars
Highlights of Tokyo Pride