--- title: LGBT Tokyo Then and Now lang: en type: tour city: Tokyo country: Japan price: 103 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.51 reviews: 39 duration_minutes: 180 languages: [en] rank_in_category: 60 of 63 (Sightseeing & City Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-11-07 data_updated: 2026-11-08 canonical: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/tours/lgbt-tokyo-then-and-now/ --- # LGBT Tokyo Then and Now **Guidekin's take:** Explore Tokyo's LGBT scene with a subway ride between stops. Dinner, two alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks and gratuities are included; hotel pickup and the subway fare are excluded. 4.51 from 39 reviews at €103 per person for 3h. In our comparison: #60 of 63 in Sightseeing & City Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Behind every stoic Japanese businessman face there is a secret, thus one aspect of "honne tatemae," which loosely translates to something along the lines of keeping the publicly acceptable face forward, and the true face within. This, combined with Japanese culture's general disdain for public affection, might make Tokyo seem to not have as vibrant an LGBT presence as hoped. Worry not: In a city as big as Tokyo, there is of course a thriving gay scene -- if you know where to look. Tonight, you'll not only see Japan's largest gayborhood, Shinjuku 2-chome, but Asakusa in the evening as well. You'll also get a solid primer in Japanese gay society, both past and present. We'll stop along the way for a local Japanese meal (veg options available), and a couple of drinks too. Get ready for a well-rounded adventure into the heart of homosexuality in Japan, led by a friendly native (or equivalent) speaker of your selected language who knows what it means to be gay in Japan. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Please meet on the corner outside this… - Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers - Starts 18:30: one departure a day - Food included: 2 drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic),… - Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked - Age rule: Minimum age is 18 years **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €103 per person - Duration: 3h - Rating: 4.51/5 from 39 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Operator: Pinpoint Traveler, Inc - Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English - Start times: 18:30 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-07 ## Reviews 4.51 from 39 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 87% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 34 of 39. - 5 stars: 30 (77%) - 4 stars: 4 (10%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 5 (13%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the friendly guides and food stops, but some want more depth on LGBT history **Praised:** - Guides who explain LGBT history alongside Japanese culture - Friendly guides who make questions and conversation easy - Enjoyable local food stops and sociable dinners - Stops and recommendations adapted to personal interests **Complaints:** - Some find the LGBT history informative, while others say it lacks depth - Fewer visits inside LGBT bars and fewer drinks than some expected Written by Guidekin from the 38 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2022-12-31 to 2026-11-04); last checked 2026-11-08. ## What's included - Alcoholic Beverages - 2 drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) - Dinner - Gratuities ## Not included - Hotel pickup (please inquire -- this may be available for an additional charge upon request) - Transportation (you'll need 270 yen for the one subway ride we take) ## Itinerary 1. **Asakusa** (45m) - Sensoji (Temple) forms the deeply historic heart of Asakusa, but the shopping, dining, and entertainment areas alongside its approach is also the center of Tokyo's "elder gay" population. A century ago, Asakusa was in many ways what Shinjuku and Shibuya are like today. In... 2. **Shinjuku 3 Chome** (45m) - This thriving restaurant and shopping district is adjacent to 2-Chome, and it is here where we'll grab some food and a drink (included) at one of the sociable, casual restaurants dotting the streets. 3. **Shinjuku 2 Chome Gay Town** (45m) - 2-Chome (pronounced "knee choh may") is the largest LGBTQ district in the largest metropolitan region in Japan (or the world, for that matter). Some bars are garish, some are low key. Most indoors, but some have sights visible from and spilling into the streets. We'll give... 4. **Senso-ji Temple** (15m) - Sensoji is arguable the top attraction in Asakusa, During the day, this Buddhist Temple compound dating back to 7th century, is thronged with visitors, but at night it's a mellower, perhaps more atmospheric scene. Beautifully lit up, you'll have your phone out for a picture... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 18:30 - Schedule last checked: 2026-11-07 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund. ## Meeting point Please meet on the corner outside this famous bar/restaurant. Easily accessible by two different subway lines. Ends: The evening wraps up in this area, but we are happy to set you in whatever direction you may like to head. ## Good to know - Wheelchair accessible - Public transportation options are available nearby - Transportation options are wheelchair accessible - All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Minimum age is 18 years - Japan's drinking age is 20 years. ## Compared with other Sightseeing & City Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #60 of 63** | €103 | 3h | 4.51 (39) | shared | | [Tokyo Private Discovery Tour / Unique Insights & Must Sees](/japan/tokyo/tours/tokyo-private-discovery-tour-unique-insights-must-sees/?format=md) | €109 | 4h | 5.0 (289) | private | | [Private Tailor-made Akihabara Anime Tour with a Local Otaku Guide](/japan/tokyo/tours/private-tailor-made-akihabara-anime-tour-with-a-local-otaku-guide/?format=md) | €138 | 3h | 5.0 (185) | private | | [Tokyo Customized Private Tour (Must See Places in 1 Day)](/japan/tokyo/tours/tokyo-customized-private-tour-must-see-places-in-1-day/?format=md) | €127 | 2h | 4.95 (2463) | private | Ranked #60 of 63 in Sightseeing & City Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €90 to €7240, median €122; typical length 4h. 48 of 63 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/tokyo-city-tours/?format=md ## More in Tokyo - All Tokyo tours: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/tours/lgbt-tokyo-then-and-now/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/?format=md