Shinjuku 2-chome & Asakusa: An Amazing Adventure into the LGTB History and Scene of Tokyo

Join us on an amazing adventure into the LGBT history and scene of Tokyo. Explore Shinjuku 2-chome, Japan’s largest gayborhood, and experience the vibrant culture of Asakusa. Discover the past and present of Japanese gay society on this inclusive tour.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 6 days
Highlights
  • Asakusa - 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 fact, the Asakusa to Ueno stretch was so popular back in the early…
What's Included
  • Dinner
  • 2 drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Gratuities
What's 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)
Additional Information

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…

Location
Kamiya Bar
Please meet on the corner outside this famous bar/restaurant. Easily accessible by two different subway lines.
Cancellation Policy

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.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(33 Ratings)
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Jason_c
Mar 10, 2026
Hiroshi was an excellent... - Hiroshi was an excellent tour guide who blended history and humor effortlessly. He was flexible when we wanted to explore and encouraging when we had questions that ventured beyond the schedule. He was a joy to have and I am appreciative of the knowledge he brought.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_m
Feb 3, 2026
Comprehensive tour of gay Tokyo history and culture - Good overview of gay history and culture in Tokyo, especially Shibuya. The tour guide was very enthusastic.
Review provided by Viator
William_b
Nov 5, 2025
Hiro is a real Hero - GREAT TOUR - As a solo traveler I never know what to expect. This tour, and especially our guide Hiro, exceeded all of my expectations!
Review provided by Viator
Kenneth
Oct 18, 2025
Old guy here interested in the Japanese gay culture. - Hiroshi was a good guide. On time, friendly and knowledgeable. Spoke excellent English. Set a good pace. Decent meal at an authentic Japanese restaurant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ulysses_p
Oct 3, 2025
Fun lgbt tour - Great tour! Hiroshi, our tour guide was amazing. Fluent in English, Spanish & Japanese. Good energy and easy going. So much information about the lgbt life in Japan. Good conversation, company, dinner and drinks. I loved it!
Review provided by Viator
Staceydh6820so
Oct 1, 2025
This was a great tour! I learned so much about LGBT+ history, the local areas, and then headed to some great venues. - Recommend! The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. The tour had the right balance of history and then visiting the more modern queer quarter
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tomas_j
Sep 17, 2025
Perfect. - The guide was the best. It was so hard to understand the gay scene in Tokyo. But now everything feels easier. Great personality and great company! Love ❤️
Review provided by Viator
Jasmineg72
Jun 22, 2025
A fun, relaxed, and educational tour. - A really lovely experience. Our guide Hiroshi was awesome, as was everyone else in the group. We chose this as our first event after arriving in Tokyo and it served as a fun stress-free introduction the city. The tour itself is very informative and has the benefit of including both a beautiful temple visit and a walk through Shinjuku nightlife, among other activities. The starting point is easy to find and the end point is in a very international-friendly area where most speak English, so it's not hard finding your way around after the tour's end. Hiroshi also helped us with navigating Tokyo's rail system for the first time and humoured my first-time Japanese skills, which built my confidence quite a lot and set a good tone for the rest of our trip. I'm a very picky eater, but the food and drink recommended was all amazing. All the places we went were more than worth going back to on our own. Queer life in Tokyo, both past and modern, really is incredible and worth jumping into, and our guide went above and beyond in making the experience enjoyable and comfortable. Highly recommended for anyone even slightly interested!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brian_p
May 12, 2025
Our tour guide Hiro was... - Our tour guide Hiro was knowledgeable, charming, and attentive. He showed us lots of hidden LGBT gems around Tokyo infused with quite a bit of history. The tour also includes a small dinner which I didn't realize, but was nice! The only disappointing thing is as a sober person, there didn't seem to be much beyond all the bars in Tokyo (which is large portion of the tour). I appreciated it but would have loved if there was any insight into what a non-alcoholic queer lifestyle looks like in Tokyo
Review provided by Viator
Sam_k
Jan 2, 2026
I unfortunately didn’t go... - I unfortunately didn’t go on this tour—I was told the guide would message me on what’s app. At 6:30, when the tour was scheduled to begin, I messaged Viator and told them I hadn’t heard from the guide. The guide then messaged me at 6:50 pm saying he could wait until 7. It seemed a bit shady and absolutely unprofessional.
Review provided by Viator
From $101
up to 8 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start of your experience (local time).