Adezakura

So many bars in Ni-chome are easy to miss, but not Adezakura, a mainstay of the Shinjuku neighborhood’s lesbian bar circuit. Just keep a lookout for the giant, horizontal rainbow flag that doubles as a makeshift noren (Japanese divider curtain) flapping in the breeze.

Among the hub of LGBT-friendly bars and restaurants in Tokyo’s premiere gayborhood, Adezakura is a relatively no-frills kind of joint. Beyond the red front door lies a laid-back, unpretentious and welcoming bar — a favorite hangout for Ni-chome regulars.

Cavernous, but far smaller than its neighboring female-centric hangout Goldfinger, Adezakura is an excellent place to start off the night or take a breather when the area’s other jam-packed clubs have gotten a little overwhelming. Pull up a chair at the counter–or if you don’t mind staring at your own reflection– the opposing mirror wall, and take a load off with a masterfully mixed cocktail.

Photo by: adezakura A masterfully mixed cocktail.

Ni-Chome’s all-night party

Open all night long every day of the week, entry is generally reserved for female-identifying patrons until 2 a.m. After that, people of all genders are welcome. No worries if your Japanese isn’t great, the place is incredibly English friendly and welcoming to guests from all walks of life and nationalities.

In 2019 Adezakura celebrated its 10th anniversary, and the local favorite is still as popular as ever, especially during the prime partying hours of 11 p.m. onward on weekends. Fun, party-starting tunes pump over the speakers– think “top forty,” pop, EDM and dance. Occasionally though, the venue hosts special DJ guests, so stay tuned in to their Facebook page for all the info.

Photo by: aricola Hey girl, hey.

If you’re in town during the holidays, it’s well worth popping by as Adezakura has a reputation for getting festive. The bar pulls out all the stops on Halloween, Christmas and local holidays, often teaming up with neighboring bars like Aisotope, and Goldfinger to run multiple-venue events.

The bar’s entry requirement is just one ¥850 drink. Most orders cost around ¥700 to ¥900, unless you’re planning to go all out on a bottle of champagne.  If you don’t drink alcohol, they have plenty of booze-free options too, including seasonal drinks.