Challenging Tokyo Trips
Hey everyone!
I had the opportunity to partner with Tokyo Challenge on some content which was sadly really chaotic, we had began to discuss working on some ideas to collaborate with some amazing Japanese brands at the genesis of Agitprop and I was really touched by how wonderful the team was and how great they were at partnering me with various brands. Sadly the initial trips I had planned was to stay at an extraordinary Ryoken and we had some logistical failures. I have never been involved with travel bookings outside of me being booked as Joseph Harwood to do whatever I do, but when I’m not the focus and the location or the experience is the focus, there is so much more to sort out! I am such a quick learner and we’ve definitely had some obstacles, but as she does, I made the best of a difficult work trip and got to work.
I got the chance to partner with some amazing brushes, and created some makeup work below. I also reviewed one of Tokyo’s best couturiers and that’s here on the website too. But I wanted to focus on some travel content, something that I thought would be more in line with my goal with Agitprop and that was to give people a perspective of an experience that isn’t there already. My perspective of Tokyo started as a teenager, I was seventeen and the laws there are completely different to the UK so no drinking, smoking or anything until your twenty one. There’s so much I’ve heard about the LGBT scene and mob ownership of the clubs, so when I heard all of this it was a bit scary to be honest and I couldn’t work out where the chill out bars were. I remember sneaking into a gorgeous little bar with six stools, literally tiny like a garage that was open at the back of a house, next to the river bit in Takadanobaba, and I did cheekily ask for a gin when I was there. But it was all a bit of a mystery to me and something I wanted to revisit as an adult, legally exploring the hotspots.
So one of the major places I’ve wanted to visit was fancyHIM which is on the ball with booking some amazing talent from all over the west. They are an experience at the 12月28日(土) Aisotope Lounge.
Part of my blog goals was to showcase some of the amazing talent that’s out there and I wanted to bring a focus on the incredible Vilbergs who were booked there, a duo I’ve met on a very precarious situation. So at the UK Drag Race Ambassador event that the Vivienne initially won, I was assaulted afterwards and it was literally about ten minutes before I had my drink spiked that I ran into these two for the first time. When I was okay I messaged on Instagram and they checked I was okay so it was actually a mega sweet thing and I wanted to cover their work, but I didn’t know how to fit them into a blog post in an appropriate way because it’s drag, it’s art, it’s beauty, it’s fashion. These Tokyo photos really spoke to me and I thought that they represented a new LGBT Tokyo that we rarely focus on.
I am fascinated by the outfits I have to say, they are so well put together and constructed and I love the dynamic of a male alter ego and a female alter ego, I would love to wear their stuff one day so check out their youtube.
I am literally obsessed with the intricacy and beautiful work of the Villbergs so check the Instagram out here. These photos are by Benjamin Hung!
The first request from Tokyo Challenge was to create a transformation into Pikachu. I created a Geisha, a simple eye makeup and a more elaborate eye makeup look to show different ways of using those colours at the launch of Pokemon Sword and Shield. Don’t forget to check out my Pikachu work I did for them here!
So I wanted to do some research and find some further hot spots.
I found this amazing post on Culture Trip here. What I’m going to do is make a checklist here, and when we’re out of lockdown I’m going to check them out when I fly back.
Arty Farty
Arty Farty is a long running Ni-Chome favourite. It features a steamy, always bustling dance floor and a very foreigner-friendly atmosphere. Tucked up a small stairway, this place gets pretty packed on the weekends, so if you’re looking to make some new friends or meet one special friend, you’ll probably have some luck here. In order to keep it gay friendly, on Friday and Sunday night ladies have to bring along a gay male chaperone.
2 Chome-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 5362 9720
Dragon Men
If you’re wandering around the area and have no idea where to go, just head straight to Dragon Men. A failsafe option, this very popular bar is filled with an eclectic mix of both Japanese and foreign patrons every night of the week. The music is a shameless mix of top 40 pop bangers and EDM. The weekends is when it’s really happening; however, it does run a pretty nice little happy hour deal between 6pm to 8pm Monday to Thursday.
2 Chome-11-14 Shinjuku, Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3341 0606
AiiRO Café
Sitting on one of Ni-Chome’s most well-trodden corners is the mainly outdoor AiiRO Café and bar. Home to a diverse group of clients of all genders, the bar has an incredibly welcoming atmosphere. Open from 6pm on, this is one of the best places to start your evening. To find it, just wander the streets of Ni-Chome and keep a look out for the large Torii Gate that hovers over the bar’s entrance and the heaving crowd of guests handing around the entrance.
7th Tenka Building 1F, Shinjuku 2-18-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 6273 0740
New Sazae
For something a little more classic, you can’t miss the chance to visit New Sazae. A gay bar and old-school disco hub, this Tokyo institution has been around since 1966 and is still as popular as ever. Everyone is welcome here, as long as you like to dance. Soundtrack-wise the music is mainly a blend of ‘70s and ‘80s disco and house. Though it’s most popular on the weekend, the bar is open every single day of the year, and its fascinating and welcoming owner Shion is a Ni-Chome icon.
Shinjuku Ishikawa Building, 2 Chome – 18 – 5, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3354 1745
Tac’s Knot
For those interested in queer art and culture, then make your way to Tac’s Knot. This cozy cocktail bar is all about gay art. The walls of the establishment feature a rotating display of artwork by a different artist each month. The man behind the bar, Master Tac, is a local legend and an icon in the gay art scene. A little more laid-back than some of its neighbours, the bar is open between 8pm and 3am every day.
Takano main store building, 2 Chome – 18 – 5, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Campy! Bar
Run by iconic local cross-dresser Bourbonne, this café and bar is a very welcoming hub for people of all walks of life. The main attraction here is the bar’s drag shows, which typically start at around 8pm. Popular for its friendly and fun atmosphere and impeccable service, Campy! Bar is a great place to begin your foray into the Ni-Chome scene. Another bonus is, unlike many other clubs in the area, there’s no entry charge here, unless you want to reserve a sofa on the weekends, which costs 1,000 yen (US$9.25).
Tokyo, Shinjuku, Musashino Building, 2 Chome-13-10, Shinjuku, Tokyo, +81 3 3341 4445
Gold Finger
Lesbian bars are quickly becoming an endangered species across the world; however, Ni-Chome’s popular Gold Finger isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. This local icon is open to everyone all nights of the week except Saturdays when it’s strictly women only. Home to a diverse selection of patrons from across the world, the bar’s main drawcard is the communal karaoke sessions – you are in the world capital of karaoke after all.
2 Chome-12-11, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 6383 4649
Aisotope Lounge
A little bit more of a newcomer on the Ni-Chome scene, Aisotope Lounge opened in 2012, but has quickly gained a loyal customer base. Weaving across two rooms, this is one of the area’s bigger nightclubs, and as a result they host a number of special parties and one off events. From EDM, techno and pop, what type of music you’ll hear depends on the night, but if you do made it down, it’s guaranteed to be a whole stack of fun.
2 Chome – 12, Shinjuku 2 – chome 12 – 16, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 6380 1504