Blog

1. Overview—Where should you start in Tokyo?

1-1 Big room dance floor: AiSOTOPE LOUNGE

AiSOTOPE is the largest LGBTQ+ club in Ni-chome, with rotating themed parties and two floors. Practical info—schedules and event line-ups—are posted on the official pages: Schedule, Top/Access. Conclusion → numbers → link: covers vary by party, commonly around ¥2,000–¥3,500 including a drink on major nights; confirm per event via the schedule link.

1-2 Classic bar-club pair: Arty Farty & THE ANNEX

These twin venues anchor Ni-chome’s nightly flow. The official site flags hours and drink/plan notes (ANNEX “open daily 19:00” and “all-you-can-drink plan” on select nights): see Arty Farty & THE ANNEX. Charges change on event nights; otherwise expect bar pricing with occasional cover.

1-3 Lounges and warm-up counters: Eagle & AiiRO

EAGLE TOKYO GROUP runs relaxed “Brooklyn-style” bars (plus the larger EAGLE TOKYO BLUE). Their group site is here: EAGLE TOKYO GROUP. For open-air counter vibes and a symbolic rainbow torii gate, AiiRO CAFE maintains first-party info at aiiro-cafe.net.

Table 1: Venue Types & Base Fees

Conclusion → numbers → links: mainstream covers cluster around ¥1,000–¥3,500, with many bars free entry; confirm on each official page.

2. Top Areas & Access—How do you reach Ni-chome smoothly?

2-1 Micro-map of the night

Ni-chome’s spine is Nakadori. AiiRO CAFE sits on this main line (official), Arty Farty/The ANNEX a short hop off (official), and AiSOTOPE a few streets away near its own stairwell entrance (official).

2-2 Station strategy

Pick the exact exit and send a pin. DRAGON MEN (international crowd) sits near Shinjuku-Sanchōme C5/C8; the venue’s social hub lists official profiles for updates: Linktree (official).

2-3 Last-train logic

Weekends run late, but crowds spike before the last trains. If you miss one, cabs are plentiful on Shinjuku-dōri. Keep nights modular: start at a no-cover bar, then step into one ticketed event.

Table 2: Access & Hours

Conclusion → numbers → links: most walks are under 10 minutes from Shinjuku-Sanchōme exits; confirm hours on official pages before heading out.

3. Prices, Time & Eligibility—What will you pay and who can join?

3-1 Typical budgets

AiSOTOPE posts event-specific fees on its official schedule. Arty/ANNEX hours and plan notes live on their official site. EAGLE GROUP indicates casual, drop-in lounge usage across branches (official group site). AiiRO CAFE presents itself as a neighborhood gateway bar without cover (official). Conclusion: a full night across 2–3 venues usually falls in the ¥4,000–¥7,000 range (2–4 drinks + one club ticket).

3-2 Eligibility, ID and dress

Tokyo LGBTQ+ venues are largely mixed-welcome, but many events specify audience (all-gender, men-only, women-only, etc.). AiSOTOPE explicitly advises checking party conditions (official). Always carry a government ID; smart-casual works everywhere—avoid beachwear, large bags, and outside drinks.

3-3 Digital buying and tickets

Major clubs use online ticketing for big events; AiSOTOPE frequently lists through its schedule (and partners like LivePocket when used): see schedule and, when linked, LivePocket venue page.

Table 3: Reservation & Eligibility

Conclusion → numbers → links: most Tokyo venues are walk-in; big dance events list tickets and eligibility on the official schedule pages.

4. Venue Types & Services—What’s the difference between club, bar-club, and lounge?

4-1 Dance club (AiSOTOPE)

Two floors, rotating DJs, theme parties, and occasionally guest performers—an engineered space for collective movement. House rules and notices (e.g., no outside drinks, photo policy) are posted on the official site.

4-2 Bar-club pair (Arty Farty / THE ANNEX)

ANNEX opens from 19:00 daily with drink plans; Arty adds DJs and a bigger room on weekends. Hours/updates live on artyfarty.jp.

4-3 Lounges & counters (EAGLE / AiiRO)

EAGLE markets a casual, international lounge concept across branches—see the group site. AiiRO’s first-party page shows access/menu/news: aiiro-cafe.net. These are low-friction entry points before or after a club ticket.

5. Reservations, Etiquette & Useful Phrases—How do you move politely through the night?

5-1 Flow for first-timers

1. Meet near Shinjuku-Sanchōme exits (agree on letter/number) and warm up at AiiRO (official).
2. Shift to Arty/ANNEX for a DJ set or drink plan (official).
3. Finish at an AiSOTOPE event; buy door or listed ticket (official schedule).

5-2 Etiquette (institutionalized politeness)

• Ordering: Cash-on at the counter; keep change handy. Don’t bring outside drinks (AiSOTOPE lists this rule on its site: official).
• Photos: Ask before filming; some floors restrict photography (again, see venue rules on official pages).
• Space: Dance floors are dense; use light taps/gestures to pass; apologize with a quick “Sumimasen.”

5-3 Useful phrases

• 「一緒に乾杯しませんか？」 — “Want to toast together?”
• 「写真撮ってもいいですか？」 — “Is it okay if I take a photo?”
• 「どのフロアがおすすめですか？」 — “Which floor do you recommend?”

6. Summary and Next Steps

Internal navigation: Ni-chome is compact; most venues sit within a 3–8 minute walk of each other. Start early if you want space at the bar and finish late if you want a packed floor. Confirm details on each official page: AiSOTOPE, Arty/ANNEX, EAGLE GROUP, AiiRO.