Gay Tokyo – Tokyo Travel Guide

Curation by Yasmina Rodríguez, words by Laura Tucker

A tranquil nation constantly on the brink of disaster, Japan is a country that breathes duality and its spiralling capital is no different. Both chaotic and calm; dizzying and grounding, in Tokyo there is space for quiet reflection and wild antics in equal share. Carefully balanced in nature and in asphalt, you’re never far from either a cherry blossom branch or a Muji. Lush forests surrounding the city’s shrines run parallel to fashion-forward shopping streets and, behind futuristic skyscrapers packed with weary workers, Mount Fuji glimmers on the horizon. After office hours, salarymen stumble quietly from subway stations, hinting briefly at an underlying dissonance in the national spirit before the day’s fresh fish is once more delivered and the Land of the Rising Sun wakes up to another blue sky. In a country renowned for its strict social rules, somewhat surprisingly, Japan is one of the leaders of gay rights in Asia. Tokyo, as its global representative, offers a thriving LGBT community which locals accept with characteristic humility. For your definitive Tokyo gay guide, you’ve come to the right place.

The best hotels in Tokyo

Let’s start this gay Tokyo travel guide with a roundup of the best places to stay in Tokyo. The humble, hard-working deference of the Japanese people is not only a key factor in the nation’s continued prosperity, but also a big positive for Japan’s hospitality industry. In the Imperial Palace neighbourhood, within walking distance of Tokyo Station, is the grand Hoshinoya Tokyo, an intimate 17-story hotel with an equally diligent staff keen to maintain impeccable service and the time-honoured elegance of traditional ryokan (inn) custom.

A short distance away, tucked away in the throbbing heart of Marunochi business district, stands the Tokyo at Marunouchi, a hotel made exceptional by its friendly pick-up service, relaxing atmosphere and artsy French cuisine. For its all-encompassing views over the Imperial Palace Gardens and beyond, Aman Tokyo is the real Tokyo guide winner, delivering a serene oasis set high above the capital. With ryokan-style rooms and a spa larger than most, the Aman Tokyo flirts with cosmopolitan and traditional styles, blending wood, paper and stone with modern amenities and high gloss.

Another dwelling entwining old with new is Hotel Koé Tokyo, set proudly in the centre of Shibuya, which utilizes minimalist design to explore Japan’s relationship with a global future. As high concept as it gets, Koé can also offer the winning necessities; namely a private bar complete with its own DJ. Over in Oshiage, where old-city charm lingers like morning dew over skyscrapers and futuristic glass architecture, ONE@Tokyo embodies a similar contrasting aesthetic. Designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, ONE@Tokyo fuses industrial materials with natural wood, retaining the feeling of a bygone Edo era while exuding cutting-edge innovation and modernity.