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Original article:【2024年版】東京のゲイのおすすめデートスポット20選
Hi! I'm Kengo from IRIS, an LGBTs friendly real estate agency, and if you have any problems finding a room for LGBTs or an LGBTs couple, please "Contact" IRIS.
I'm a 30-something gay man, and I'd like to introduce you to some of the places I've actually been on dates that I've found to be fun. If you are looking for a good place to go on a date with a couple of guys, please refer to this page.
20 Recommended Gay Dating Spots in Tokyo
Ueno Zoo
Ueno Zoo is a very large zoo located near Ueno Station. Even if you rush around, you can enjoy the zoo for about 4 hours, and if you walk around slowly, you can enjoy the zoo for a full day.
It is a recommended date spot for couples who like animals, as it is inexpensive at 600 yen per adult.
Ameya Alley
Ameya Yokocho, Ueno's shopping street, is also nearby. I like to go to the Ueno Zoo around noon and fill my stomach at one of the food stalls in Ameya Yokocho in the evening.
In addition to food stalls, there are many military clothing stores and a sporting goods store famous for selling competitive shorts, which is also a good point for gay people. They also sell rugby goods, so if you like uniforms, you will enjoy it very much.
Sumida Aquarium
The aquarium is located on the 5th and 6th floors of Skytree Town. The facility has a relaxed atmosphere and is completely for adults. When I went there (around 2018), there were not so many visitors, and we were able to enjoy a relaxing time together.
There is also a café inside the facility, where you can walk around the facility while enjoying an original cocktail. Admission is 2,500 yen for adults.
Tokyo Solamachi
It is a huge commercial facility that includes the Sumida Aquarium. There are more than 300 stores, ranging from restaurants to men's fashion and accessory stores, and quite a few other stores.
It is a very enjoyable place to stroll around while considering a meal after enjoying the aquarium. Solamachi also has a planetarium, which would make for a mature and romantic date.
Shibuya Stream
Shibuya Stream is a complex facility that opened in January 2020, with 900 tsubo of commercial space on the first through third floors, where visitors can enjoy food and shopping. There is also a 230-meter observation deck on the rooftop where visitors can enjoy the night view of Shibuya and the surrounding area. (The fee is 2,000 yen for the day.)
It is a spot with a pretty good view, so it will look good if you take a picture of the two of you with the Shibuya cityscape in the background. There are also many gay bars around the area, so you can enjoy drinks at the bar at night.
It also serves as a shopping mall, so it is a good place for men to enjoy shopping together without feeling uncomfortable.
Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Observatory
This 202-meter observation deck is located in the Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building. You can enjoy the night view of Tokyo from the Shinjuku area. The recommended point is that it is "free. It is wonderful that you can go there easily because there is no admission fee.
There is a restaurant inside where you can eat while enjoying the night view!
When you go up to the observation deck, you will have to go through a "baggage check" and then use a slightly narrow elevator. If you are claustrophobic, this elevator may be hard on you, so it is a good idea to ask your date, "Aren't you afraid of tight places?" It is a good idea to ask your date if he or she doesn't have a problem with narrow places.
Karumaru (Men-only hotel and spa facility at the west exit of Ikebukuro Station)
This is a very hot spot that opened on December 3, 2019. It is a men-only hotel and spa, where you can enjoy 5 different baths and 4 different saunas.
The spa facilities include a close-contact sauna that can only accommodate about four people, as if it was made for gay men, and a water bath that is completely visible from the surroundings.
This may be a good option if you and your partner want to get a bit of a thrill. There is also a space where you can read as many magazines and manga as you like, a coworking space, and a restaurant, so you can spend a relaxing time. The fee is 2,980 yen.
TeamLab (Borderless)
TeamLab is an art-based interactive museum. The digital contents production company has created a room full of beautiful and creative digital artworks.
Visitors can not only look at these works of art, but also enjoy them by using their bodies, as they are affected by the movements of the people around them and change their shapes, and there is a space with many balloons inside.
It is a very beautiful and interesting place, and I recommend it if you want to experience a unique view of the world. Since it is in Odaiba, you can enjoy shopping on your way home or go to Kaihin Park to relax.
Asakusa
It is a classic spot popular among foreign tourists. It is a town where you can enjoy the Japanese-style atmosphere and rows and rows of stores, and where you and your partner can eat and walk around at your leisure.
In May, the Sanja Festival is held here, and you can see people cheerfully carrying mikoshi (portable shrines) in loincloths!
Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink
If you go there when neither of you can ski, you will fall down many times, but it is a very fun place to learn how to ski little by little. If you both like to move around, I highly recommend this place. The location is close to Sendagaya Station, so it is easy to get to from Shinjuku.
The fee is 1,600 yen on weekdays and 1,800 yen on weekends and holidays. A shoe rental fee of 600 yen is also required.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Located near Shinjuku Ni-Chome, Shinjuku Gyoen is a vast and magnificent facility that was once used as a facility for the royal family. During the cherry blossom and foliage seasons, the park is flooded with people waiting in line to enter, but no matter what time of year you visit, the beautiful plants and beautiful scenery will soothe your soul.
It is recommended that visitors wear comfortable walking shoes, as it is quite a long walk to reach every corner of the facility. Most visitors concentrate on the "Shinjuku Gate," but there are two other entrances, "Ohkidomon" and "Sendagaya Gate," so use those during busy times. Note that the closing time of the park varies greatly from month to month. The admission fee is 500 yen.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Tokyo Tower
Located in Shiba Park, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tower is a historic radio tower that opened to the public in December 1958. It is recommended to visit on the same day as the Hamarikyu Gardens, which will be introduced later. Although the observatory is no longer the tallest in Japan, its unique design and retro-style appearance are still very attractive today, even though it has been converted to a Japanese-style building in 2038.
The 360-degree view from the observation deck is beautiful both during the day and at night, so you can enjoy it at any time of the day or night! It might be a good idea to have a drink at a gay bar in Shimbashi on your way home. Tickets to the main deck cost 1,200 yen.
Shibuya Scramble Square
Shibuya Scramble Square opened in November 2019 in Shibuya, where large-scale redevelopment is underway; the 230-meter, 47-story building houses more than 200 stores for shopping and dining.
The best place to visit is the rooftop portion of the building, the Shibuya Sky. Like Tokyo Tower, you can enjoy the spectacular view day or night. Tickets are available by reservation only and can be purchased on the day of your visit, but be sure to secure your tickets early as they are often sold out, especially in the evening and later hours on weekends and holidays.
Admission tickets are 2,200 yen.
Hamarikyu Gardens
The Hamarikyu Gardens, a metropolitan garden, is located near Shiodome and Tsukiji Market Stations. It is surprising to see that a feudal lord's park from the Edo period has been preserved even today in 2025. Located by the sea, the garden is characterized by the fact that it incorporates seawater and changes its expression according to the ebb and flow of the sea. It is recommended to visit on a date together with the old Tsukiji Market area and Tokyo Tower.
Admission to the garden is 300 yen.
Roppongi Hills
Roppongi Hills is a complex facility that opened in April 2003 in Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. With a variety of facilities including a movie theater, art museum, shopping mall, hotel, observation deck, and restaurants, visitors can spend a whole day here if they take their time.
Since Roppongi is located in Minato Ward, which boasts one of the highest land prices in Japan, many places around Roppongi are famous as high-class residential areas, such as Azabu Juban, Nishiazabu, and Hiroo, and there are many stores with a stylish atmosphere, so you can enjoy a date just by taking a walk around Roppongi!
LaQua
LaQua is a spa facility attached to Tokyo Dome City, located a short walk from Suidobashi Station on the JR line or Korakuen Station on the subway. The facility has a resort-like atmosphere, and you can enjoy a relaxing date by taking a bath, enjoying a meal, and then relaxing at the rest facilities.
If your boyfriend has been working hard lately and you want to take him out for a workout, he will be happy to see you. Since it is likely to be crowded on holidays, it is best to go during the daytime on a weekday if at all possible. The fee is 3,230 yen.
Board game cafe
I personally highly recommend it. Bodoge has a strong image of being played by three or more people, but in fact, there are many games for two people.
Some games can take up to an hour to play at a time, and can be played for half a day. There are also bodoge cafes that serve food, and some of them are usually delicious.
Even if you are not familiar with bodoge, if you go on a weekday, the staff will be happy to help you, so just ask, "Do you have any games you recommend for two people to play together?" If you both like bodoge, it is OK to ask. If both parties like to play bodoge, it is a very good date spot.
Akigawa Valley
Akikawa Valley is a 20-km-long nature-rich valley stretching from Akiruno City to Hinohara Village, and is a scenic spot where visitors can enjoy the great outdoors even though it is located in Tokyo. In this area, birds chirping echoes in the surrounding area and fish swim gracefully in the clear stream, providing a healing experience for visitors.
The changing of the seasons is another attraction: cherry blossoms in the spring, greenery in the summer, autumn leaves in the fall, and snowy landscapes in the winter. The area is ideal for strolling along the valley and outdoor activities, and is also a popular day-trip destination for petit travelers.
It is highly recommended if you are tired of the noise of the city and want to be healed by nature.
Harbor Symphony Cruise
Symphony Cruise is a cruise service that offers a special experience in Tokyo Bay. It is an ideal option for enjoying an elegant date that is different from the ordinary. A variety of cruises are available to suit different situations, including lunch and dinner cruises, and optional plans such as cakes and bouquets are also available.
The view from the ship will give you a fresh impression of the scenery you are used to seeing from land. I would like to use this cruise for birthdays and other anniversaries.
Tokyo Summerland
Tokyo Summerland is a leisure facility with a wide variety of attractions that can be enjoyed all year round. The indoor pool can be used regardless of the season or weather, and the outdoor pool is open during the summer season, as well as the outdoor amusement park area.
The centerpiece attraction of the outdoor pool, "DEKASLA," offers a thrilling experience of plummeting down from a height of approximately 24 meters on a rubber boat, and is especially suitable for couples seeking stimulation.
Summary of 20 recommended gay dating spots in Tokyo
In this article, we have introduced some of the best spots for gay dates.
If you ask me, "Which of these places do you particularly recommend?" I recommend "Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Observatory," "Ice Skating Rink," "Ueno Zoo," and "Shinjuku Gyoen.
Please visit them. Thank you for reading to the end.