A downloadable, PRINTER-FRIENDLY (black text on white BG) version of this guide is here:The downloadable guide is ALSO updated Feb 6th, 2011.now we got that out of the way, here is . . . THE ACTUAL GUIDE PART
KEY:
BOOKS
RECORDS
BAR
CLUB
OTAKU
OTHER
FASHION
MALL
SEX
FOOD
ARCHITECTURE
MUSIC INSTRUMENTS
GALLERY
TRADITIONAL
ABOUT WEB-LINKS: Where possible, I've made the title of each store into a link to its website.
BUUUUT, unless otherwise noted, those sites are in French. I mean Japanese. But they usually have maps.
Good news is, if you're looking for shows, all the clubs' websites have schedule pages in English.
ALSO: even if you can't come to Tokyo, a lot of these places' websites are set up for MAIL-ORDER. So if you can't afford that plane ticket, please patronize their on-line shops.
SCHEDULE PAGES OF TOKYO ROCK CLUBS:
(WALKING DIRECTIONS AND ADDRESSES to these clubs can be found in the tour guide entry for each club. Down the page.)
tokyo big sight - convention center and nerd event place.
artism - your one-stop goth / lolita / cyber event schedule webpage.
shinookubo EarthD.O.M. schedule
hatsudai WALL schedule
20000v is out of business.
antiknock schedule
rockabilly venue: club doctor
visual kei club: takadanobaba AREA.
SANGENJAYA heaven's door schedule
nakano punk / ska club moon step
new punk club:waseda zone-b
department H - fetish party, 3500 or 4000 yen, first saturday night of every month, from midnight.
propaganda – a monthly drag / tranny dance party: in kabukicho, i think last saturday of every month? check their site for details, and don't forget to learn japanese first.
SWALLOWTAIL, the 'butler cafe' in higashi-ikebukuro – don't forget to make an appointment first, the guys are popular.
akihabara transvestite maid cafe/bar: NEWTYPE.
SHINJUKU(新宿)
SHINJUKU JR STATION
WHERE: on any map.
Also, I will be referring to an exit called the EAST SOUTH EXIT. This is not me being a wino. That is what it is called, and it IS distinct from the East and South exits. Please deal with this.
HOMELESS ‘BOOKSTORES’
WHERE: all around shinjuku station
ENGLISH: no
WHAT: these are homeless guys selling magazines that people left behind on the trains! It’s not a ‘bookstore’ – just a table with a grizzled dude standing by. If you want to experience some "only in japan" culture on the cheap, buying used pornography from a homeless dude is my advice.
0101 (MARU ICHI) department store
WHERE:
ENGLISH: no
WHAT: There are a bunch of these chain stores all in Shinjuku, but the most interesting one is a sort of gothic lolita shopping mall! It’s laid out in an interesting, cynical way: a whole different girl-subculture on every floor. Sort of like America's Hot Topic stores but with snobbier clerks.
HOW: go out the East Exit of JR Shinjuku station, walk to the famous Studio ALTA , and turn right. walk 2 blocks, pass the ABC MART shoestore, and in a few seconds you'll reach 0101.
WHERE: . Shinuku-ku, Shinjuku 2 -4-9 . (shinjuku 2-chome, 4 block, 9 building) 11-9 every day.
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