Kinswomyn

Kinswomyn is a lesbian club in Shinjuku's Ni-chome area. Ni-chome is best known as the centre of Tokyo's gay scene. There are many gay clubs in Ni-chome but now the women have carved out a place for themselves with women clubs in Tokyo, bars and drag showrooms. The density of gay bars in Ni-chome is said to be more than anywhere in the world. Within a small area of few square blocks it houses 200 to 300 pubs, night clubs, and bars.

Kinswomyn took its name from Kinsmen, an only boys' bar around the corner. It is one of the most popular lesbian clubs in Tokyo and the clientele ranges from young to middle-aged women, both single and divorcee, who come to this club for a few drinks, strike up a good conversation and forge new friendships.

A famous autographed Vanity Fair poster of Canadian star K.D.Lang and model Cindy Crawford hangs at the entrance of Kinswomyn, Tokyo. Kinswomyn is open on all days, excepting Tuesdays, from 8pm in the evening to 4am in the morning. The weekends see the highest footfall. Tokyo comes alive at night and stays that way till the early hours of dawn and the clubs are as crowded at three in the morning as they are at 10pm at night. Kinswomyn also attracts a large number of foreigners.

Here hot rum costs Yen 700 and a long island iced tea is charged Yen1500.

Bar master, Tara is a lesbian activist whose aim was to provide the lesbian community of Tokyo with a place they can call their own. It resulted in the creation of the Kinswomyn-a "no man allowed" zone and thus set the trend for other Japanese women clubs to follow. It's a place for women to relax, chat and make friends.

About Other Women Clubs In Japan

Acceptance levels in the Japanese society are high and this is evident from the sundry women clubs in Japan. There are also many night clubs in Tokyo that hold events for ladies only- for instance, "Bar Monalisa" in Club Zinc and "Gold Finger" in Shibuya's the Candle Light Club.

In Japan, lesbian clubs not only entertain, they have become a platform for the women to share their views on social issues like marriage, children, HIV and domestic violence. So the women here not only make friends but also find support and help for each other. Kinswomyn is undoubtedly one such ground for the women who visit it.

The nightlife in Tokyo has come of age and Kinswomyn is behind it all.

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