Travel
Kyoto’s 5 Best-Known Cherry Blossom Spots by Locals (Hanami)
In Spring (March and April), it’s a tradition for Japanese people to go see cherry blossoms (sakura / […]
Nightlife
Travel
ROR Comedy Club: Japan’s prominent English stand-up comedy club in Osaka
Opened in 2011 in Japan’s comedy capital Osaka (大阪), ROR Comedy Club is the longest-running English stand-up comedy […]
Restaurant Review
Kyoto’s 3 best izakayas of all time
As a local/native in Kyoto, I’ve been in search of the best izakaya (居酒屋: Japanese tavern) for as […]
Restaurant Review
EAGLE OSAKA: Best gay bear bar in Osaka
Since its opening on March 29 in 2024 in Osaka (Japan’s L.A.)’s gayborhood ‘Doyamacho (堂山町)’, EAGLE OSAKA has […]
Restaurant Review
Explosion: Osaka’s only gay club
Explosion (エクスプロージョン) in Osaka’s gay district, Doyamacho (堂山町), would be the most expected answer to “Are there any […]
Restaurant Review
Kyoto’s 6 best izakaya houses (kaikans)
Izakaya house (kaikan / 会館) is a machiya townhouse (machiya / 町屋) or a retro building that is […]
Restaurant Review
Caramel Mama, Kyoto: Japanese diva Yumi Matsutoya fandom bar
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実) a.k.a. Yuming (ユーミン) is one of the most successful female singer-songwriters in Japan. She is […]
Travel
Jankara Deep Fuse: Best karaoke bar in Osaka
Jankara Deep Fuse (カラオケ喫茶 ディープ / ジャンカラ ディープ布施店) in Osaka is probably Japan’s cheapest karaoke bar (all-you-can-drink-alcohol and […]
Restaurant Review
Hachimonjiya, Kyoto: Legendary dive bar downtown
Hachimonjiya (八文字屋) looks like an old atelier operated by Kyoto-born award-winning photographer Fusayoshi Kai / the bar’s owner. […]
Restaurant Review
Bar Kisaragi, Kyoto: Pop diva Miyuki Nakajima fan hangout
Miyuki Nakajima (中島みゆき) is one of the most sold Japanese singer-songwriters of all time. Her energy is more […]
Restaurant Review
Ishimaru Shoten, Kyoto: Tiki bar in the alley in Pontocho
Pontocho (先斗町) is one of the five most popular neighborhoods in Downtown Kyoto. Bars and restaurants are crammed […]
Restaurant Review
Pig & Whistle: Kyoto’s most famous British pub
Except for Japan’s mighty British pub chain ‘HUB’, it should be Pig & Whistle that’s the most famous […]
Restaurant Review
Dublin, Kyoto: Clearly an Irish pub
Interestingly, in Japan, the word “pub (パブ)” indicates Philippine thanks to “Philippine pubs (フィリピンパブ)” where Japanese male sleazeballs […]
Restaurant Review
Matsukawa Liquor Store: Kyoto’s most famous kaku-uchi izakaya
Izakaya is a Japanese tavern. Among the three kinds of izakaya, kaku-uchi (角打ち) izakaya is considered the dopest. […]
Restaurant Review
Rub A Dub: Kyoto’s oldest Jamaican reggae bar
In Downtown Kyoto is Kyoto’s oldest/first reggae bar ‘Rub A Dub(ラバダブ)’ which opened in 1986. Or it’s Jamaica’s […]
Restaurant Review
1G, Kyoto: Ruin bar in abandoned kamaboko factory
One might have heard of Naruto. It’s a Japanese manga series about ninja students / its protagonist’s name. […]
Restaurant Review
EAGLE TOKYO & EAGLE TOKYO BLUE: Best Gay Bear Bars in Japan
EAGLE TOKYO and EAGLE TOKYO BLUE are the best gay bear bars / the most tourist-friendly gay bars […]
Event
Department H: Tokyo’s legendary fetish night
Department H (Department H 2099 / デパートメントH / デパH / デパチ, etc) is the longest-running fetish night in […]
Restaurant Review
Video Pub: The only gay bar in Jerusalem
“LGBTGIF and L’chaim.” – Sushi Sandwish Israel’s most populated city Jerusalem might not be the most popular destination […]
Restaurant Review
Piano Bar at The Walled Off Hotel, Bethlehem, Palestine: Queers with beer
My queer buddies and I grabbed a Palestinian beer at the “worst-view-in-the-world” hotel’s bar in the West Bank. […]
Event
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER at Club METRO: Kyoto’s legendary drag show 
Japan’s oldest night club, Club METRO, hosts a monthly drag show DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER in the ancient capital […]
Event
Club Yoshida, Kyoto: Japan’s Ivy League Univ turned bohemien nightclub
Kyoto University’s Yoshida Dormitory hosts a party called “Club Yoshida.” Keen, upcoming local DJs play dissident, East Asian […]
Restaurant Review
Brooklyn Night Bazaar, Kyoto, Japan: “Not in Kyoto anymore,” said my inner Dorothy
Unlike Japanese traditional “snack bars,” Brooklyn Night Bazaar is an obviously-nonconventional, sleek, and contemporary bar with a soul […]