Category Archive for Nightcrawling
Tokyo, Japan Goth & metal bars! Alternative gothic bar guide, Guinea Pig Shinjuku address, Nanzuka Taken sci-fi Sorayama.
Tons of you enjoyed my guide to Tokyo Goth, metal and horror bars on IG — especially our fav, Guinea Pig — so let’s dive in deeper!
You’ll find my spooky crew at the following Japan Gothic alt haunts mostly in Kabukicho, Shinjuku. This isn’t a comprehensive list — our other favorite bars incude Godz, Bar Psy (music) and Caribbean (absinthe) in Shinjuku, Bar Tram (Ebisu) for specialty absinthe, and others previously featured on La Carmina Blog and IG @LaCarmina,
In this previous post, you can see my dispatches from Golden Gai’s Deathmatch in Hell, Roppongi’s Trick or Treat Halloween bar, cyberpunk apocalypse Neo-Shinjuku Atsushi, LGBTQ Eagle Blue, and more to round out this list!
Read on to be transported into the new Nanzuka Taken. It’s a Hajime Sorayama (sexy robots) meets HR Giger (alien horror) bar in Shinjuku that makes you feel as if you’ve been abducted by extraterrestrials and are floating in space!
(See our reel about our Nanzula Taken Sorayama bar visit.)
Our fav horror / alt / Tokyo Goth bar by far is Guinea Pig – a fetish gore-fest with animal fetuses in jars and bloody B movies on the screens!
Look out for facehuggers and decapitated heads everywhere…
Guinea Pig is not easy to find in Kabukicho, so heed the address: 2-41-2 Leo Kotobuki Building 3-A, Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
It’s not open every night. Look for the white classical-looking building with a staircase, and take the elevator to the third floor.
The shelves are fully of oddities like skulls and fetuses in jars. Ask for the grapefruit tequila cocktail, my personal fav, which washes down nicely with the free popcorn or snacks.
Guinea Pig has a bloody gory b-horror movie theme throughout.
Say hello to the live leech… There used to be a pet snake at Guinea Pig too!
Tourists tend go to the best-known Goth horror bars, like Death Match in Hell (in Golden Gai – details in this previous post). For a true subterranean Gothic experience, head to Ricky Bar: my friend’s Goth music hangout in Shimokitazawa every Wednesday night.
Info here about Ricky Bar in Shimo. He’ll play Goth, industrial and EDM tunes as he serves highballs, beers and snacks — it’s a regular spot for Tokyo’s Goths and bizarros to gather!
Although Shinjuku is full of tourists these days, it’s still ground zero for alt / hard rock / heavy metal bars. We love to stop by From Dusk Till Dawn, which has a retro horror theme.
Mori rocks a classic Gothic Lolita look in the streets of Kabukicho.
Details of their silver rings and Gothic cross jewelry.
With Lilith, Noveli and Yukiro at From Dusk Till Dawn. You can request heavy metal or hard rock songs, and drink umeshu (plum wine) on ice.
Cambiare is a Suspiria-themed little bar up a narrow set of stairs in Golden Gai, Shinjuku. Or it used to be… I sadly can’t recommend it in its current state of management. The Suspiria (Dario Argento 70s bloody supernatural horror) vibe has been papered over with random flyers, hip hop music blares, the drinks are bleh… It’s one of the many spots in Tokyo that was better back in the day, before the current over-tourism.
But there are under the radar places that still rock, like Bar Ame. Located in Shinjuku, it’s an artsy fortune teller cocktail hangout (and you can find Miffy bunny plushes and drawings throughout!)
And we found a new spaceship bar, which has yet to be discovered by tourists… Nanzuka Taken! Located in Shibuya, it’s a sci-fi space themed bar with robotos by Hajime Sorayama and dark art by HR Giger
The main table is glowing with a sexy silver robot lady by iconic artist Hajime Sorayama. (Remember we saw his exhibit in Shibuya last time?)
A must-visit for cybergoth aliens. Watch our reel about Nanzuka Taken to see these sleek projections in motion.
Everything is so shiny and chrime… you feel as if you’ve been teleported into the stars.
Drink whiskey cocktails while feeling like you’ve been abducted by aliens & are floating in space… now that’s a cybergoth sci-fi dream come true.
Tokyo used to have a H.R. Giger bar (like the Giger bar / museum I visited in Gruyeres, Switzerland) between 1989 and 1996 (the height of civilization!) While the Japan Giger themed bar is no more, there are some of his biomechanical works hanging on the walls of Nanzuka Taken.
Even the metal futuristic furniture is custom-made!
Sorayama’s glowing helmet in collab with F1’s Lewis Hamilton is on display.
Take me back to Nanzuka Taken, the Hajime Sorayama bar in Shibuya! (See our reel for a peek inside.)
I’ll leave you with a few more recent adventures from Japan. Have you heard of Japan’s Daruma Temple Katsuoji, in the outskirts of Osaka?
✨⛩️ It’s filled with cute red roly-poly dolls representing luck and perseverance (they’re the embodiment of “I get knocked down / But I get up again / You’re never gonna keep me down.”)
Joey Wong took these images of Katsuo-ji Temple, home to thousands of Japanese #daruma (which were invented in the 17th c, inspired by plump Buddhist monk Bodhidharma).
His travel tips: Take a 1 hour bus from Osaka, arrive around closing to avoid crowds, come in autumn for vibrant colors, collect stamps around the grounds for a neat postcard souvenir, and combine your visit with nearby Minoh Falls.
See all his images from Katsuo-ji Daruma Temple outside Osaka here on @lacarmina IG.
Have you been to a themed Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine in Japan? There are many dedicated to foxes, onigiri and more… I even went to a hell temple in Osaka, pentagram temple in Kyoto, and two cat temples/shrines in Tokyo!
I wanted to close by sharing a special day with my Tokyo Goth friends at Yokohama Cemtery. Missing you, Kuroe Akiwake… can’t believe it’s been 2 years since our alien idol ascended to an alternate plane, to use her lexicon. (Grateful we got one final adventure at the Tokyo tarot museum and cafe.)
Our Tokyo Goth crew wanted to give Kuroe a send-off worthy of her passions and power (if you ever met her, you’ll know what I mean).
One of her final messages to me suggested a plan for when I was in Japan: “What if we paid a visit to Yamate in Yokohama, to look at the fancy foreign diplomat houses, and paid a visit to the “foreigners’ graveyard” there? It’s super goth and cool and I haven’t been there in like ten years. Maybe we could go in a group if people are free. We could take the scenic walk along Yamashita Park and Osambashi, too. Maybe eat some food in Chinatown.”
Life got busy and we didn’t end up making this happen. But last fall, my friends and I executed this day out in her honour – and as you can see, it was absolutely fabulous. (We were intriged by the freemason symbols we saw on the tombstones throughout Yokohama Foreigners Cemetery!)
See the full IG post and photos about how we honored Kuroe here.
We did a tarot card ritual together in her honor. (This is my cult-y Osho Zen Tarot deck.)
You’ve made such an impact on the people in your life, Kuroe, and we will always be with you.
What’s next in the cards? I’ll keep on keeping on… More Japan alternative Goth dispatches to come, as well as reports from my travels in Africa, Europe and Central Asia.
Find me on @LaCarmina Instagram, and comment if you have any questions about Tokyo Goth nightlife, subculture, parties — or anything at all!
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Kobe Satanic Gothic bar Idea, Japanese Satanism, Rocky Horror. Tokyo Goth shops, jirai kei & acubi fashion.
Welcome to the dark underworld of Gothic & Fetish bar IDEA in Kobe, Japan! Strap yourself in for an evening of drinks and entertainment with Mistress Midori and her corset-bound staff.
In this post, I’ll take you inside another favorite hangout for Japanese Satanists: Gothic and Fetish Bar Idea in Kobe (here’s my video about the experience). If you’re keen to explore Japanese Satanism and demonic attractions — and see the latest in cute / Gothic Lolita / Jirai Kei fashion — then this is the Goth travel guide for you!
Also, for the new year — here are some new pics featuring my oversized white earmuffs by Skandinavik Fur! Check out this family-run company for all things warm and fuzzy (they also made my infamous hot pink Mongolian sheep coat).
Anyone else wish we were entering 1997 again, and not 2025? I’ll just keep on dressing like it was the Y2K era (loving the Korean acubi street style aesthetic recently).
My red chunky highlights are by Katya at Kore Salon Vancouver. This Y2K inspired hairstyle contrasts nicely with the Skandinavik earmuffs.
And I somehow managed to find the only cute puffer jacket out there: this one here by Desigual. It’s a cropped metallic purple puffer coat that makes me want to vibe with Mase.
Now, let’s descend into a little-known Goth bar in Kobe, which is filled with witchy / Satanic / occult books and oddities! For footage from inside, see my video on @LaCarmina IG.
It’s always a good idea to visit IDEA bar… tell Mistress Midori that La Carmina sent you. Location / address: 2-17-8 Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan
Midori is the cousin of the late Taiki-san (both are pillars of Satanism in Japan – Taiki ran the legendary Satanic Shop Territory Osaka). At Idea, Midori showed me some new books featuring pentagrams and other dark symbology.
IDEA is filled with Goth taxidermy and creepy collections, much like Osaka’s Territory. There’s a pentagram sigil and spiky nail bed on the counter, and regular shibari / bondage / domination demos set to industrial gothic music.
Ready for a ritual with a demonic baby doll? If you’re intrigued about Satanism in Japan, read my article with Dr. John Skutlin on this subject.
Dr. John Skutlin explains: “Midori opened her own “Mystic, Fetish & Gothic Bar” called IDEA [pronounced as the original Greek, which refers to “form” in the Platonic sense]. She really pulled out all the stops with the design of the place as well, with a lot of help from her cousin, Taiki.” Case in point: these pentagram coasters and the long bar filled with sharp nails. (You can remove the glass top and lay your victim onto the spikes!)
“Lining the shelves behind the bar are three sets of six bars each—666—and the number of iron bars lining the walls of the restroom number 72—one for each demon of the Ars Goetia grimoire. Demonic tomes and art abound, of course, and the soundtrack is mostly dark electro mixes courtesy of Taiki, who also designed Midori’s unique pentacle sigil for the bar.”
In our Idea video here, you can see my friend Mistress Maya and the Idea staff playing with these handcrafted whips!
“That’s all looks though—the best part of IDEA is the people. Midori is one of the warmest and kindest people you’d ever hope to meet, and she has a talent for finding interesting young ladies (sometimes men) to work at the bar who are fantastic conversationalists and, of course, knowledgeable about the fetish and occult world. The parties she holds, which fall on the holidays marking the Pagan Wheel of the Year, involve everything from your standard rope tying and dripping candle wax to suspension performances and scarification.”
Read more of my conversation with Dr. John Skutlin about Satanism in Japan here, and I hope you’ll get the chance to experience Gothic & Fetish Bar Idea in Kobe.
Before our visit, Mistress Maya took me to get a taste of the famous beef. You don’t need to order the branded “Kobe beef” itself in order to have a delectable meal at Miyabi Steak, a laid-back teppenyaki restaurant run by a skilled chef. His perfectly seared chateaubriand wagyu, garlic rice, and vegetables were melt-in-your-mouth magic. If you visit Kobe, I hope you’ll get a chance to dine on the juicy meat at Miyabi Steak.
One last stop in Kobe: Vampire Squid, a bar dedicated to The Rocky Horror Picture Show! I spy Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Check out my video of my visit to the Japanese Rocky Horror themed bar.
Vampire Squid is decked out in Rocky Horror memorabilia, and plays the 1975 cult musical-film on repeat. Guests can say hi to the resident creature of the night, Fuku-chan the barn owl! (An owl is “fukuro” in Japanese, hence the name.)
Vampire Squid is the dream-space of Saki, who often performs at Idea’s anniversary events.
Address / location of the Rocky Horror bar: 3 Chome-11-18 Shimoyamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0011, Japan
If you’re a fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, then you’ll be mad for this glam Goth bar (see my video about Vampire Squid here). Aren’t Kobe and Kyoto a hoot?
For video footage of Kyoto’s Seimei pentagram shrine, Satanic Idea bar and other spots featured in my blog, check out my reels on Insta @LaCarmina – thanks for the follow.
Here are a few more outfit pics for you — wearing Charli Cohen pants, Dear Cloud Miffy makeup bag, white earmuffs by Skandinavik Fur.
These are my first earmuffs ever, and I’m a convert. They do a remarkable job at keeping your head and ears warm.
Wearing this cropped puffer by Desigual, a short and padded metallic coat that fits with the acubi / y2k aesthetic.
Where will 2025 take us in The Collapse? Only time will tell… but I’ll definitely spend more time in Japan this year.
I’ll leave you with some dark Japanese fashion roundups, and suggestions for where to shop for Gothic Lolita Punk clothes in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese Gothic street style has evolved over the years — Gothloli (with frilly dresses, bonnets, etc) used to be more prominent, while now there’s a lot of “jirai kei” (landmine-style, or dark/edgy/naughty meets feminine cute).
Kuromi (the devilish Sanrio character) is the perfect poster girl for jirai kei. Here’s a Kuromi clothing collab that perfectly encapsulates the dark girly aesthetic.
I’ve written many Goth punk alternative Tokyo shopping guides over the years, but things keep changing — so here’s the latest look at where you can find Japanese Gothic fashion.
Studio Alta in Sunshine City Ikebukuro has a basement level filled with Gothic and Sweet Lolita and other subculture street styles.
I will forever be drawn to Japan’s spooky meets kawaii styles.
Corset lacing, ancient aesthetics, witchy hats… obsessed with the creativity of Japanese underground fashion.
Sunshine City mall in Ikebukuro is a great place to explore; it also has a Pikachu Sweets Cafe, Flower Miffy, Kiddyland, Thank You Mart, Hello Kitty store and other pop culture attractions.
See more photos from Sunshine City in this older blog post.
Shibuya 109, the tall department store near Shibuya Scramble crossing, remains one of the best spots to shop for trendy youth styles.
Mars, Liz Lisa, Rojita and other larme kei (soft, romantic girly) styles are omnipresent. I like to mix and match: I found a futuristic silver skirt and Gothic / jirai kei heels in Shibuya 109.
Onward to Harajuku, the youth culture and avantgarde fashion center of Japan. It’s also home to Sebastian Masuda’s 6%DokiDoki, one of the last bastions of independent fashion in this neighborhood.
6% Doki Doki still delivers on all things kawaii cute meets ghoulish technicolor.
Laforet Harajuku is still the #1 destination for Gothic Lolita punk and subculture clothing. If you can only go to one shopping center, make it this one.
Although Lolita dresses aren’t as popular as back in the day, you can still find the designer boutiques at Laforet like Alice and the Pirates, Angelic Pretty, and Baby the Stars Shine Bright.
However, there are dozens of floors contain all types of edgy styles. See my Laforet Harajuku post for a comprehensive walk-through of the department store, with plenty of photos.
Right now at Laforet Harajuku, you’ll find pentagrams, stomper boots, rave, and Y2K aesthetics.
There’s a great deal of handmade and funky vintage-coded fashion as well at Laforet.
Shinjuku Annex is also a fantastic spot to find kawaii meets alt Goth clothes, accessories, makeup and more. See my Shinjuku Annex blog post for the details (the top floor has Kera Shop, Moi-Meme-Moitie etc).
Can’t wait to be back in Tokyo / Japan in 2025… Currently confirming the dates and details, and will keep you informed.
Thank you always for being part of my Japan Gothic chronicles. If you find these travel and shopping guides helpful, please consider sharing them on socials and with friends. ありがとう!
LA CARMINA
