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If you’ve had an eye on the Japanese news recently, you may have heard of the newest odd attraction to hit Tokyo – the Ganguro Café. Not ones to miss out on anything new in Japan, we sent two of our tour leaders, David and Tyler, to find out more! Read on to see what they discovered…
‘The Ganguro Café will give you a peek into the sometimes bizarre but always interesting world of youth culture in Japan. Although the so-called “ganguro” movement is something that many Japanese assume to be a thing of the nineties, it is still a tangible subculture that can be found in the hip backstreets of Shibuya.
‘The term “ganguro” is derived from Japanese meaning to turn dark, and it’s no misnomer. The girls at Ganguro Café are tanned to the extreme and costumed out in brightly coloured fashion with liberally applied makeup. Ganguro girls are known specifically for their fashionista look, but they also commonly practise a style of dancing called “para para”.
‘Our insider tip is to ask them to perform this for everyone in the café if they aren’t already doing so. The other visitors will be happy you did!
‘The cafe is a bit steep (1,500 yen/£8 just to sit down for up to 90 minutes) but drinks and food can be purchased for more reasonable prices. And unlike most places in Tokyo, they welcome pictures and video – so you are sure to leave with some very unique photos and an experience that you’ll be unlikely to forget any time soon.’ – Tyler
To read more about ganguro – and the other crazy fashion trends that Japan is famous for – check out our blog piece from last year. And if you are a customer who would like to visit the café yourself, just mention it to one of our travel consultants when discussing your holiday and they’ll be glad to help!