.jpeg)
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Mt Holyoke chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Are you a performative male out there who wants to level up your game?
Yeah, we get it, you drink matcha, listen to Laufey, and are an avid reader of Sally Rooney.
That’s cool. But, if you truly want to outperform your Gen-Z rivals in the performative male contest, why not change up your game entirely by touring Tokyo instead?
As a person who’s lived in Tokyo for most of her life, I know that the city covers every place that is essential to be a performative maleーwhether that be the best matcha stores, record stores to vibe to Bebadobee and Laufey, or picturesque bookstores where you could spend hours lost in feminist literature.
In this article, I’ll be recommending the top five places in Tokyo that will instantly make you a performative male that nobody could ever outperform.
And if that’s not your intention? Don’t worry, I’ve still got you covered.
You could always visit these places to just have a cool, unforgettable experience in Tokyo!
Matcha Cafes
Tired from that long airplane ride? Then start off your day with a matcha latte.
Performative male math is all about spending hundreds of dollars for a flight to Tokyo, so you could sip on the best 5-dollar matcha you’ve ever had in your whole entire life. Luckily, there are countless amazing matcha stores located around Tokyo.
However, if I had to choose a favorite, I would recommend Hotaya Asakusa, one of the shops of the popular matcha branch, Hotoya.
They offer amazing, rich-flavored matcha lattes and sweets that will truly blow your mind.
In addition, the location of the shop, Asakusa, is a popular tourist site that has historical shrines and traditional craft-making shops scattered around. Why not enjoy the traditional, picturesque streets of Asakusa after grabbing matcha?
Book Stores
Now that you have your matcha latte and feel alive again, it’s time to grab a book as well.
There are so many good bookstores in Tokyo to explore. You could tour the peaceful alleyways of Jinchoucho (a renowned used-bookstore district) or the lively streets of Akihabara that have massive comic book stores.
However, the bookstore I recommend the most if you want to be a performative male is the Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore.
A bookstore that is somehow both massive but is simultaneously cozy.
What I adore about this bookstore is how they have literally everything. Of course, they have books (including not just Japanese but foreign language books as well), but on top of that, they also sell vinyl records, coffee, and cool stationery.
Here, you could spend hours curled up in one of the comfortable seats, lost in the world of feminist literature.
Thrifting Stores
Tokyo is also home to so many cool thrift stores. And if you’re coming to Tokyo, don’t think people will forgive you for wearing crocks or sweatpants in the streets. Nope, we take our streetwear style very seriously, and you want to dress the part during your trip.
While the shops located in popular thrifting neighbourhoods in Shimokitazawa or Harajuku are well known, the shop I would highly recommend is Jantiques, located in Nakameguro. .
The shop has basic styled clothes such as Levi jeans, plain white T-shirts, baggy pants, and sick jewellery for a reasonable price. On the other hand, they also have truly unique one-of-a-kind fashion pieces.
Jantiques was where I discovered my love for thrifting, after I thrifted a really cute tube top with an image of a ballerina from Edgar Degas’ art piece.
The staff there are super friendly and knowledgeable as well, and will be more than happy to help you out with putting together a cool outfit.
Why don’t you visit the shop and have them assist you in getting the perfect performative male style?
Vinyl Records
And of course, a performative male isn’t complete without a vinyl of Laufey’s album.
The record shop that will never disappoint is Disk Union, a renowned record store chain. While its shops are scattered across Tokyo, the best Disk Union shop, in my opinion, is the one located in Shinjuku.
The Disk Union in Shinjuku has 8 floors, each floor overflowing with albums from various music genres. Of course, they have modern artists such as Laufey and Clairo, but they also have rare Japanese city pop albums that you could never get your hands on anywhere else!
Here, you’ll discover music that will transform your average performative male music taste to an elite one.
Sanrio Puroland
Lastly, while I know that a performative male would typically have a Labubu Keychain attached to their bags, why not attach your very own Hello Kitty keychain instead?
While Labubus are stylish, Hello Kitty is the OG icon that is beloved by many, and you might as well buy Hello Kitty merch when you have the chance to visit Tokyo.
If you visit Sanrio Puroland, an indoor-themed park where you can meet all the adorable characters from the Sanrio world, including Hello Kitty, you will be able to make your very own Sanrio character-themed keychain! Plus, the inside of the park is so kawaii.
I hope this tour guide has been helpful and inspired you to visit Tokyo one day!
And don’t forget, while all of these places are great for performative males, they’re great for anyone who is simply a curious traveler, just hoping to explore Tokyo.
That said, I do want to add in the end that the term “performative male” has become a widely discussed concept online, often sparking debate about gender expression, identity, and how we present ourselves. It raises questions such as: Why is enjoying traditionally “feminine” things seen as superficial now? Why do our interests and preferences so often put us into neatly defined boxes now? Why are all of our actions, from what we wear to how we interact, so aestheticized these days?
And it’s not just about gender roles. Cultural trends such as the “performative male” are an implication of how being stuck in one place, both physically and online, could pressurize people to conform to specific aesthetics or identities. We often feel pressured to stay the same, even though we’re not even in our own skin to begin with.
I believe traveling allows a unique opportunity to break free from such restrictions, even momentarily. When you travel to a totally different place, you give yourself permission to step outside the roles you feel pressured to perform—and just be.
For example, why not try listening to some classic Tokyo City Pop instead of your usual Laufey playlist? Why not wear a kimono in Asakusa instead of baggy jeans and a tote bag? Why not swap Sylvia Plath for Japanese authors like Mieko Kawakami or Banana Yoshimoto?
Visiting Tokyo may be the perfect opportunity for you to stop trying to force yourself to fit a certain aesthetic or hashtag and allow you to broaden your own perspective.
English (US) ·