Gay Osaka, Japan | The Essential LGBT Travel Guide!

Osaka might travel beneath the radar as a destination oft-forgotten amongst Kyoto’s history and Tokyo’s modernity. Nonetheless, inside vibrant area, you will find individuals a tiny bit much less traditional, a bit more lively, and all willing to have fun.

Home to Japan’s second-largest gay world, Osaka is where so that free to discover where night takes you.

You will find three major gay locations in Osaka, but Doyama is readily the largest and the majority of appealing to people from other countries. Similar to in Gay Tokyo, the taverns listed here are normally hyper-niched, catering toward a particular group – bears, salarymen, youthful twinks, etc. – and oh-so-

Japanese. Discreet, compartmentalized, typically smaller compared to a cruise ship cabin and obsessed with purchase, though fortunately nearly because uptight as
Tokyo
.

Women must be aware that lots of homosexual lifestyle areas in Doyama usually do not enable feminine clients, but there are some lesbian bars which do not allow male customers, so there is a thing right here for all.

The absolute most daring homosexual traveler may additionally wish to explore small Namba gay world, Kabukiza-ura (“behind the Kabuki movie theater”), that’s distinctly much less intercontinental but nonetheless really appealing. Or if you communicate Japanese, attempt the Tennoji gay scene, in your neighborhood around Tsutenkaku Tower – the first post-war gay region that these days draws generally more mature residents.

Neighborhood perceptions, however, indicate lots of foreigners is only able to sample but a few areas, specially away from Doyama, as private friendships with users and strict Japanese-only policies determine who is able to enter. You could think this really is xenophobic – and it’s also – but this is done in huge component to protect people from getting evaluated by unknown expectations.

japan with like no place else in the world, and as anyone who has visited before can ascertain, the Japanese carry out acts really differently. Luckily the ongoing economic stagnation in Japan made the united states – therefore the homosexual scene of Osaka – much more available to foreigners, there have become numerous homosexual saunas, pubs, and clubs that positively pleasant Gaijin (the Japanese term for foreign people) to their middle.

Homosexuality has never been prosecuted in Japan – it was not thought about a sin, merely shameful. Today, despite present developments of tolerance and openly homosexual spaces in cosmopolitan areas like Osaka,
Yokohama
, and
Tokyo
, lots of Japanese homosexual males and lesbians nonetheless conceal who they are.

Being gay might be still viewed as your own option, and while homophobia is actually uncommon, Japanese community views becoming homosexual as not something to-be flaunted or freely discussed.

This live-and-let-live mindset – provided that external shows are kept – towards LGBT people now’s earnestly hindering gay rights in Japan. There’s absolutely no governmental and personal friction to drive circumstances ahead, unlike in
Vietnam
,
China
, and
Korea
.

There are couple of openly homosexual lawmakers, celebrities, or people, therefore the National eating plan has actually yet to take action on such as intimate direction in the united kingdom’s civil-rights code.

Same-sex relationship is not legal in the nationwide level, though since 2019, twenty locations and town wards concern same-sex collaboration certificates, which offer some benefits; but they’re completely symbolic.

Taiwan at this time leads Asia in LGBT legal rights
, and with the raising impetus and grand plans of Kansai Pride, we hope this may encourage Japanese culture and lawmakers to talk about protections and equivalence for many residents.

Despite this, homosexual tourists to Osaka – and Japan – tend to be highly extremely unlikely experiencing any discrimination whatsoever with regards to sexual tastes.

With a dazzling gay world – countless skyline, tasty road meals, wacky personalities, and more destinations than you can ever aspire to learn – and an energizing desire for apparently absolutely every thing –  Gay Osaka is amongst the world’s a lot of underrated urban centers and gay scenes.

Pop society, fashion, and neon-lit streetscapes collide with cherry flowers, hidden shrines, and quiet alleys to make sure you’ll never end up being bored in Osaka. And also if you should be, Osaka actually known as the ‘nations kitchen’ for nothing, and everybody here’s seemingly out once and for all food – and an enjoyable time!

Tourist attractions in Osaka

Naturally, becoming homosexual will not establish which destinations the majority of us will want to see in each area, & most queer travelers will want to read the leading points to see in Osaka during the day!

There is certainly plenty accomplish right here – but we found the most popular recollections had been wandering through, subsequently obtaining missing in the apparently unlimited food roads, seeing every odd cafes,
hitting up Universal Studios
and soothing on one of the many
Osaka river cruises!
Still – it will help to have some concept of what is going on, therefore here you will find the most readily useful things to do in Osaka, according to us!

Naturally, as soon as you allow Osaka and head back residence, you simply won’t have the ability to deliver these street vendors and sushi cooks along with you – then learn to make some classic Osaka dishes from natives in your stay?

AirKitchen, is an online gay-friendly preparing course service
that delivers travelers with the opportunity to visit a regular Japanese family home to understand to prepare – following share dinner together. It is Airbnb-esque, and an excellent way of getting to achieve the authenticity and heat of regional Japanese men and women.

The cooking class choices are since varied as Osaka it self: sushi-making, ramen, bento bins, takoyaki (octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (a Japanese savory pancake) – to mention a few.

One of the better tips we are able to give you for discovering Gay Osaka is always to pre-order a vacation SIM credit for simple airport pickup and activation the minute you appear and that means you cannot pay a lot of money in international roaming costs.

Get restaurants recommendation and bookings in the fly, public transport instructions up to the minute, club orifice hrs, and, if it’s the thing – usage of gay hook-up apps for more information regarding local scene.

Cellular phone data is fast, cheap, and readily available just about everywhere in Asia, therefore it is no wonder a lot of travelers choose to stay connected acquire from the beaten track (without ever worrying all about obtaining lost). So just why hold off?
Pre-order the very best local SIM card today getting it available in Osaka once you arrive.

Activities to do  in Osaka

Mario Go Kart Adventure

Go out on a real-life Mario Kart trip through the hectic roads of Osaka. There’s nothing that can match it on the planet, and besides getting the cardiovascular system pumping and adrenaline operating – you’ll likely be the top guy in Osaka, with locals working when you just for a picture! Simply don’t forget about: you will need a major international license before you decide to leave the house.

Mameshiba Café

Freshly opened into the tourist-popular Dotonbori region, this exclusively Japanese interest allows you to get fully up close and physically utilizing the impossibly lovely Mameshiba puppies. Costing 880 yen for half an hour (including one hot beverage), it is quite hectic but nonetheless a fun small task – and a terrific way to get day-to-day puppy fix! Having photos and films is OK with flash-off.

Universal Studios

Essentially the most famous appeal in Osaka, spend the day immersing your self in your preferred motion pictures with usage of all Universal’s themed areas according to famous Hollywood blockbusters.

Just this short trip from Osaka facility, we liked the parades, excitement flights, quirky restaurants, and enthusiasm of local Japanese in dressing in motif – but have to confess this area is far, far busier than those in
Singapore
,
La
, and
Orlando.

When you can, get an Universal Express Pass for fast-track usage of USJ’s preferred destinations to save your self time.

Osaka Castle

Explore one of Japan’s most well-known sites, which played an important role inside unification of Japan during sixteenth millennium. Demolished in 1868 and because rebuilt, the castle is actually eight tales high, and every flooring has actually displays, and there’s additionally a city observance platform.

Even if you choose not to ever go in, the expansive grounds are free to check out, with numerous options for street meals, picnicking and enjoying neighborhood existence play . As much as possible occasion your own check out for cherry blossoms, better still, and this is one of the best places for watching within the entire country.

Osaka Video Game Arcades

While in the american globe, arcades have gone the way of cassette tape and hammer trousers, in Japan, they truly are nevertheless large company. The Osaka computer game arcades are not only for the kids either; in fact, pop music into any given arcade around, lunchtime and you will see row upon line of businessmen all acquiring their own fix before proceeding to work.

A lot of have actually multiple levels filled with devices covering every thing, from horse race to dancing to train driving. Taito Station is just one of the leading brands in Japanese arcade gaming features a place in Namba, but you will get a hold of a lot of mammoth arcade rooms dotted about.

Osaka Aquarium

Ideal for a wet day. Look at the seals at the world’s biggest dome-shaped threshold tank when you look at the Arctic zone, notice the unique squawks of rockhopper penguins into the Falkland Islands area, subsequently touch sharks and rays into the Maldives zone. There is also to love here, nevertheless the primary reason people seem to go should marvel at the gorgeous whale shark, the largest seafood worldwide.

Nara Park

Book every day tour or make use of your
JR Pass
to head out of Osaka and take a trip to the 8th 100 years with a visit towards the imperial capital and UNESCO globe Heritage web site of Nara. Uncover the region’s wealthy history, walk ancient temples and, of course, take lovely images making use of the tame ‘bowing’ deer of Nara Park.

Kyoto

Another great excursion you can get to from Osaka with the aid of the
JR Pass
or a tour. Kyoto will be the top jewel of Japan’s cultural tourism crown, therefore cannot skip the possibility to find the relaxing appeal of Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, a listed UNESCO business history web site, before visiting the gold-leaf zen temple of Kinkaku-ji and explore their immaculate Japanese home gardens.

Then, of course, roam through countless orange tori entrance winding through the wooded woodlands on the Fushimi Inari Shrine assuming you really have time, spend evening Geisha spotting inside the Gion heritage area…all with time to catch the practice back in time for a night in Gay Osaka.

Try The Infamous Puffer Fish

Check out Guenpin Fugu, the number 1 pufferfish string in Japan, and enjoy the special flavor of Japanese fugu. Brave a taste within this dangerous catch which chefs need several years of instruction and a fugu permit! Decide to try the torafugu, or tiger pufferfish, the highest quality in the nation, although you admire the restaurant’s standard environment and ambiance.

DIY Takoyaki

Enjoy a great and distinctive meal experience and learn how to generate real Japanese takoyaki with beneficial personnel in addition to English directions provided.

Generate takoyaki with an octopus which is thus fresh they may be eaten as sashimi and along with some tasty green salad, okonomiyaki, sobameshi, a dessert, as well as a 90-minute all-you-can-drink meal. Osaka will be the house of takoyaki, and if you are perhaps not currently enthusiastic about it-You, could shortly be!

Spa Community

Spend trip to Osaka’s enormous hot spring season theme park and address you to ultimately a world-class spa experience featuring European and Asian-themed hot springtime baths. Enjoy usage of salon World’s fitness center, and interesting enjoyment swimming pools with enormous h2o slides, next soothe parts of your muscles, alleviate your entire tensions, and knowledge enjoyment everything in one destination.

Never skip the possiblity to discover this insanely big onsen intricate found in the Shinsekai place and discover more about the Japanese overdue.

Maid Cafe Knowledge

If you would like discover unusual Japan, just take a look into Japan’s cosplay world whenever maids anticipate you whilst enter the café and acquire mindful service from waitresses dressed in lovable maid garments. Just what appeal will there be for homosexual tourists? We’re not quite positive, but some thing confides in us there are many than several lesbians who can enjoy particularly this!

Osaka River Cruise

Also known as Japan’s liquid City, Osaka consists of many urban canals and links, many of which act as the namesake because of their surrounding neighborhoods. While a river cruise around Dōtonbori Canal is on most tourists’ container lists, discover so much more to explore – including a Jazz sail!

There is many function cruises from year to year, like those where you can admire the cherry flowers of Okawa inside the Hanami period and a xmas sail where you are able to benefit from the illumination full of light.

For homosexual tourists, they even offer tiny exclusive cruises in which go-go kids and pull queens can be organized – nevertheless these is difficult to get, therefore we motivate you to get in touch with Out Japan to arrange!

Mandrake

The whole world’s largest anime and manga reseller, founded long ago in 1987 as a second hand manga provider, Mandrake these days has morphed into Osaka’s biggest vendor of utilized anime and manga-related products with two branches in Osaka.

The most popular may be the Mandarake large Chaos shop in Namba – but there is however also a location in Umeda – with multiple levels aimed at various collectibles, manga really works and art. Maybe not when it comes down to faint of heart, there are additionally some pretty serious anime really works that cross some borders (let’s imagine
Japan just made the possession of child pornography a criminal activity in 2014
, and explicit anime isn’t covered).

A time tablet of Japanese pop tradition, a call with the claustrophobic aisles of Mandarake has got to be probably the most uncommon things you can do in Osaka, and if you’re maybe not careful, you could potentially invest days right here.

Dotonbori Street-Food

One of many tourist destinations in Osaka with a variety of local meals particularly Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki, distinctive purchasing, temples, neon lighting, and plenty of unexpected situations. You are able to check out all on your own, but also for top knowledge, we advice
a led tour with a qualified local
who can make suggestions to your best-hidden delights and must-try soup bowls of the “nation’s kitchen”.

MenZ-MenZY

Positioned above  Frenz Frenzy, the most outlandish homosexual taverns in Osaka, MenZ-MenZY sells gorgeous underwear, swimsuit, add-ons, and for you looking your best. Imagine
Andrew Christian
and
AussieBums.
Tempt your self.

Kansai Queer Movie Festival

A
homosexual film festival
occurring in sites across
Kyoto
and Osaka in September, and from now on within its 13th season. Cross genres and motifs, this is a festival that feels
love is actually love
, welcoming everybody, and providing a complicated ecosystem for which to interact with the neighborhood Kansai LGBT community.

Kansai Rainbow Pride

A surprisingly family-friendly event, the Kansai Rainbow Parade may be the biggest LGBT parade in Japan outside Tokyo. The big event will promote understanding and enjoy variety featuring a parade, level shows, parties, and fun activities in Ogimachi Park each year in Oct.

While the organizers have actually large intentions to expand the function into one of the primary in Asia, Osaka Pride demonstrates in several ways Japan is within the Stone era when just 5,000 folks participate compared to hundreds of thousands in
Hong Kong
,
Taipei
and
Sydney
– and Europe or US! Still, it really is incredible to see NGOs and companies acquiring aboard due to the fact event grows.

In a nation in which modesty around outsiders is vital and sexual choice isn’t something to end up being flaunted, we can just hope improved presence down the road assists new generations of Japanese feel at ease sufficient to end up being who they are.

Gay-Friendly and Gay Hotels in Osaka

As Osaka is just one of the more modern and gay-friendly countries in Asia, almost any lodge in Osaka can be viewed gay-friendly, and none of your readers will enjoy any dilemmas right here. All things considered, getting gay-friendly is not everything about upscale deluxe, but about offering friendly service and pleasant everyone else with open arms!

Osaka is a major international mega-city with a shortage of space, so place dimensions are smaller compared to all over the place more in the field – but as many homosexual guys learn, it’s not all about dimensions, but exactly how you employ it! We’re making reference to style, efficiency, and views, darling!

Everybody else loves to end up being enclosed by people with typical interests. As a result, there are many popular gay-friendly places in Osaka which can be hot spots for homosexual travelers to stay – either because of their location close to the Doyama section gay community – the best spot in which to stay Osaka if you are looking for gay lifestyle – or their concept and inclusive vibes.

Here motels in Gay Osaka have the ability to had glowing recommendations from homosexual tourists prior to now, however,
there are countless different resorts in Osaka
if they’re not quite what you’re seeking.

Whether you prefer a great and personal hostel, an inexpensive place to crash after per night of partying, or an ultra-chic designer choice to sip cocktails and encircle your self with fabulous folks  – Gay Osaka has one thing for all!

Gay-friendly Hotels Near Umeda / The Doyama Gay Scene

InterContinental Resort Osaka â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

Redefining luxury, the InterContinental Osaka provides incomparable deluxe and sophistication. The experience starts inside dazzling and increasing lobby, a bright and calm arena of art work, modern décor, and breathtaking opinions.

It goes on throughout any stick to Michelin-star eating, stimulating health spa treatments, and Japanese-style bathing. Then there is the stately spaces, rooms, and residences that provides unrivaled solution and amenities to discerning business and leisure traveler. The service listed here is second-to-none, and really should you end up being lured to leave, the gay scene of Osaka starts only some minutes away.

The Ritz-Carlton Osaka â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

Enjoy amazing luxury as of this 5-star resort that catches the substance of Osaka, Japan. Found in the prestigious district of Nishi-Umeda, The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka will pay tribute to Japanese cultural heritage, while lavishing friends with modern lavishness.

With a 450-piece art and classic collection, a spa, and impeccably created hotels, this urban oasis offers stylish sophistication near distinctive tourist attractions, old urban area views, while the gaybourhood of Osaka!

Hilton Osaka Hotel â˜†â˜†â˜†â˜†

Located, this high-end hotel is advised by many people gay tourists for its convenient location, spectacular opinions, and clean concept. Discover a variety of dining possibilities, and an internal pool, fitness center, pleasure area, and spectacular town views basically a number of the amenities awaiting the arrival.

ibis Osaka Umeda â˜†â˜†â˜†

A major international economic climate brand name lodge located in the Umeda region offering inviting, modern, and comfy areas, with comfy beds. Discover free of charge Wi-fi and a clear style, but I will be truthful – you may be staying here for all the low cost label and area!

Nest Resort Osaka Umeda â˜†â˜†â˜†

A tremendously affordable accommodation alternative offering a peaceful base to understand more about Osaka by-day, with effortless access to the homosexual scene of Doyama when the sun goes down! Recently launched, the rooms are rather little but well equipped, in addition to lodge also supplies breads and coffee for break fast.

Additionally there is a spacious and well-designed lobby to hold out in. Because of the area and {design|style|layout|conce