Osaka may be known as the “nation’s kitchen”, but this kitchen is also serving queer community realness! Our first time in Japan was spent chasing rainbows and dropping our queer coin on Japanese LGBTQ+ owned and friendly businesses. And now, we’re sharing it all with you so you can travel confidently!
Maido ookini (thank you very much) to our friends at Discover Osaka and Visit Gay Osaka for facilitating some of our activities and accommodations! A big thank you to them for showcasing Osaka through a queer lens. Make sure to also check out the resources on their website. Ultimately, all opinions in this article are our own.
Is Osaka, Japan LGBTQ+ friendly?
In a word, absolutely! With well over a hundred gay bars, Osaka is often regarded as Japan’s gayest city. With a lively and welcoming community, the city has not one but two “gayborhood” districts: Minami (Namba and Shinsekai) and Doyama (Kita).
As of 2024, same-sex marriage is not yet legal or recognized in Japan. But, Osaka prefecture was one of the first to be a part of the Partnership System Inter-Municipality Collaboration Network. This allows same-sex couples to register partnership certificates which allow for some benefits.
While we can only speak to our own experience, we personally did not come across any scrutiny. Of course, we were certain to adhere to Japan’s cultural norms that apply to people of all identities, like avoiding PDA or overt affections. For more information, be on the lookout for our upcoming comprehensive guide of LGBTQ+ Japan!
Swissôtel Nankai Osaka
First, you’ll need an LGBTQ+ friendly home base while gallivanting around Osaka! Choosing where to stay as an LGBTQ+ traveler, especially when visiting a foreign country for the first time, can be extremely daunting. Fortunately, Swissôtel Nankai Osaka makes it known that inclusivity is valued at their core as soon as you walk into the lobby and see the progress pride flag on their welcome wall.
Swissôtel Nankai Osaka proudly stands as Asia’s first IGLTA accredited hotel and welcomes visitors from all walks of life. Located in the heart of Osaka above Namba Station, Swissôtel Nankai makes for the perfect launchpad into the city. Even if you aren’t staying during Kansai Pride, the hotel hosts monthly drag shows, seasonal queer events, and features local LGBTQ+ community resources on their site and QR welcome card.
Plus, if you’re looking to say “I do” and get married, they serve as an inclusive wedding venue for LGBTQ+ couples! They are the first hotel in Japan to recently have performed a wedding dedication ceremony between a same-sex couple in collaboration with a Shinto priest from Imamiya Ebisu Shrine. Swissôtel Nankai Osaka is truly working to push the LGBTQ+ needle forward, not only in Osaka but throughout all of Japan!
Not only are they committed to LGBTQ+ initiatives but they are also committed to making sure every guest receives the best service. At the hotel, you will also find a beautiful pool and spa center, rooftop bar, diverse breakfast buffet to appeal to both the Western and Eastern palette, seasonal specials, and more!
Takashimaya Department Store
Next, follow the rainbow to do some retail therapy! Takashimaya Department Store operates throughout Japan, but its Osaka location transformed into an LGBTQ+ paradise just in time to celebrate pride as part of its Tsunagu Action Weeks! All you have to do is walk around and look for rainbow banners that read, “Everyone Be Happy” to find LGBTQ+ inclusive items.
Head to the enormous food hall in the basement for prideful souvenirs of the edible variety. Follow the hanging action signs that read, “Japan Like!” to find treats like ripe fruit daifuku from Isshindo Hankyu and stunning rice confections at Fukujudo Hidenobu Daimaru like Jo-namagashi shaped like a rainbow arch.
Then, work your way upstairs if luxurious keepsakes are more of your speed. You’ll find rainbow designs on apparel and jewelry from brands like Faliero Sarti, Polo, and Holly’s Golf Market sprinkled throughout the store. But the best experience of all? Getting to try on rainbow kimonos!
This was particularly special because they were Uchikake, an elegant kimono traditionally worn during Japanese weddings and important ceremonies. Once we were all garbed up, the Takashimaya worker taking our photos exclaimed, “Cute couple!” It was such a beautiful moment experiencing Japanese culture that we’ll forever cherish.
Dining Bar Rakuto
If you’d rather experience community through food rather than the bar scene, don’t miss out on Dining Bar Rakuto! Gay-owned, this hidden gem is a modern izakaya-style restaurant with a global tapas menu. It’s a no-frills, unapologetically casual dining bar. It’s the perfect place to gather with friends “regardless of age, gender, disability, or sexuality”, in their own words.
Since 2010, Dining Bar Rakuto has drawn inspiration from seasonal ingredients to create both local and worldly dishes. On staff is sommelier Takatsugu who can assist in pairing libations with your meal. For us, biru paired perfectly with sliced mackerel and the oven baked potato and cod roe cheese. We’re still daydreaming about that cheese pull! Our visit included a compulsory appetizer called otoshi, standard when visiting most izakayas.
Bar Salamat
Salamat is a lesbian mix bar, which means that it is also welcoming to trans men. Cisgendered men are allowed entry if they are accompanying a trans man or woman. In fact, Salamat feels more like visiting a friend’s apartment than going to an actual business!
Seating is limited to the long bar where you’ll get the opportunity to cozy up with the local sapphic community. The language is of no barrier here as the friendly owner keeps a pocket-sized translator on hand. She was kind enough to also help us with some of our Japanese and send us on our way with some snacks!
What Salamat lacks in size it makes up in big feels. You might just make a new friend or two while visiting like we did! We even met up with them at the Rainbow Festa the following day. Be sure to bring enough yen because they are cash only and also have a 500 yen cover per person!
FrenZ FrenZY Rainbow Haven
Located in the same building complex as Salamat, it’s hard to miss the flashing, rainbow, neon exterior of LGBTQ+ mix bar FrenZ FrenZY! No matter your gender presentation or sexuality, FrenZ FrenZY has only one objective: karaoke! Noteworthy LGBTQ+ celebrities like Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga once partied at this bar. Why not add your name to its list of distinguished guests?
This LGBTQ+ mix bar is cashless and has no cover. It also has all of the tell tale features of any exciting queer space: disco balls, rainbows, colorful lights, giant stuffed animals, diverse libations, and good times aplenty! It’s good to note there’s also options for those opting for the introvert route! Feel free to play a round or two on the bar’s Nintendo console or tuck into a seat at the bar and just people watch.
Bar Lemon 檸檬
When life gives you lemons, make a lesbian bar! Lemon is a women only bar located right in the middle of the exciting Minami city center of Osaka. There is a 500 yen cover that includes a bowl of small Japanese snacks.
If gay girls and yap make you strike up an appetite, Bar Lemon’s kitchen also serves up daily, tasty meal specials. During our visit, the owners were kind enough to serve us heaping bowls of Mapo Tofu, made vegetarian just for us. With food and drink flowing and games waiting to be played on the shelf, you may never want to leave! Alex and the masc lesbian owner bonded over the fact they are both “camp lesbians”!
Note that many sapphics find Lemon a little difficult to locate. Know that when you are researching and looking for the bar to look for the kanji of 檸檬 and not “Lemon” on Google and signage. Once you see the Galaxie complex, enter and go around the corner to the elevator. Take it five floors up to find the yellow logo and a cozy space to hang out with all of your favorite sapphic people!
Kansai Rainbow Festa
Finally, time to celebrate! For over a decade, the greater LGBTQ+ community of Osaka gathers in Ōgimachi Park every October to uplift each identity in the Kansai region during its Rainbow Festa. The two day event is free to attend and all can participate, including families.
At the Pride park, walk around to find stalls of vendors with kawaii merchandise. Stop at information booths for learning about identity and gender and traditional Japanese carnival games like Shateki. Meanwhile, you can also find idols and entertainers performing onstage before fueling up at the food trucks in between events. After all, have you ever dreamed of eating freshly made onigiri at a Pride? This is your chance!
The second day marks the main event: the Rainbow Parade. In fact, it’s actually a demonstration rather than a parade. To put it briefly, this is because the LGBTQ+ community in Japan is a minority group still advocating for same-sex marriage and equality.
We had the honor of walking in the demonstration with IGLTA. It was different from anything else we’d been part of. Cars whirred by as Japanese police safeguarded our lane since the roads weren’t closed off for us. Shop owners and workers peeked out of their businesses to wave in support. Excited attendees and curious onlookers alike cheered on from the sidelines.
Truly, it was one of the memorable experiences we’ve had this year. Traveling to experience and steep ourselves in another culture is at the cornerstone of what we do, but it’s always remarkable getting to celebrate pride festivities with the international LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
Only the Beginning of the Rainbow
Remember, there are well over 100+ gay bars in Osaka, so we barely scratched the surface of its LGBTQ+ scene! We recommend spending at least 4-5 days in order to get a proper feel for the city. Plus, Osaka-Namba and Shin-Ōsaka Stations make for quick and convenient travel to other major cities like Kyoto and Nara. So there are many more rainbows to chase throughout Japan!
Looking for other LGBTQ+ friendly destinations to travel to? Check out our other queer travel guides here!
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