The cooking class choices are as varied as Tokyo itself: sushi-making, ramen, bento boxes, and even vegan and vegetarian options, to name a few. Its Airbnb-esque, and a fabulous way to get to experience the authenticity and warmth of local Japanese people. If you want to deep-dive further into the local culture, there is airKitchen, an online gay-friendly cooking class service that provides travelers with an opportunity to visit ordinary Japanese family home’s to learn to cook – and then share a meal. There is so much to do here – but we found our favorite memories were wandering through getting lost on back-streets, visiting all the weird cafes, hitting up Disney, and wandering through design studios! Still – it helps to have some idea what is going on, so here are the best things to do in Tokyo, according to us! Naturally, being gay does not define which attractions most of us will want to see in each city, and most queer travelers will simply want to check out the top things to see in Tokyo during the day! Gay Tokyo Guide: The Essential Guide To LGBT Travel In Tokyo Japan.
With a dazzling gay scene – and skyline, gourmet food, more attractions that one could ever hope to see, and a passion for absolutely everything Gay Tokyo is one of the world’s most popular destinations.įashion, pop culture, and neon-lit streetscapes collide with cherry blossoms, wooden shanty bars, and quiet cobblestone alleys to ensure you will never be bored in Tokyo – no matter if you are visiting for a few days, weeks or moving here full-time! Taiwan currently leads Asia in LGBT rights, and with the growing momentum and grand plans of Tokyo Pride, we hope this will prompt Japanese society and lawmakers to discuss protections and equality for all citizens.ĭespite this, gay travelers to Tokyo – and Japan – are highly unlikely to experience any discrimination regarding sexual preferences. However, Shibuya District in Tokyo has passed a same-sex partnership certificate bill to recognize same-sex partners as equivalent to those married under federal law. Same-sex marriage is not legal at the national level. Luckily the ongoing economic stagnation in Japan has made the country – and the gay scene of Tokyo – more open to foreigners, and there are no many gay saunas, bars, and clubs who actively welcome non-japanese into their midst. Japan is like nowhere else on Earth, and as anyone who has visited before will know, they do things very differently here. You might think this is xenophobic – and it is – but it is, in large part, to protect members from being judged by unfamiliar standards. Local attitudes, however, mean many most foreigners can only sample, but a few as personal friendships with members and strict Japanese only rules dictate who can enter. Imagine bars for Gaisen (a Japanese gay man attracted to foreign, usually white, men), for those with rugby fetishes, lovers of older men, only those who enjoy oral sex or underwear kinks – yes, Gay Tokyo truly has something for everyone! We all know bars are often split into gay and lesbian, occasionally with leather/ bear bars – but Japan has taken this to a whole new level.