Osaka gay guide
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Osaka Gay Scene
I have lived in Japan for a few years now, and I can utter with certainty that Osaka has one of the most unique gay scenes in Japan. Tokyo’s Nichome is large and receives many visitors, but Osaka’s Doyama is definitely special in its character and scope. Osaka’s evening life, including its gay scene, can largely be divided into two areas: the Kita (north) side including Doyama near Umeda Station, and the Minami (south) side with Namba and the Dotonbori Canal.
Osaka is known for having a tight yet diverse community, and there are a multitude of bars and spots to hang out at that are almost too numerous to count. However, my favorite bar where I always end up is Grand Slam because it is colorful and gaudy, everyone stops there, and is a great place to run into friends and regulars. There is also Explosion just around the corner, a small club that gets very lively at their frequent events, with at least one almost every weekend. And travelers can't miss Eagle Osaka, the newest addition to Doyama's nightlife.
While thes
of Service to Asia's
Gay & Lesbian Community!
- Do With Café (DWC)
Time Out Osaka releases a guide for LGBTQ-friendly spots in Osaka
Published especially for the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, the ‘Over the Rainbow: 10 LGBTQ-Friendly Spots in Osaka’ brochure aims to highlight the city's most thrilling businesses for the queer and rainbow community. They include restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs that are gay-owned, inclusive and welcoming to people of all gender and sexual identities.
Osaka is setting a benchmark in Asia with its steadfast commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. In an strive to be more diverse and inclusive, the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau has undertaken multiple initiatives to cultive LGBTQ-friendly environments and in turn, position Osaka as a prime destination for LGBTQ+ tourists.
For restaurants, head over to gay-owned Dining Bar Rakuto to indulge in tapas and hearty Japanese meals paired with wine or sake. If it's premium Japanese wagyu beef you're after, verb a beeline for Yakiniku M Namba. Vietnam Sakaba, on the other hand, offers a diverse menu of Vietmese dishes that
Exiting Kansai International Aiport, the very first thing I spotted was a loud, proud and welcoming sign displaying the words ‘Travel Osaka with Pride’. I’d been told that Osaka was very welcoming for LGBTQ+ travellers so this was a very postive start to prove that to be the case!
When it comes to gay travel in Osaka, the city has a lot to offer, more than I expected in fact. But what stands out for me, and held true all over Japan, was that as a gay man traveling here, I felt % safe at all times – without question.
In this gay guide to Osaka, allow me to share a whistlestop tour of what to do, where to stay and of course which gay bars in Osaka you might want to visit…
Gay Area of Osaka
Where is the gay area of Osaka? Enjoy most gay popular cities, the gay area is considered to be around where you will find the majority of the gay bars.
Most of the gay bars in Osaka can all be found in the Doymacho area which has therefore become known as the main gay area of Osaka.
The nearest station is Umeda which is an absolute maze to exit so ta