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With a small but tight-knit gay scene, millennia of history, delicious street food, quirky personalities and plenty of unique attractions, Gay Kyoto is one of the world’s most inspiring travel destinations and waiting for you to explore it further… Taiwan currently leads Asia in LGBT rights and with the growing momentum and grand plans of Kansai Pride we hope this will prompt Japanese society and lawmakers to discuss protections and equality for all citizens.ĭespite this, gay travelers to Kyoto – and Japan – are highly unlikely to experience any discrimination at all regarding sexual preferences. Same-sex marriage is not legal at the national level, though as of 2019, twenty cities and city wards issue same-sex partnerships certificates which provide some benefits, however, they are entirely symbolic. There is few openly gay lawmakers, celebrities or business people and the National Diet has yet to take action on including sexual orientation in the country’s civil rights code. There is no political and social friction to propel things forward, unlike in Vietnam, China, and Korea. This live and let live attitude – as long as outward appearances are maintained – towards LGBT people now is actively hindering gay rights in Japan. Being gay is often still seen as a personal choice, and while homophobia is uncommon, Japanese society views being gay as not something to be flaunted or openly discussed.
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Japan is like nowhere else on Earth, and as anyone who has visited before will know, the Japanese do things very differently. Homosexuality has never been prosecuted in Japan – it was not considered a sin, just shameful – and despite recent trends of tolerance and openly gay spaces in cosmopolitan areas like Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo, many Japanese gay men, and lesbians still hide who they are. Though you might want to relax and take it easy at night here, given by day there is so much to explore. Tranquil temples, breath-taking gardens, traditional teahouses, and cool cafes abound here – more than making up for the less-than-spectacular gay nightlife scene. While gay bars might be somewhat lacking, there is still a lot to love about Kyoto after dark with a buzzing bar scene, plenty of spots for relaxed cocktails and some surprisingly progressive nightclubs.
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And if you allow yourself, you’ll leave a little more cultured and a little more understanding of the uniquely Japanese way of life. Whether you want to sip matcha in a traditional tea ceremony, relax in a traditional ryokan, get naked for an onsen soak, enjoy the splendor of hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) or just partake in some Japanese cooking classes – Kyoto has you covered. Saved from the destruction of the atomic bomb during WW2 thanks to its exceptional historic value, Kyoto today is a not only a city of historically priceless structures but also of artisans.Īrt, music, and literature thrive here, as do cultural experiences no traveler should leave Japan without trying. Today, Kyoto remains one of the country’s largest cities with a sizable population of 1.5 million people – but managed to pull off a timeless feel lacking in all of its other major cities. Kyoto functioned as Japan’s capital and the emperor’s residence for over a thousand years until 1868 when it was moved to Tokyo in the countries push to modernize. Nowhere in Japan are gay travelers likely to face discrimination, but the fact is that the gay scene in Kyoto is pretty low key and overshadowed by nearby Osaka.
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Kyoto, the ancient heart of Japan renown for its temples, ancient traditions, mysterious geisha and more conservative attitudes.