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Osaka is a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and personalities.
Known as the Nation’s Kitchen for its hearty food culture, Osaka is also Japan’s friendliest city and welcomes LGBTQ+ visitors with open arms.
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Global Pride in Osaka: Expo Pavilions Show Their Colors!
As Pride Month wraps up, we celebrate global LGBTQ+ solidarity on display at the World Expo here in Osaka.
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Osaka Celebrates Pride !
The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (OCTB) celebrates Pride by showcasing the LGBTQ+ travel partners across Osaka!
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Watch now: experience Osaka's welcoming vibe for LGBTQ+ travelers
New promo video showcases the experiences and welcome that LGBTQ+ travelers can look forward to in Osaka
TOKYO (TR) At the opening of the documentary Boys For Sale, a look at the underside of the trade in young boys in the 2-chome gay quarter of Shinjuku Ward, a former male prostitute says, I predict if youd never experienced this, it would be hard to understand.
Such a summation could not be more accurate.
The film, which will make its Japan premiere at the Tokyo AIDS Week this weekend, includes interviews with urisen, who are young guys who engage in sex with men. The film presents a rare view of this underground business through the unsettling stories of the boys in candid interviews.
I think, in general, people are surprised by it, said American executive producer Ian Thomas Ash during an interview in Tokyo earlier this month. I think especially because the guys are so frank, they are so frank.
That is evident from the start. The aforementioned former prostitute, who later went on to manage an urisen bar, says that boys seeking work at his establishment would ask him how he could get an erection. He answered, Money. Making money will fetch yo
Doyamacho: Osakas Gay District
Doyamacho is one of the hottest and liveliest nightlife spots in Osaka. Located nearby the busy Umeda business and entertainment district, Doyama has long been jam-packed with bars, clubs, izakaya and karaoke, as adv as more niche establishments like love hotels, host clubs, and massage parlors.
In recent decades, a wealth of gay bars and clubs also started to appear, and over the years Doyama has become known as Osaka’s gay district. It is conveniently located near many downtown offices, as well as one of the city’s largest hub stations, so people flock to this district after work to let off some steam and cut loose.
It’s a party spot no matter what day it is.
While Doyama is especially thrilling on the weekends — this is when most LGBT events happen, fancy live DJs and drag nights — it’s a party spot no matter what day it is. The shotengai (covered shopping arcades) and atmospheric side streets that make up this area are brightly lit and tightly packed from sundown until it’s time for businessmen and women to go back to work the next morn
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Osaka Gay Scene
I have lived in Japan for a few years now, and I can say 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 night 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 close 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 fantastic 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.
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