גאה ביפן

No — Japan does not recognise same-sex marriage. Many municipalities (Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Sapporo and others) offer non-binding partnership certificates, but these provide no legal rights equivalent to marriage. Court challenges are ongoing.

Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome is the densest gay nightlife area in Asia by venue count — hundreds of small bars in a few blocks. Osaka has Doyama, a smaller gay quarter near Umeda. Sapporo and Fukuoka have small scenes.

Tokyo Rainbow Pride is in late April. Osaka Rainbow Festa is in early November. Sapporo Rainbow Pride is in early September. Compared with Western Prides these are smaller but growing year on year.

Many central Tokyo and Osaka business hotels are gay-friendly without explicit marketing. Some gay-popular boutique hotels operate near Shinjuku Ni-chome and Doyama. Discretion is the norm.