Town in Gifu, Japan
Is Shirakawa-go LGBTQ+ friendly?
3/5Tolerant, but be discreet
Is Shirakawa-go LGBTQ+ friendly?
Quietly tolerant; a tiny rural village with no queer scene.
LGBTQ+ laws in Japan
Quietly tolerant; Tokyo's Shinjuku Ni-chome has a big scene. Local partnership certificates cover most residents; the Supreme Court is reviewing same-sex marriage.
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Same-sex relationships legal | Yes |
| Same-sex marriage | No |
| Civil unions or partnerships | No |
| Legal gender change | Yes |
| Anti-discrimination law | Partial |
LGBTQ+ friendliness across Japan
| Place | Rating |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Osaka | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Niseko | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Yokohama | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Kyoto | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Hiroshima | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Nara | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Sapporo | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Okinawa | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Hakone | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Fukuoka | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Kawaguchiko | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Kanazawa | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Takayama | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Nagoya | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Nikko | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Kamakura | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Kobe | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Hakuba | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Ishigaki | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Nagasaki | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Shirakawa-go | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Miyakojima | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Hakodate | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Otaru | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Beppu | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Matsumoto | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Koyasan | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Furano | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Sendai | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
Quick answers
Is Shirakawa-go safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Quietly tolerant; a tiny rural village with no queer scene.
Is same-sex marriage legal in Japan?
No.
More about Shirakawa-go
Going to Shirakawa-go solo?
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Sources
- ILGA World: legal frameworks
- Immigration Services Agency: Digital Nomad status
- Visit Japan Web (Digital Agency)
- Shirakawa-go Tourist Association
- Nohi Bus
- Hokutetsu Bus
Ratings combine national law with local attitudes and the scene. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.