Queer tour expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ town adventures into your guide for secure, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Kyoto, the ancient heart of Japan well-known for its temples, ancient traditions, mysterious geisha and more conservative attitudes. Nowhere in Japan are gay travelers likely to face discrimination, but the truth is that the gay scene in Kyoto is beautiful low-key and overshadowed by nearby Osaka.
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 country’s push to modernize. Today, Kyoto remains one of the country’s largest cities with a sizable population of 1.5 million people – but it managed to pull off a timeless experience lacking in all of its other major cities.
Saved from the destruction of the atomic bomb during WW2 thanks to its exceptional historic value, Kyoto today is not only a city of historically priceless structures but also of artisans.
Art, music, and literature thrive here, as do cultural experiences. No traveler should leave Japan without trying
Celebrating 30 YEARS of Service to Asia's Gay & Female homosexual Community!
Kyoto Tower Hotel
Visit Japan and one of the first things you’ll notice is the country’s intense cultural duality. High-speed trains, flashing neon lights and a futuristic skyline position the scene in Tokyo, the country’s mecca of modernity. In stark contrast, Kyoto remains the cultural capital of the archipelago, perfect preservation of traditional Japan. Here, elegant geishas amble along cobbled roads before disappearing into wooden teahouses. Fragrant incense wafts from within centuries-old temples. Serene Zen gardens provide moments for relaxation and contemplation. It’s classical Japanese heritage in a nutshell—and it’s absolutely mesmerizing. Given Kyoto served as Japan’s historic capital for over 1,000 years, this cultural cred doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Neither, then, should Kyoto’s vibrant local cuisine and thriving arts and crafts scene that showcase Japan’s globally admired flavours and handicrafts. And while Kyoto might preserve one foot rooted in the past, the city has a significant gay community that follows suit with Japan’s reputation as a leader for gay rights in Asia. Discover the finest of this spellbinding destination with our ultimate gay Kyoto guide.
Trip Design
Get ready to SLAY in gay Kyoto: we transport to you the ONLY First-Timer's gay guide that you'll ever need. Rest, Eat, Party, Explore, Repeat!”
‘Seby, remember now. The Japanese are very polite people. So don’t act prefer your usual, sassy self.’
‘Excuse me, I’m not the one who rolls his eyes so hard they can see how rainbow-colored his brain is!’
A wee snippet of a conversation we had to contain before jetting off to Kyoto – the former capital of Japan.
Throughout our many visits to Kyoto, we were swept off our feet by how kind, gentle, and pleasant its people were. It’s truly a city of old souls.
Kyoto has held onto its ancient charm, yet, it has still found a way to feel modern, trendy, and exciting. Where else in the world could you find a street lined with temples, frequented by geishas, whilst being a stone’s throw away from a cocktail bar?
Our trip to Kyoto was probably the least chaotic exposure of our life. There were no mad homosexual clubs, or sneaky trips to a sauna, or exotic dance battles. Even the bars we visited had a relaxed, homely vibe. Perhaps, the one exception was World Kyoto, which had DJ ac