Travel Guides
Japan Travel Guides
Get insider knowledge for your Japan trip with our travel guides, offering helpful cultural tips for luxury travel in Japan.
Find LGBTQ-friendly advice and accommodation guides, with links to some of our diverse itineraries. With in-depth travel information directly from our luxury travel experts, get the essential context to enrich your travel experience.
Most LGBTQ+ Friendly Countries in Asia: Thailand, Taiwan, Japan & More
Gay travel in Asia is a story of contrasts. Thailand now has marriage equality and one of the region’s most visible LGBTQ+ travel scenes. Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019.
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The Best Luxury Honeymoon Destinations Around the World
Are you dreaming of a honeymoon that exudes luxury and extravagance? Look no further, as we take you on a journey to explore the best luxury honeymoon destinations around the world.
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Plan Your Gay Honeymoon in Japan
Japan is one of the most rewarding honeymoon destinations in the world and one of the more complex to plan well. The experiences that define a trip here, the right ryokan, a private temple viewing at dawn, a counter restaurant with no English menu and a three-month waiting list, exist slightly off the standard path and tend to require knowing how to ask. For same-sex couples, there is an additional layer.
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Is Same-Sex Marriage Legal in Japan in 2026?
Japan occupies a fascinating position in the global LGBTQ+ landscape. It is a country known for safety, social harmony and refined hospitality, yet it does not currently have nationwide marriage equality. For same-sex couples considering a honeymoon, wedding celebration or luxury trip, understanding the distinction between legal framework and lived experience is key.
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Kinosaki Onsen: Japan’s Most Romantic Town for Gay Couples
Most couples who plan a Japan honeymoon spend a long time deliberating between Tokyo and Kyoto, then add Hakone as an onsen option because it appears on every list. Kinosaki Onsen, a small town on the Sea of Japan coast in Hyogo Prefecture, appears on almost none of them. That oversight is worth correcting.
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First Time in Japan: What to Know Before You Go
Japan operates differently than anywhere else you've traveled. The logistics that make other destinations manageable fall apart here. Restaurant reservations require Japanese phone numbers. Ryokans enforce strict check-in windows with no flexibility. Train station announcements default to Japanese, with English translations that come too late or not at all (the train will be on time, though!). The country rewards preparation and punishes improvisation, which makes first-time independent travel a high-stakes gamble most people lose.
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Japan’s Onsen Culture: A Guide for Gay Travelers
Japan's onsen culture represents one of the world's most sophisticated wellness traditions. For gay travelers exploring Japanese culture, understanding onsen etiquette and selecting the right establishments can unlock profoundly restorative encounters that go far beyond simple relaxation. Japan has been referred to as “the empire of signs,” as the culture is so ritualistic. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to Japan’s onsen culture with a gay twist.
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Luxury Travel Experiences in Asia You Haven’t Heard Of
Asia is packed with luxury travel opportunities, but beyond the well-known hotspots lies a world of exclusive, offbeat experiences. From soaring above Bhutan’s mystical valleys by helicopter to soaking in private onsen baths at hidden ryokans in Japan. Whether it’s exploring Taiwan’s centuries-old tea culture in boutique mountain retreats or sleeping in a luxury tented camp in Thailand’s jungles, these handpicked experiences offer a fresh perspective on luxury travel in Asia.
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The Most Luxurious Ryokans in Japan
Japan’s ryokans—traditional Japanese inns—are a quintessential way to immerse yourself in Japanese culture. Ryokans are found across Japan, often in scenic locations such as hot spring (onsen) towns, mountainous regions, and coastal areas. They continue to uphold traditional Japanese hospitality, offering guests a unique cultural experience that sets them apart from modern hotels. Key features of ryokans include tatami-mat flooring, futon bedding, yukata robes, and multi-course kaiseki dining that highlights local, seasonal ingredients.
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The Best Luxury Sleeper Trains in Asia
Luxury train travel in Asia was pioneered by trains like the Eastern & Oriental Express, which debuted in the early 1990s. Tracing routes through Southeast Asia’s rainforests, ancient temples, and cities, the Eastern & Oriental Express set the standard for luxury on rails. Similarly, Japan’s Seven Stars in Kyushu, launched in 2013, redefined rail travel with its intimate journeys through the cultural and natural wonders of Kyushu.
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Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: A Gay Travel Guide
Cherry blossom season is one of the busiest and most exciting times to visit Japan. Each spring, the bloom moves north through the country, usually reaching Tokyo and Kyoto from late March into early April before appearing later in northern regions such as Aomori. Exact dates change every year, sometimes significantly, which is why planning around the forecast matters.
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The Best Places to Visit in May
When it comes to planning a luxury trip, every detail must come together to create a truly unforgettable experience. Whilst we’re experts in crafting bespoke trips around the world, unfortunately, we can’t control the weather or regional events. Read on to discover the best places to visit in May. Japan Early May is perhaps the best time to visit Japan as the iconic cherry blossom begins to fall.
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Tours through Japan
Best of Japan Tour: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima & More
Tailor-made VacationThis itinerary is designed to show you how varied Japan really is. It begins with Tokyo at full scale, then leaves the capital behind for mountain towns, hot springs, historic farmhouses, samurai districts, Hiroshima and Miyajima before ending with several days in Kyoto. In Hakone and Takayama, the pace changes completely. You move into the mountains, stay in traditional ryokans, soak in onsen and eat kaiseki dinners built around local ingredients.
14 days tailor-made from $8,835 per person View trip
Cherry Blossom Japan Tour: Tokyo & Kyoto
Tailor-made VacationCherry blossom season is one of the most anticipated times of year in Japan. For a few weeks each spring, sakura spread through Tokyo and Kyoto, appearing along canals, in temple gardens and across city parks. Hanami, the custom of gathering beneath the blossoms, makes for an unforgettable experience. It is also one of the busiest times to travel.
8 days tailor-made from $11,420 per person View trip
Shikoku & Naoshima Tour – Art, Hot Springs & Rural Japan
Tailor-made VacationThis is a Japan trip for travelers who want to spend most of their time away from the Tokyo-Kyoto axis. The appeal is not one famous sight after another, but the way the trip moves between places with very different identities: an art island in the Seto Inland Sea, a self-drive through the mountains of Shikoku, old onsen towns and small regional cities that most international itineraries pass straight by.
12 days tailor-made from $11,935 per person View tripWe know where you will be welcome, and where to take more care.
My wife and I had the most stunning time in Japan celebrating her 40th birthday - thankyou Out Of Office.
Carol. C
I'd always dreamt of visiting Japan and our trip there was more than even I could've imagined. We will definitely be booking with the team again.
Andrew. I
Out Of Office put our minds at ease, understood what we wanted and planned the perfect trip we'll never forget.
James. G
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.