The geishas teach guests sake drinking games and perform choreographed dances accompanied by the sound of a Shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese lute, and gorgeous vocals in a kouta, a short, chanting song. Visitors learn more about what makes a geisha and the sacred artistry that holds generations of Japanese heritage and matriarchal lineage.
Overall, Japan is often regarded as a conservative nation, where public displays of affection are not normalized. Same-sex marriage remains illegal there, too, with a Tokyo court upholding the ban as constitutional as recently as late November.
But the support for vibrant queer life is evident in how many locals accept all people with a dignified sense of kindness. Traditional philosophies grounded in spirituality and cultural etiquette breathe life into how locals interact with visitors, even in the most rural regions.
Some final recommendations for your itinerary: The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gokayama Ainokura is a dreamy scene straight out of a Hayao Miyazaki film; a bullet train to the Shintakaoka Station north of Kanazawa, followed by a bus ride, can transport visitors to mossy landscapes that seem pulled from an animated classic. There are over 20 “Gassho-zukuri”- style homes, populated by a small community of 54 residents, that have stood for a century or more, surrounded by lush foliage. The community is bolstered by Japanese Buddhist and Shinto beliefs that soulfully and spiritually tether humanity to the natural world.
The Hokuriku region of Japan should be on the radar of more LGBTQ+ travelers, as it offers visitors the chance to decompress at an onsen or to be immersed in the region’s innate beauty. Guests can explore centuries-old artistry, a thriving seafood scene, and distinctive Japanese craftsmanship. And it can all be experienced by simply hopping on the bullet train and taking a doily-lined taxi to an otherworldly realm.
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AloJapan.com