11 Days in Japan: Secrets of Japan

Japan is widely regarded as a safe and welcoming destination for LGBTQ+ travelers, though social attitudes can be more reserved than in North America or Western Europe. Public displays of affection of any kind (straight or gay) are considered gauche in Japan, and concepts like “coming out” are often shaped by strong family and societal expectations.

While legal recognition for same-sex couples remains limited, visitors generally do not encounter hostility, discrimination, or safety concerns. Travelers can expect to be treated with politeness and respect throughout the country.

Tokyo does have a vibrant unique gay nightlife scene, and there are a few small gay bars in Fukuoka.  However, in the smaller towns and rural areas we visit on this itinerary, LGBTQ-specific nightlife is limited or nonexistent.

Japanese cuisine is renowned for its delicate flavors, meticulous preparation, and aesthetic presentation. With a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients, traditional Japanese dishes like sushi, sashimi, tempura, and ramen have gained global popularity.  Food is a central part of this journey, with two standout regional specialties along the way. In Kanazawa, located between the Sea of Japan and the Japanese Alps, we’ll enjoy some of the country’s freshest and most refined seafood, including amaebi (sweet shrimp) and kani (crab). Further south in Fukuoka, the culinary focus shifts to one of Japan’s most beloved comfort foods: Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, known for its rich pork-bone broth.

The cuisine is unique for many visitors but, don't worry, if you don't want to eat Japanese food eleven days in a row, there will be plentiful international options available in Tokyo, Kanazawa, and Fukuoka. The Japanese are masters of imitation; some of the most renowned French and Italian restaurants in the world are actually in Japan.

Our advice is simple. Pack your bag, then take half of those things out and leave them back home. It’s common to hear people wishing they’d packed less stuff, but we’ve never heard anyone complain that they didn’t bring enough. Even if you realize you forget to pack some crucial item you can always pick up a replacement once you arrive in Tokyo.  Just make sure to review the climate section above and remember that our trips are run in a casual style so you can leave your tuxedos at home. We'll include some trip-specific packing advice based on expected weather as part of our update email to you, sent 10 days prior to your trip.

Most major credit cards are accepted for purchases in larger stores and restaurants. However, be aware that shrines and other locations in rural areas might only take cash.  It can sometimes be challenging to use large-denomination bills at shops and restaurants, so we encourage you to request small denomination bills when getting cash prior to your trip.

If possible, it's always a good idea to travel internationally with a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.  The savings will add up over the course of your trip and may end up being worth the work of getting a new card prior to your trip.  Once you're overseas, if presented with the option to pay in the local currency or your home currency, we suggest always choosing the local currency to further avoid fees.

Contrary to many other places in the world, those who work in the service industry in Japan do not rely on tips for their livelihood and tipping is not expected or common in most circumstances, including restaurants.  The service culture in Japan is such that they always have high expectations of service and are not incentivized by the expectation of tips.  While still not expected, an exception to this can be with local guides if you feel they are exceptional.  If you choose to reward good service with a tip in Japan, it's customary to place the tip in an envelope or a folded piece of paper.  You would present this with both hands to the recipient and say: otsukaresama-desu, meaning "thanks for your hard work."  

We have pretty high standards when it comes to choosing our accommodations, and trust us, we’ve done plenty of room-sniffing, pillow-patting, and bathroom inspections to make sure we stay at quality spots.  We won't be staying in 5-star Ritz-Carltons but we also won't subject you to anything we wouldn't want to stay in ourselves.  Around 4-ish star quality is what we stick to. Clean, comfortable, well-located spots that'll put a smile on your face, you can count on that!

On this partiuclar trip, we'll be staying in ryokan-style accommodations in Takayama and Kurokawa Onsen.  At ryokans, guest typically change into cotton robes called yukata and bathe before and after dinner.  These rooms may have futons placed directly on a tatami mat for a traditional experience.  It's a little bit different from a traditional western bed, but they are thoughtfully prepared each evening and are generally very comfortable, offering an authentic and memorable sleeping experience.

All Detours trips are led by one of our own Detours trip leaders.  They're there with you every day and their job is to help ensure that this is your trip of a lifetime by taking the hassle out of your trip and enabling you to experience everything you came to Japan for.  Consider them like a friendly concierge that's traveling along with you.  All of our trip leaders are gay and all are well-traveled and experienced in the destination they're leading in, so they'll be a great part of your experience!  In addition to your Detours trip leader, you'll also be joined by local guides along the way - including a Japanese speaker who may join us for overnight portions of the journey - who will be there to give you an even more in-depth understanding of the place you're visiting.

Our Detours groups are run with a maximum of 16 travelers. Ages of group members vary but around 80% of our travelers are in their 40's and 50's. Whatever the age of the guys on our trips everyone's already got something in common, an exciting new experience in a new country! Each group is led by a Detours trip leader who is there to ensure everything goes off without a hitch, allowing you to focus on having the time of your life!

No problem! Don’t worry, around 60% of our travelers come solo and our trip will provide plenty of chances to meet great people both inside and outside of our group, including other solos. As far as your accommodations go, you’ve got two choices. We can either pair you up with another solo group member in a two-bed room for no extra charge, or you can have your own room for a reasonable surcharge.

To ensure you don't lose connection along the way, your cell phone provider likely has several roaming options available.  We suggest reaching out to them prior to the trip to find out which package is right for you as it will depend on how much you intend to use your phone while traveling.  Keep in mind that all accommodation and most restaurants have free WiFi available as well.

Japan uses a "type A" and "type B" plug, the same as North America and several other places in the world. The voltage is 100V with 60 Hz frequency. These days, the majority of items that are plugged into an outlet are built to handle varying voltage and frequency levels, but just to be sure, we suggest checking your item for its accetable range.