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Instructions to the Doyama-cho gay nightlife area: from the JR Train Station, take the south exit, turn left and cross the street to the Hankyu Umeda Station building and continue through to the other side where you will find the large, red HEP 5 shopping center (with the huge red Ferris wheel on the roof) and to its left, adjacent to the elevated tracks, a shopping alley called EST St. Continue down EST St two blocks until it dead-ends at the main avenue with the overhead highway and turn right to the corner of the major intersection. Doyama-cho is now diagonally opposite from where you are. Cross left under the overhead highway, then turn right and cross the smaller diagonal street. You are now at the corner edge of Doyama-cho, a maze of late night bars and restaurants. Turn left at this corner and walk to the next alleyway and take a right. Take this alley straight ahead to find Lupu, Coco love hotel, and Hokuoukan sauna. Explore the alleys to the right in the vicinity for many of the bars mentioned below, which advertise their names on rows of small signs that rise vertically on the building exteriors.
Exploring Doyama-cho is easy with our map:
The extremely friendly owner, Chanho, welcomes gays and lesbians to his bar. He's fluent in English and a great information resource for visitors. Super inexpensive drinks and snacks. 20-40yo, international crowd. Chances are you'll feel right at home here.
Walk past the end of the covered street arcade and look for the building with the sign for Bar Rise. The first gay bar in Japan to be owned by a gaijin (non-Japanese). Vivacious owner, Sari-chan, helms this fun and funky bar. On week nights it maintains a casual flavor and on weekends customers dance. Regulars of all sexualities come here to socialize and party (along with occasional lumineries like Lady Gaga).
Popular gay bar located at street level, just inside the building where Explosion disco is located. You will see the rainbow flag. This casual, international gay bar celebrated its 20th anniversary in Sep 2013. No cover charge. A cheerful place, very friendly for foreigners, with the emphasis on fun. The music is never too loud to hamper conversation. Physique also supports AIDS/HIV awareness and human rights activities in cooperation with Osaka City and the local gay community. Younger, hip international crowd, with many gaisen (Japanese who like foreigners). There are always special events planned. Ask for or pick up an event schedule flyer by the door.
Mamasan: Iruka. Type: 20-30yo. Friendly, but expect pricey drinks.
Young crowd. Closed Thu.
Located very near the entrance of Doyama-cho gay area. Confusingly there is a another bar named Kuro with a green sign nearby, but you will be very unwelcome if you go to the wrong one, so look for Kuro's BLUE sign on the inner right-hand side of a small hallway off the main street. Since the sign is in Japanese, the easiest thing to do is to call the bar and have someone meet you in front of Explosion. This oldest gay bar in Osaka frequented by middle-aged and mature gay men (30s - 70s). Owner Seiichi is incredibly friendly as are his regular guests. Expect to attract a lot of attention in this warm, amiable, and cozy Japanese-style bar. Drink menu is more limited to traditional Japanese libations like shoju spirits. English spoken.
This lesbian-run mixed bar welcomes visiting gays and lesbians. Owners Yu and Rika are extremely friendly and will quickly put you at ease. Yu speaks English and both are very helpful. Inexpensive drinks and snacks. Karaoke if you like. Relaxed atmosphere to meet old friends and make new ones. They are happy to host birthday events and will organize the cake and decorations. Open 8pm-5am, closed Wed.
Lesbian-owned, women-only bar in Osaka's Doyama gayborhood. Trans women are also welcome! Enjoy a cool, sophisticated and sleek atmosphere. Bar charge is about US$5 and drinks are all around US$7. Come meet the pretty model bartender and owner and enjoy some drinks and karaoke.
Same floor as Bacchus and right next door to Peach Pit. The sign on the street is in Japanese, so don't bother looking for it unless you read kanji, just look for Bacchus' sign instead. Master: Hiroshi. Friendly, well-established Japanese-style bar. Young crowd. Bar sponsors group activities. Type: 20-30yo. You'll be most comfortable here if you speak some Japanese.
The master is named Hiroshi. Very friendly small bar with a family atmosphere. Customers will chat up foreign guests out of curiosity, at the very least. Japanese style bar so a nominal a "table charge" will be added to the bill and includes a snack. Karaoke available. Crowd is in their 20's and 30's, mostly Japanese with some foreigners, especially visiting Asians from around the region who are made very welcome here. Taiwanese and Japanese-speaking staff. Some English spoken. Open daily from 8pm until late.
Lesbian-owned WaaGwaan is a small and cozy place to unwind and savour a little taste of vegan food. Straight, LGBT, black, white, Asian, Latino, mixed - no matter who you are - all are weclome. So, drop in, forget about your worries, and enjoy the moment!
"Google advises that Café Cordi has permanently closed." -- Danny, Aug 3, 2024
Large dance club popular with trendy gays, lesbians and visitors. Open nightly until early morning.
Very friendly for visitors.
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