There are three major gay neighborhoods in Osaka: Doyama-cho, the easiest for visitors to find and navigate; Kabukiza-ura ("behind the Kabuki theater") in Namba, which is smaller and less international but still very friendly; and Tennoji, in the area around Tsutenkaku Tower, which is the original post-war gay neighborhood and has a reputation as being a bit dangerous. Mostly older Japanese men go to Tennoji these days, but some of its saunas are more broadly popular.

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, an alley next to the shops bult uder the tracks. Continue down this alley 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.

NAMBA / KABUKIZA-URA

Comments from Utopians:

"Konpira Onsen at 4 Chome-17-13 Sakuragawa, +81 6-6561-3609. This old school onsen has both a men's and women's section which the proprietoress overseas from her high chair between the two. It is not advertised as gay, but the gay community has adopted it as its own. It's a little run down, but the variety of pools on the men's side is in its favour: three hot pools, one cold, one electro, one herbal downstairs, ne tepid, and a couple of individual spa baths upstairs. Also, one ridiculously cool sauna for 3 people downstairs and one normal temp sauna upstairs. Also in its favour: the entry price of Y$520. Take your own towel and toiletries. Age ranges from 18 to 70s, with an average age of about 40. All body types present and accounted for. Reading the reviews on Google Maps, a few straight blokes ended up there and experience varying degrees of shock. Action abounds!" -- Steve K, Aug 29, 2024