traditional japanese street in kyoto at dusk with wooden building and a temple in the background

Japan Gay Group Trip: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka 2027

8 Days, 7 Nights

March 23rd-30th, 2027
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Hosted by Peter Yacobellis

About This Trip

Join SideQuests host Peter on an 8-day journey through three of Japan's most iconic cities… Read all about it below:

  • starting in Tokyo, a city so big and so alive it’s mind-blowing… like out of this world. We'll spend three days eating our way through Tsukiji Market, rolling our own sushi, finding quiet and tranquility at Meiji Shrine, and watching Shibuya Crossing do its thing at rush hour, which I can only describe as the world's most organized chaos. Yes, we're doing a night out in Shinjuku Ni-chome, Tokyo's gay district, home to more than 400 gay bars packed into a few city blocks. It's one of the best nights of the whole trip, I'm just telling you now.

  • From Tokyo we board the Shinkansen bullet train (200 miles per hour, dead silent, somehow always exactly on time) to Kyoto, where the pace changes completely. Bamboo groves, kimonos, a real tea ceremony, lantern-lit stone lanes that look straight out of a Ghibli film.

  • Then we finish big in Osaka, Japan's loudest and most delicious city, with a day-trip to visit the sacred deer in Nara and a 16th-century castle on the way in. We’ll try iconic street food in Osaka’s most famous neighborhoods of Dotonbori and Shinsekai, and gather together one last time for a farewell dinner nobody's ever ready for.

  • If you've been dreaming about visiting Japan, this is the trip. And if you've been waiting because you didn't want to do it alone, keep reading, because that's the entire reason we exist.

    This trip is a balance between trying incredible food, seeing jaw-dropping views, historic temples, and lots of time to connect, make new friends, and really absorb where you are. It's gay adventure travel with room to enjoy.

    And if you've been searching for gay solo travel that doesn't actually feel solo... this is the trip. Most of our travelers come solo! Our local tour partner Out Asia Travel is an LGBTQ+-owned and operated company running some of the best gay tours in Japan. Our local guide will take excellent care of you and ensure that from the time you arrive in Tokyo to the last night's farewell dinner in Osaka, you'll come home with memories that will last a lifetime.

    For more information about gay travel in Japan, and to answer the question “Where to stay in Tokyo for LGBTQ+ travelers” check out our gay Japan destination guide.

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2027: Mar 23 - Mar 30
Tokyo - Kyoto - Nara - Osaka
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  • Three days in the most electrifying city in the world. Tsukiji Outer Market, a hands-on sushi class, ancient Asakusa, the forested calm of Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya Crossing at rush hour for your main character moment.

  • A guided gay bar tour through Tokyo's legendary gay district, over 400 bars in a few blocks, and one of the most welcoming queer scenes anywhere on the planet. Read up before you go in our Tokyo LGBTQ+ neighborhood guide.

  • The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, UNESCO-listed Tenryuji Temple, a traditional tea ceremony in kimono, and the lantern-lit lanes of Higashiyama up to Kiyomizudera. This is the Japan from your Pinterest board.

Tour Highlights

  • Hundreds of wild deer that bow back when you bow to them (the world's politest snack shakedown), plus the 15-meter bronze Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple, which will stop you in your tracks with your jaw agape - shocking!

  • Osaka Castle, the neon fever dream of Dotonbori, retro Shinsekai, and a farewell dinner in Japan's street food capital.

  • Welcome dinner, sushi you made yourself, Kyoto's refined local and seasonal cuisine, okonomiyaki in Dotonbori… You'll come home with a full heart and an expanded flavor profile.

  • Travel alongside a small group of LGBTQ+ travelers with a private English-speaking guide, thoughtful logistics, and host Peter there to provide a uniquely custom experience. This is gay adventure travel built around belonging, and many of our closest community friendships started on trips exactly like this one.on

What’s Included?

Pricing:

  • Traveling solo and enjoy the extra space? We get it, not everyone wants to share a room! Add this private individual room option to reserve your private quarters.

  • For ease, reserve your accommodations for one night at our host hotel, the Shinjuku Groove in Tokyo before your trip starts. Your reservations will be linked so you don't have to check-out/check-in to a new room. Rate INCLUDES complimentary breakfast for 1 or 2 people.

    Select "1" for March 22nd - 23rd
    Select "2" for March 21st - 23rd
    Select "3" for March 20th - 23rd

  • For ease, reserve your accommodations for one night at our host hotel, the VOCO Osaka after the tour ends. Your reservations will be linked so you don't have to check-out/check-in to a new room. Rate INCLUDES complimentary breakfast for 1 or 2 people.

    Select "1" for March 30th - 31st
    Select "2" for March 30th - April 1st
    Select "3" for March 30th - April 2nd

Add-Ons:

Navigation:

Tour Highlights — What’s Included — Pricing — Itinerary — Your Host — FAQ — About — Hotels

Trip Itinerary:

March 23rd - 30th, 2027

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  • Today's the day! Check in at Hotel Groove Shinjuku any time from 3:00 PM, then meet in the lobby at 5:30 PM for our welcome dinner. Tokyo hits you immediately, the scale of it, the energy, and tonight is just about settling in and meeting the group you've been chatting with on WhatsApp for months. Fly into Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT) and make your way to the hotel on your own; exact meeting details go out in the group chat closer to the trip.

  • Our first meal together at a local, popular, and highly rated restaurant in central Tokyo. Relaxed, delicious, and the moment this whole thing becomes real!

  • Our home for three nights, a stylish 4-star hotel in the middle of one of Tokyo's most iconic neighborhoods, and one of the best possible home bases for experiencing everything this city has to offer.

Day 1

Welcome to Japan!

  • After breakfast, we'll meet our English-speaking local guide in the hotel lobby and head out for a full day of exploring Tokyo, and we are packing it in. We start at Tsukiji Outer Market, one of the greatest food destinations on earth, wandering past stalls of fresh seafood, tamagoyaki, grilled skewers, and every kind of Japanese delicacy imaginable before rolling up our sleeves for a hands-on sushi making class and included lunch! From there we head to Asakusa and the ancient Sensoji Temple, Tokyo's oldest and most iconic Buddhist temple, with its massive red lantern gate and a huge shopping street leading up to it. Then we find some peace at Meiji Shrine, tucked inside 170 acres of forested calm in the middle of the city, before the energy completely flips again in nearby Harajuku: crepe shops, wild fashion, Takeshita Street in all its chaotic, colorful glory. We close the day at Shibuya Crossing as the evening rush hits, watching hundreds of people flood the intersection from every direction at once. It's one of those moments that makes you feel very small and very alive at the same time. Back at the hotel to rest and regroup… then at 9 PM, anyone who's up for it, we head out for the Tokyo Gay Bar Tour in Shinjuku Ni-chome.

  • A buffet breakfast featuring American classics alongside traditional Japanese staples, the perfect start to the day ahead.

  • One of the great food destinations on earth. We graze our way through stalls of fresh seafood, tamagoyaki, and grilled everything.

  • Learn to prep the rice, slice the fish, and roll maki and nigiri with expert instructors, then eat all of it. Sounds cute on paper, ends up a trip highlight.

  • Asakusa & Sensoji Temple: Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 645 AD, with its massive red lantern gate and the buzzing Nakamise shopping street.

    Meiji Shrine: A total energy shift: 170 acres of forest in the middle of the city, towering torii gates, and actual quiet.

    Harajuku & Takeshita Street: Tokyo's youth fashion epicenter. Loud, colorful, wonderfully weird. Get a crepe, embrace it.

    Shibuya Crossing: Hundreds of people flooding the intersection from every direction at once, surrounded by neon. You feel very small and very alive at the same time.

  • Meet in the lobby at 9 PM for a guided walking tour of the Shinjuku Ni-chome gay bars, the heart of Tokyo's LGBTQ+ community. Over 400 bars in a few blocks, and some of the friendliest gay bars in Tokyo, Japan or anywhere else. Drinks on your own; the good time is included.

  • A stylish 4-star hotel in the middle of one of Tokyo's most iconic neighborhoods, and one of the best possible home bases for experiencing everything this city has to offer.

Day 2

Tokyo: Sushi, Shrines, Harajuku & Ni-chome

  • Today is yours, no agenda, no schedule, and in Tokyo that's a gift. Hunt down the perfect ramen, get lost in the vintage shops of Shimokitazawa, hit teamLab or the Skytree, or wander a neighborhood you've never heard of, because Tokyo rewards aimless wandering like nowhere else. Peter and the team will have a full list of recommendations, and our Tokyo neighborhood guide is great homework too. Or join the optional Mt. Fuji excursion below.

  • Eat well, you've got exploring to do.

  • 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, English-speaking guide included. You'll spend the day chasing one of Japan's most iconic landscapes across four remarkable stops.

    First up is Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida, where a climb up a long staircase rewards you with what might be the most photographed view in all of Japan: the five-tiered Chureito Pagoda framed against Mount Fuji. It's the kind of scene that looks like a postcard... until you're standing in it and realizing it's just real life here.

    From there, you'll board the Hakone Ropeway, an aerial tramway that carries you over the volcanic terrain of Owakudani Valley. The views of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi from above are unlike anything you'll see at ground level — wide, sweeping, and a little surreal.

    The day wraps up at the Hakone Open-Air Museum, Japan's first outdoor art museum, where more than 70,000 square meters of mountain landscape become the backdrop for sculptures by Rodin, Picasso, Henry Moore, and others. There's even a footbath tucked into the grounds if your legs need a rest before the ride back. Your guide will have you back at the hotel by 7:00 PM.

  • Last night in Tokyo. Rest up, the bullet train awaits!

Day 3

Free Day in Tokyo

  • We check out, head to Tokyo Station, and board the Nozomi Shinkansen to Kyoto. If you've never ridden a Japanese bullet train, this is a moment: smooth, impossibly punctual, nearly 200 mph, and Mt. Fuji out the window if the skies cooperate. We arrive at 12:23 PM, meet our guide on the platform, and roll straight into an afternoon exploring Kyoto's most atmospheric corners. Evening is yours.

  • One last Tokyo breakfast before checkout.

  • Reserved seats on the Nozomi No. 23, departing 10:12 AM, arriving 12:23 PM. Grab a bento box inside Tokyo Station before boarding, it's the quintessential way to ride and the station food is excellent.

  • Stone-paved lanes winding uphill past wooden machiya houses, craft shops, and tea houses. The closest thing to old Kyoto that exists.

  • Over 1,350 years of history, a stunning vermilion gate, and the lantern-lit main hall at the top of Higashiyama's sloping lanes.

  • "Kyoto's Kitchen," five covered blocks of seafood, pickles, sweets, skewers, and matcha everything. Graze accordingly.

  • A refined hotel along the Kamo River, perfectly positioned for the next two days. Your luggage is already waiting. Dinner on your own tonight, and Kyoto will not disappoint.

Tokyo skyline with Skytree in the distance alongside a group selfie on a neon-lit Ni-chome bar alley at night.

Day 4

Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen

  • This is the day people come home talking about. Arashiyama's Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple in the morning, then kimonos and a traditional tea ceremony, then Kiyomizudera perched on its hillside above the city. Back by 5 PM with the evening free.

  • A buffet breakfast featuring American classics alongside traditional Japanese staples, the perfect start to the day ahead.

  • Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: Towering bamboo as far as you can see, light filtering through the canopy, and that rustling sound overhead. Looks incredible in photos, somehow better in person.

    Tenryuji Temple: A UNESCO World Heritage Zen temple founded in 1339, with the Sogenchi Garden framed by the Arashiyama mountains. A masterpiece, full stop.

  • A included lunch before our afternoon experiences. Your guide will have details on location and what to expect. Kyoto's cuisine is as refined and seasonal as any in Japan, and lunch here is never just lunch.

  • We dress in traditional kimonos (an experience in itself) and a tea master guides us through chanoyu, where every gesture has meaning. Meditative, beautiful, and with this group, guaranteed to also be a little crazy!!

  • Founded in 780 AD, its famous wooden stage juts 13 meters above the hillside with panoramic views over Kyoto. Drink from the Otowa Waterfall's three streams for health, longevity, and success. Take your time, it earns it. This is one of my favorite areas in all of Japan - it is iconic, the sights are unbelievable, and it ifeels straight out of a Miyazaki film.

  • final night in Kyoto. Dinner is on your own, your guide will have recommendations, and the neighborhood around the hotel is full of excellent options for every budget and appetite.

Day 5

Kyoto: Bamboo, Temples & a Tea Ceremony in Kimono

  • After an included breakfast, we'll check out of our Kyoto hotel, meet our guide in the lobby, and load up the private bus for one of the most varied and surprising days of the entire trip. We're covering a lot of ground today - starting in the ancient city of Nara, where hundreds of wild deer roam freely through the park alongside visitors like it's the most normal thing in the world (it is for them), before continuing onward to Osaka for an afternoon touring the grounds of the historic Osaka Castle and an evening introduction to Dotonbori, the loud, neon-lit, takoyaki-scented entertainment district that makes Osaka feel like absolutely nowhere else on earth. By the time we check into our hotel tonight, you'll have experienced three completely different sides of Japan in a single day.

  • A final breakfast at Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier before we check out and hit the road. Eat well, it's a full day ahead!

  • Our first stop is one of Japan's most charming and genuinely unexpected experiences. Nara Park is home to hundreds of wild sika deer who roam freely through the grounds, considered sacred messengers in Shinto tradition and completely unbothered by the presence of humans. They will walk up to you. They will nudge you for snacks. They will bow back at you if you bow first… yes, really. It's delightful and a little surreal and absolutely one of those moments you'll be telling people about when you get home.

  • Within Nara Park sits Todaiji Temple, one of Japan's most historically significant Buddhist temples, originally founded in 728 AD, and inside it, the Great Buddha. The Daibutsu is a monumental bronze figure of Vairocana Buddha standing approximately 15 meters tall, cast in 752 AD, housed in what remains one of the largest wooden structures in the world. Standing in front of it is one of those moments where the scale of something completely overrides your ability to think about anything else. Our guide will give you the full story behind this remarkable place.

  • Private Transfer from Nara to Osaka (approximately 1 hour)

    From Nara we continue on to Osaka, stopping at the magnificent Osaka Castle, originally constructed in 1583 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and one of Japan's most iconic landmarks. Surrounded by a vast park with cherry trees and massive stone moat walls, the castle's main tower soars above the city and houses a fascinating museum covering the castle's history and the unification of feudal Japan. It's grand, beautiful, and surprisingly moving as a piece of living history.

  • We finish the day in Dotonbori, Osaka's most famous entertainment district and the spiritual home of the city's legendary food culture. Neon signs, mechanical crabs, the iconic Glico Running Man, and wall-to-wall takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and every other Osaka street food specialty you've been looking forward to trying. This is Osaka at its most alive and most itself. Tonight is yours to eat, explore, and take it all in! Dinner is on your own, and you will not struggle to find something incredible.

  • After the tour wraps up, we'll check into the sleek and centrally located voco Osaka Central — our home base for the final two nights of the trip, perfectly positioned in the heart of the city for everything ahead.

Day 6

Nara's Deer, the Great Buddha & Hello, Osaka

  • After an included breakfast, the day is yours, with your guide offering multiple suggestions. Osaka rewards wandering in the same way Tokyo does… except louder, slightly grungier, and with even more food! Sleep in, explore a neighborhood you haven't hit yet, go back to Dotonbori for the okonomiyaki you've been thinking about since last night, or just find a café and sit with everything the week has given you. Your guide and host Peter will have a full list of recommendations for how to spend the day: from onsen, museums, local markets, hidden gems, day trip options…. but there's no agenda and no rush. In the late afternoon we'll meet up as a group for a visit to Shinsekai before heading to our farewell dinner together. The last meal of the trip, basically the most celebratory and the hardest one to end!

  • A glorious breakfast spread at VOCO Osaka Central before we enjoy the day.

  • Osaka is one of those cities that has a completely different energy depending on which direction you walk out of the hotel. Street food, vintage shops, covered shopping arcades, neighborhood shrines tucked between apartment buildings… the city has endless layers and today is your chance to find and discover. Peter and your guide will be available all day with suggestions and recommendations.

  • Meet in the lobby at 4:00 PM for one of Osaka's most distinctive districts, built in the early 1900s with Paris and New York as inspiration and now gloriously, grittily its own thing, centered on Tsutenkaku Tower and famous for kushikatsu.

  • At 6:00 PM we'll sit down together for our farewell dinner! A chance to come together, share our favorite moments, and try to wrap our minds around a week that felt like a month in the best way possible… This is the night that always sneaks up on you. One minute you're arriving in Tokyo wondering what the week will bring, and suddenly you're here, at the last dinner, not quite ready for it to be over.

  • Our final night at voco Osaka Central. Take your time getting back. Osaka at night is still very much alive, and so are you.

Day 7

Free Day in Osaka & Farewell Dinner

  • One last breakfast, checkout, and goodbyes... to Osaka, to Japan, and to the people you've spent this extraordinary week with. Airport transfer to Kansai International (KIX) is on your own (hotel staff will happily help with taxis, and the train is easy), with recommended departure times shared in the group WhatsApp. And if Japan already has you googling flights back before you've even left, we understand completely. Peru and Morocco are right there on our trips page, just saying.

  • Japan has a way of getting under your skin: the precision of it, the beauty of it, kindness of its people, and the feeling that every single detail has been thought through… We hope this week gave you a real taste of all of it. Will miss you! See you on the next one!! 🌏

  • All departures are from Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka. The hotel concierge will be happy to assist with arrangements to help. withyour transfer. We recommend giving yourself plenty of time, as KIX is approximately 50 minutes from central Osaka by train.

  • After breakfast and saying farewell to those departing, those who choose can join host Peter for a fun day at Universal Studios Japan, located in Osaka. Visit the high tech world of Super Nintendo or Japan's version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as you play and ride your way through this epic theme park.

    Note: If you purchase this add-on, you should also add a post trip night at the hotel.

Day 8

Farewell & Onward Travel

Meet Your Host

Peter brings years of experience in travel, community, and advocacy — from presidential campaigns to queer group tours. As a lifelong LGBTQ+ advocate, he’s passionate about creating spaces that feel inclusive, intentional, and full of connection. He’s leading SideQuests adventures in 2026 and 2027, including Italy, Japan and Colombia.

About SideQuests Travel

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions specific to this trip? Here are some common questions about our adventure.

  • Our trips attract a diverse community, primarily LGBTQ+ travelers in their 20s-60s who are looking for meaningful connections and authentic experiences. We welcome allies and friends of all identities who share our values of inclusivity, curiosity, and openness.

  • We keep our groups intentionally small—typically 16-24 travelers—to foster genuine connections and allow for more intimate, authentic local experiences that wouldn't be possible with larger groups.

  • Each trip is slightly different, but most SideQuests include:

    • Boutique accommodations

    • Most meals (with options)

    • Excursions + guided activities

    • A bilingual local guide

    • Private group transportation

    • Your hosts (hi, that’s us!)

    You can view all the trip-specific inclusions on each individual trip page. Airfare to and from the destination is not included. You'll receive a detailed packing list and itinerary before departure.

  • Not at all! Our trips are great for all experience levels. We’ve got you. Our trips are built with support and guidance baked in, from our group chats and Zoom intros to arrival instructions and packing tips. You don’t need to be a seasoned traveler, just someone ready to say yes.

  • Yes! Most people do. We design our trips to foster connection from day one, and many travelers arrive solo but leave with lifelong friends (and at least one new group chat). SideQuests are specifically designed to foster connection, so coming alone is actually the perfect way to experience our trips. We create plenty of opportunities to bond with the group while also respecting everyone's need for personal space and independence.

  • We offer both shared and private accommodation options. Many solo travelers choose to share rooms (with separate beds) to save on costs and enhance the community experience. If you prefer your own space, single supplements are available for an additional fee (listed during checkout).

  • We strive to make our trips as accessible as possible and work with travelers on a case-by-case basis. Some destinations have inherent accessibility challenges, but we're committed to finding solutions whenever possible. Please contact us directly to discuss your specific needs.

  • Not at all! While our trips are centered around queer community and joy, allies are absolutely welcome — as long as you’re here with respect, openness, and a good sense of humor!

  • Yes! Our booking partner (TrovaTrip) offers payment plans through Affirm — you can reserve your spot with a 25% deposit and pay the rest in installments.

  • Most trips include a mix of walking, light hikes, or outdoor activities — but we always include downtime, optional excursions, and flexible pacing. You do you, with a group that gets it.

  • If your booking is still pending (meaning the trip hasn’t been confirmed yet), you’re eligible for a full refund — including your 25% deposit.

    Once the trip is confirmed (after 10 travelers have booked), your deposit becomes non-refundable. If you need to cancel after confirmation, you’ll receive a Credit Voucher for the amount paid (minus a $100 cancellation fee).

    After the 90-day mark before the trip, all payments become non-refundable, since hotels, transportation, and activities have already been paid for. Any exceptions at that point are at the discretion of our local partners.

    We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance — it really is worth it.

  • Fly into Tokyo's Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT), arriving March 23rd or ideally a day early to shake off the jet lag before our welcome dinner. The tour ends in Osaka, so book your return flight out of Kansai International (KIX). Into Tokyo, out of Osaka... that's the seamless routing.

  • We kick off in Tokyo on March 23rd, 2027 at 5:30 PM with our welcome dinner. The tour wraps in Osaka on March 30th, 2027 after hotel checkout, and you'll make your way to KIX from there.

  • Yes. Tokyo is one of the safest major cities in the world for LGBTQ+ travelers, with a thriving queer scene centered on Shinjuku Ni-chome and a culture where harassment of visitors is extremely rare. Japan is more reserved than loud about acceptance, and gay friendly travel here feels less like a risk assessment and more like a warm, quiet welcome. We wrote a whole guide on this, including where to stay: Where to Stay in Tokyo for LGBTQ+ Travelers.

  • Shinjuku, near Ni‑chōme, walking distance to hundreds of bars and clubs.

  • In Ni‑chōme, yes — it's completely normal. Elsewhere, discretion is culturally appreciated regardless of orientation.

  • If you hold a U.S. passport, no. U.S. citizens (along with travelers from 70+ countries including Canada, the UK, Australia, and most of the EU) can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days, and our 8-day trip fits comfortably inside that. Just make sure your passport is valid for your entire stay. One heads-up, since you might see headlines about it: Japan is launching a new pre-travel authorization called JESTA, but it doesn't take effect until 2028 at the earliest, well after our trip. If you're traveling on a non-U.S. passport, double-check your country's requirements on Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs site, and give us a shout in the group chat if you're unsure.

  • No vaccinations are required to enter Japan. The CDC recommends being up to date on routine vaccines (the ones you'd have anyway, like MMR and Tdap), and that's it... no yellow fever cards, no special shots, nothing exotic. As with any international trip, a quick chat with your doctor or a travel clinic 4-6 weeks before departure is never a bad idea, especially if you have specific health considerations.

  • Start with our guide, Where to Stay in Tokyo for LGBTQ+ Travelers, which covers the best districts, Shinjuku Ni-chome, and safety tips for queer travelers. And honestly, gay solo travel is kind of our whole thing... more than half the people on this trip will have booked alone, and by departure day you'll have been chatting with all of them for months in the trip WhatsApp. You come solo, but you don't travel solo. Browse all our upcoming trips at sidequeststravel.com/trips.

Travel insurance cancellation policy infographic. It shows the process from before trip confirmation, requiring a full refund including deposit, to within 90 days of trip, when all payments are non-refundable. It notes a 25% deposit that is non-refundable, a $100 cancel fee when trip is confirmed, and that 25% of all payments are fully refundable. The policy recommends travel insurance.

About SideQuests Travel

Hi, I'm Matthew, co-founder of SideQuests Travel. I created SideQuests because I didn't want to just see the world, I wanted to make new friends and build-up my community while doing it. I wanted to see an amazing place in the world and come home feeling changed, so I started hosting trips for people who wanted the same.

SideQuests runs small-group adventures for LGBTQ+ travelers who want to see the world while actually connecting with others and themselves.

The moment you book, you're added to the trip's WhatsApp chat and invited to our monthly Zoom calls, so by the time you land, you already know a bit about each person embarking on the adventure with you. On most group tours, you finally click with the others right as everyone packs to leave,

but on our trips, that happens before anyone boards a plane.

We offer optional journal prompts and meditations for those that would like to participate, and a community workshop mid-trip where people share stories and truly get the opportunity to connect on a very real level.

Every hotel, guide, and operator is vetted through an LGBTQ+ lens ensuring that travel is not only safe, but enthusiastically welcoming.

Come solo, come with a friend, or a partner, and leave with a new group of friends and strengthened sense of community. We're not just building great experiences, we're building a supportive network of people you'll literally want to plan your next trip alongside.

Where You’ll Stay

We've selected accommodations that reflect Japan's energy while keeping comfort front and center. In Tokyo, we spend our first three nights at HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, a music-and-art-focused 4-star hotel in the heart of Shinjuku, part of the new Kabukicho Tower. Here you are steps from everything, the food, the neon, the energy, and yes, a pretty easy stroll to Ni-chome for our gay bar tour. This is the quintessential “Tokyo” you dream about.

In Kyoto, we check into Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier, set right along the Kamo River with some rooms overlooking the water. It's serene, distinctly Japanese in its design, and there's an onsen-style public bath on site, which your legs will thank you for after a day of temple stairs!!

For our final two nights in Osaka, we stay at voco Osaka Central, a stylish IHG hotel known for its modern architecture, its warm staff, and one of the better hotel breakfasts in the city. It's centrally located with easy metro access to Dotonbori, Shinsekai, and the train to KIX airport.

All accommodations feature private bathrooms and daily buffet breakfast. Solo travelers can choose between shared rooms (with another solo traveler, partner or friend), or a completely private room for an additional supplement. If a friend or partner is coming with you but booking separately, no need to worry, we send out a questionnaire to get your roommate of choice or rooming preferences in order ahead of the trip.

Testimonials From Our Travelers

  • A man with tattoos and earrings standing at the beach during sunset, looking to his left.

    “We felt like family just a day or two into the actual trip.”

    David, Greece

  • A man standing on a sandy beach during sunset, smiling and looking to his right, wearing a pink short-sleeve shirt with a white leaf pattern.

    "It’s wild how quickly a group of queer travelers became a little family. From late-night laughs to deep conversations, this trip gave me so much more than I expected."

    JJ, Costa Rica

  • Two smiling men, one with blond hair and the other with brown hair and glasses, standing close together with their arms around each other, in front of a decorated building with colorful architecture.

    "I’ve already signed up for three more trips! I’ve never felt more welcome in a group setting."

    David, Thailand

  • Three young men standing on the beach with ocean in the background, smiling and enjoying the moment.

    "He made sure everyone felt included and was enjoying themselves... He checked in with everyone to make sure we were all onboard with our schedules and feeling good about the trip overall.”

    Thomas, Greece

  • A smiling man with dark, wavy hair and a beard, wearing a white shirt, standing in front of a stone wall during sunset.

    "Matthew created an environment welcoming and safe for everyone (regardless of gender identity or sexuality) to have an amazing trip.”

    Sam, Greece

  • “Michael and Matt were great at breaking down barriers and helping all feel welcome.”

    Kevin, Costa Rica

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