Tier 2 · Accepted in the cities#20 in tier 2
Japan
No national marriage, but five high courts ruled the ban unconstitutional in 2024 and 2025; the Supreme Court will hear six cases with a ruling expected around 2027. Local partnership certificates are widespread.
- Same-sex activity
- Legal
- Recognition
- No legal recognition
- Region
- Asia
- Confidence
- High
- Reviewed
- September 2026
Acceptance
A majority supports marriage in polls.
Travel advice
Go, and stay in the cities and beach towns on our list. Read the room once you leave them.
Where the boys go
Tokyo, Osaka.
Method
Tiered on the legal status and social acceptance of gay men and LGB people using ILGA World, the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Human Dignity Trust, the Williams Institute, Pew, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, Equaldex and court rulings. Where two tiers are plausible we choose the more cautious one. How we tier. Last reviewed September 2026.