While most countries have listings of gay-owned or gay friendly hotels and B&Bs, I haven't been able to find anything on Japan. I am particularly interested in going to Hakone and wondered whether there were any such establishments in that area. Or did anybody find a really nice place that they enjoyed with their partner? If anybody has any recommendations on particular places, or gay-accommodation websites listing them, that inforation would be most welcome. Thanks!

The gay Japanese clearinghouse Sinbad Bookmarks has only a few places listed.
Hakone is not one of them. However, how about Karuizawa? There is a listing for a men's guest house there. There is even an english page.

I cannot speak for the veracity or reliability of any of the links posted at Sinbad, but they are often a good place to start to resources regarding the gay community in Japan if you read Japanese.

Utopia also has lots of listings, but I don't know if they have anything for Hakone. Haven't looked lately.

We have a gay friend who owns a lovely house right in the middle of Hakone. Unfortunately he's on self-imposed sabbatical from the site at the moment.

I sincerely doubt that friend would think of his Hakone estate as gay owned!!

He is just like all the other home owners in Hakone, except that his house enjoys the company of men from time to time.


(Hehehehe....just kidding!)

Correction:

We have a gay friend friend who enjoys the company of men from time to time (on trains, planes, speedboats, toilets and places) who owns a lovely house right in the middle of Hakone.

Correction accepted.

Jguys sleep and bathe together as couples or in groups without ever being considered gay, so there is no need for "gay-friendly" hospitality service in resort areas. Hakone included.

There is one notoriously gay, but -at the same- time family and straight-oriented hotspring in Hakone.

You can be your natural self there, within the boundaries of decency and consideration for others.

Tenzan.

KF

PS. Don't even think I'm back on JguyUSguy!

As Taddy said: "How can we miss you if you don't go away?"

Bye-bye...

Gee, KF - is Tenzan a ryokan as well? Sounds neat!

Cheers,
MM

quote:

Originally posted by MagnetMan:
is Tenzan a ryokan as well?

Yes, BUT you have to spend a minimum of three nights...

KF

So has somebody been to this place in Karuizawa? It sounds quite nice ...