Best Spots in Nichome
Finding a community, specialized medical care, and other health resources as an LGBTQ+ person in Japan can be difficult. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of helpful resources for you, including medical resources, hotline services, sexual health resources and LGBTQ+ groups where you can find community in Japan. We’ve also tried to include English-speaking resources as much as possible, since that’s probably the language you’re most comfortable speaking.
Although life as a queer person is often not easy, hopefully the resources that we’ve included below can help you to get a little bit more comfortable, wherever you’re living in Japan, for however long you’ll be here.
Medical Resources
Okayama University Hospital Gender Center
Location: Okayama City, Okayama, Japan
Website: https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/user/hospital/en/index186.html
According to their website, Okayama University Hospital Gender Center “treats, researches, and provides education about gender associated diseases (GAD) including gender identity disorder (GID).” So, the Gender Center is a wonderful resource for those in Japan considering gender-affirming surgery and gender-affirming care. In addition, the center trains various medical professionals on new gender-affirming surgery techniques, with partner hospitals all over the world.
They also have an extensive English section of their website, as well as English-speaking staff on call.
Taniguchi International Clinic
Location: Osaka City, Osaka, Japan
Website: https://stellamate-clinic.org/taniguchiclinic-English/
Taniguchi International Clinic is an English-friendly clinic in Osaka that provides hormones for both FtoM and MtoF individuals. It also provides PEP and PrEP as an emergency medication to prevent HIV. Since these services are closely tied to the LGBTQ+ community, Taniguchi International Clinic is a good resource to have on hand.
They also provide certain general care such as various vaccines, so ask them about these services if you’re interested.
Nagumo Clinic GID Center
Location: Various (Nagoya, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka)
Website: https://www.gidcenter.com/
Nagumo Clinic is a clinic with many locations across Japan. It offers hormone therapy for FtoM and MtoF individuals, as well as gender-affirming surgery of various types. The clinic also offers psychiatric consultations for LGBTQ+ people.
The main advantage of this clinic is that it has many locations, making it convenient for you wherever you are in Japan. However, it doesn’t have an English website or appear to have English-speaking staff.
LGBTQ Hotline Services
TELL (Tokyo English Life Line)
Location: Minato, Tokyo, Japan (Offering services nationwide)
Website: https://telljp.com/
Tokyo English Life Line, or TELL, is a wonderful resource for LGBTQ+ individuals (and anyone else) struggling with life-related issues in Japan, having a mental health crisis, or who just need some moral support. They offer free phone consultation services in English nationwide, as well as in-person counseling services in the Tokyo and Okinawa area.
Although TELL is not exclusively an LGBTQ+ focused organization, they are completely LGBTQ+ friendly and specialize in English counseling, so they’re a great shoulder to lean on if you’re having trouble.
Tokyo Mental Health
Location: Various (Tokyo, Okinawa, Online)
Website: https://www.tokyomentalhealth.com/
While it’s not technically a hotline service, Tokyo Mental Health offers counseling services in English in the Tokyo and Okinawa areas, as well as online counseling. They are completely LGBTQ+ friendly and English-friendly, so if you’re dealing with issues that are a little less urgent than those TELL specializes in, definitely look into booking a counseling session with Tokyo Mental Health.
Counseling LAB SORA
Location: Osaka City, Osaka, Japan (Online services available)
Website: https://www.counseling-lab.com/
Counseling LAB SORA is an Osaka-based counseling center that offers both in-person and online consultation. While not exclusively working with LGBTQ+ people, they are LGBTQ+ friendly and are completely capable of dealing with issues related to your gender and sexuality.
The one drawback is that they don’t appear to offer English language counseling, so they’re a better resource for people comfortable in their Japanese ability.
Sexual Health Resources
Tokyo Sexual Health
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Website: https://www.tsh.ncgm.go.jp/en/
Tokyo Sexual Health was originally created for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to help prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs during the games. However, they’ve continued their work at a permanent center in Shinjuku.
While they don’t offer their own medical services, Tokyo Sexual Health does have a wealth of information about sexual health for everyone, including LGBTQ+ individuals. They also offer a comprehensive guide of where to go to find sexual health services such as STI tests, depending on where you live in Japan.
They offer support in many languages including English, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Spanish, and Nepali.
Community Center akta
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Website: https://akta.jp/community-center/
While Community Center akta doesn’t have much English support, it’s still a wonderful LGBTQ+ sexual health resource in Tokyo, offering a wide variety of services. The center itself serves as both a community and information hub, where you can comfortably ask staff members questions regarding sexual health and other topics.
Community Center akta also does outreach and education to help prevent the spread of HIV. This includes a lot of information on their website about HIV prevention, and a free condom delivery service to bars and clubs in Shinjuku Nichome, Tokyo’s LGBTQ+ district.
In addition, they sometimes offer fun events at their center such as an English-speaking pop-up cafe and queer art shows.
Shirakaba Clinic
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Website: https://telljp.com/wikitell/shirakaba-clinic-3/
Shirakaba Clinic is located in Shinjuku, and provides HIV and STI counseling, as well as testing. They also offer services such as mental health care. They are both English and Japanese-friendly.
Another perk of this clinic is that they’re open in the evening and on weekends, making it much more convenient for you.
LGBTQ Groups in Japan
Pride House Tokyo Legacy
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Website: https://pridehouse.jp/en/
Pride House Tokyo Legacy is another organization originally created for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. It started as an outreach booth for LGBTQ+ individuals during the games, and migrated to a brick and mortar center after they wrapped up.
Pride House Tokyo Legacy offers a wealth of resources including LGBTQ+ books and reading materials in English and Japanese, a cafe that gives you your first drink free, specialty meetups such as Trans Day and Deaf Day, and much more.
It’s an open space where you can come to study, talk, or learn about queer culture and history. They also offer professional counseling services in Japanese, and are hoping to expand their services to English as well.
Also, Pride House Tokyo Legacy has staff who speak English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean!
Stonewall Japan
Location: Online, Events Nationwide
Website: https://stonewalljapan.org/
At first I thought Stonewall Japan was just a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ individuals in Japan. But, I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that not only is it a Facebook group but an entire organization bringing queer people together in Japan.
In addition to their Facebook group where you can get to know fellow LGBTQ+ individuals in Japan, they also offer a wealth of LGBTQ+ resources on their website, and host regular events all over the country.
They are primarily an English-speaking organization, so there’s no need to worry about a language barrier!
Nijiiro Diversity
Location: Osaka City, Osaka, Japan
Website: https://nijiirodiversity.jp/english/
Nijiiro Diversity is an Osaka-based organization that provides LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion training to workplaces, schools, and a variety of other institutions across Japan. Founded by LGBTQ+ activist Maki Muraki, this organization works to educate people on LGBTQ+ topics and on how to be more inclusive in the workplace and beyond.
There is also an English section of their website so you easily learn more about them!
Conclusion
Hopefully, the resources in this article will give you a good foundation to either get your life started in Japan, or to make life easier for you as an LGBTQ+ person here. If you’re interested in learning more in-depth about living as a certain LGBTQ+ identity in Japan, check these articles out!
