Important Information

Out Adventures is all about good times with like-minded folks. Whatever’s on the itinerary – from fireside camping to five-star decadence – our goal is to make the experience magical. We’re also committed to supporting the communities we visit by hiring local guides, staying at locally-owned accommodations when possible, and celebrating local cuisine. It all adds up to a great way to immerse yourself in the culture.

Hotel rooms in Japan are very small, including twin-share, meaning you’ll have very little extra space. While we will try to ensure couples are in rooms with one bed, this cannot be guaranteed.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TRANSFERS: We typically include arrival and departure transfers, however costs for private services are cost prohibitive and vary widely based on the airport you are arriving to and departing from. Detailed instructions will be provided in your final trip documents, and if you wish you can purchase a private transfer. Expect prices to be in excess of 200 USD for a one-way transfer in a small sedan.

VISAS: Citizens of Canada, the USA, and most of Europe do not need a visa for short-term visits. Click here for more info.

FOOD: Japanese cuisine is known for its heavy use of meat and fish, and even stocks and sauces usually have some ingredients containing meat. Vegetarianism and veganism are not as popular in Japan as it is in the West, and it can often be challenging finding a variety of vegetarian or vegan options.

CULTURE SHOCK: Japan offers one of the most technologically advanced societies on Earth. It’s incredibly safe to visit and crime rates are low. 

LOCAL LGBTQ+ SCENE: Japan offers a perplexing gay scene. Tokyo has the highest concentration of gay bars on Earth, but it can be tough to find one that welcomes foreign visitors. Many locals also remain in the closet, and even marry the opposite sex, despite mainstream acceptance of homosexuality.

WEATHER: We visit in the fall, sparing us from the oppressive humidity of summer and unpredictable winter months. 

VACCINATIONS: Based on the entry requirements, there are no other immunizations needed for entry. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, consult with your doctor or a travel medical clinic. Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.

ELECTRICITY: You will need an international travel plug/adapter for Type A and B sockets.Visit power-plugs-sockets.com/japan  for more info.

CONNECTIVITY: Japan is utterly well connected. You will not want for wi-fi or cellular service.

You can bring up to one month’s supply of most prescription drugs into Japan and up to two months’ supply of non-prescription drugs without completing any paperwork. We recommend you have a copy of the prescription and/or a letter from the prescribing physician explaining the nature of the medication, the purpose of taking it, the recommended dosage, and the frequency of ingestion.

Drugs that are hallucinogenic, narcotic, and/or psychotropic in nature may be confiscated unless prior approval has been obtained. Opium, cannabis, and stimulant drugs (amphetamines, methamphetamines), including certain medicines for the treatment of ADD/ADHD (such as Adderall and Dexedrine) are strictly prohibited and illegal to bring into Japan. Please visit https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html where you can view lists of controlled substances, and more information on psychotropics which may or may not require prior approval to bring into Japan. It is important that you know the generic name of your medications prior to consulting the lists.

Banned over-the-counter medications: Actified, Advil Cold & Sinus, Dristan Cold, Dristan Sinus, Drixoral Sinus, Lomotil, Nyquil (liquid and capsules), Sudafed, Tylenol Cold, Viks Inhaler.

We’re dedicated to ensuring our tours are safe for everyone, and it is our belief that each traveller has a responsibility to protect themselves and their fellow travellers from illness. Out Adventures no longer requires guests to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, nor to isolate in the event of respiratory illness. Our Hosts and/or Group Leaders may ask those with respiratory or cold symptoms to wear a mask in confined areas. Local laws may be more strict and will always supersede our policies.

For everybody’s peace of mind, medical travel insurance is required on all Out Adventures tours. At a minimum, your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability, with a minimum medical coverage of US $200,000.

Click here for more details on our requirements and how to obtain coverage. We highly recommend that you insure your full purchase, including trip cancellation and medical.

All Out Adventures are led by a gay (or gay-welcoming) guide. Whenever possible, we hire destination locals. And we can also connect you with the right people if you’d like to delve deeper into the local culture.

Out Adventures are a great way to meet people from around the world and all walks of life. Bear in mind that everybody’s there for a good time, so mutual respect will go a long way. Please be on time for any meet ups, empathetic to the needs of others, and ready to roll with whatever the adventure brings.

Although we can’t tell you who your fellow travellers will be for privacy reasons, we can tell you many great friendships began with an Out Adventure. And just because we’re a gay tour operator doesn’t mean we’re exclusive: friends and family are always welcome to join the fun.

If you’ve never travelled on your own, it’s an amazing way to get to know yourself while making new friends along the way. We can arrange for you to share a room with people in your age range at no charge, or you can pay a supplement for your own room. If there’s an odd number of solos, we’ll rotate a single room on a random basis.

The itinerary is correct at time of publishing. If anything, it will only improve with feedback from prior travellers and our own research. It’s best to reference your final trip documents, rather than our website, in case there have been any changes that affect your departure.

Every Out Adventure offers optional excursions that are not included in price of this trip. Please see the daily itinerary in your final pre-trip packet to learn what’s available.

All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 7 dinners are included on this trip.

Zentis Osaka
1-4-26 Dojimahama, Kita-ku
Osaka 530-0004 Japan

T +81 6-4796-0111

Standard check-in time is between 2PM and 3PM. We are unable to arrange early check ins, however you are able to store your luggage and explore the central area near the hotel while you wait. If you would like a guaranteed early check-in, you will need to reserve a pre-tour night of accommodation.

Hotel Groove Shinjuku
1 Chome-29-1 Kabukicho
Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021

Japans local currency is the Yen (JPY). Credit cards are widely accepted, but keep money handy. Cash remains hugely popular in this high-tech society. We also recommend you bring about $400 USD in case of an emergency, or if your credit/ATM cards are placed on hold.

We’ve covered the gratuities for included activities, meals, and local guides. The tip for your host and local group leader are not included. Please note that other than some tourism services, Japan does not have a tipping culture, and tipping at restaurants, bars or hotels is not at all necessary and in fact can be misconstrued as an insult. 

This packing list is a guideline, not gospel, but we are happy to answer any specific questions about how much (or little) to bring. Please keep your main baggage under 20kg/44lb for ease of logistics. During the tour, we will ship our main luggage from Kyoto to Tokyo, so you’ll need a large enough daypack (or a small additional carry-on) to hold 2 nights’ worth of clothing and essential items.

Travel Documents:

• Passport/Visas/Flight Itineraries/Travel Insurance
• Pre-trip packet
• Credit/ATM card

General Personal Items:

• Eye mask/ear plugs
• Smartphone/camera/tablet/charging cords/International travel plug.
• Daypack
• Luggage lock
• Personal Wipes
• Guidebook/Phrase book/Reading material
• Protection for your devices from water
• Travel-size towel

Shoes:

• Socks
• Walking shoes
• Sandals
• ‘Nice’ shoes for dinners

Bottoms:

• Underwear
• Pants/Jeans
• A light pair of pants to pull over shorts during temple visits
• Shorts
• Swimwear
• ‘Nice’ pants for dinners

Tops:

• Short-sleeved shirts
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Sweaters
• ‘Nice’ shirts for dinners

Jackets:

• Waterproof jacket/poncho

Other:

• Sunglasses/Hat
• Small Umbrella
• Refillable water bottle(s)

Health-related Items:

• Small First aid kit including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, zinc oxide tape and small scissors, blister pads, diarrhea tablets, dioralyte rehydration packs
• Personal Medication (see special note on medications at the top of this page)
• High protection sunscreen/lip balm
• Insect repellent/bite cream/antihistamine
• Antibacterial gel/wipes
• Toiletries including toothbrush, toothpaste & deodorant

We love when groups of friends join us on an OUT Adventure, whether you’re celebrating a major milestone, or you just love to travel together. However, since we have travellers that will be flying solo, or as a couple, we would love your help ensuring everybody feels welcome and has an epic time. Here are some ways you can give us a hand, while also getting to know and befriending your fellow travellers:

• Sit with (and get to know) different people at different meals
• Mix up walking partners on excursions
• Invite solo travellers to join you for an optional excursion or meal
• Enjoy inside jokes in privacy, or let the group in on the secret 😉

If you’d rather relish an exclusive escape with just your own party, we also offer private departures. This is a great way to create and manage your own holiday guest list, while possibly saving money as well. Please contact one of our Adventure Specialists if you’re interested in a customized quote.

All Out Adventures guests must have a good level of health. All tours, regardless of activity level, involve uneven steps, stairs, walking tours, and you will be required to carry your own luggage from time to time. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate individuals with limited mobility unless they are willing to absorb the cost of a private guide/assistant which varies by country and is only possible on a case by case basis. It is also your responsibility to advise Out Adventures of any pre-existing medical conditions that may increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that may affect the normal conduct of the tour and the enjoyment of the tour by other participants.

Below is a breakdown of our Physical Rating guide.

1 – Relaxing

• Very little or no hiking
• Light activities such as walking, bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
• Low altitude
• Suitable for all fitness levels

2 – Light

• Light walking and hiking (2 hours or less per day and at low altitude)
• Light activities such as bike tours, paddling or swimming are completely optional
• Suitable for most fitness levels

3 – Average

• Light walking and hiking (3 hours or less per day, rarely at high altitude)
• Some activities such as biking, paddling or swimming. Active days are mixed with relaxed days
• Suitable for an average fitness level

4 – Demanding

• Walking, hiking is a component of the tour (can range from 2 hours to 6 hours per day, at various altitudes)
• Activities such as biking, paddling or swimming may be mixed in
• Suitable for a good fitness level

5 – Challenging

• Walking, hiking, biking, paddling or kayaking are the vast majority of the trip (can range from 2 hours to 8 hours per day, generally at high altitude)
• Activities will likely happen day after day with limited rest days
• Suitable for above average fitness level