Doyama-cho is an area in the Umeda area of Osaka, Japan. It is best known for its gay scene.

Besides bars, the area is also home to restaurants and cafes, shops, saunas, hotels, 'host bars' (bars where patrons can meet hustlers), massage parlours and brothels of varying sizes and legality. Establishments vary in size, but many are limited to ten or fewer seats. A sauna on Lake Vättern, in Karlsborg Municipality, Sweden. ... Gay slang (sometimes gayspeak) in linguistics refers to a form of English slang used predominantly among gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people. ... For sexual massage, see erotic massage. ... Brothels are establishments specifically dedicated to prostitution and may be confined to special red-light districts in large cities. ...

The Doyama Scene

Much like in Tokyo, bars here are usually themed towards "types" - bears, salarymen, young guys etc. Many of the gay bars in Doyama do not permit female customers. The few lesbian bars that can be found do not permit male customers. Mixed venues are few.

At most bars in this area, patrons usually sit at a counter and chat with the bartender. Karaoke is also popular, and gay monthly and pornographic magazines can be read at many establishments as well. Those who visit these small bars are usually regulars; since many bars operate on the bottle-keep system, many customers may have their own bottle at their favourite bar. Loyalty to bars is returned by the bars organizing outings to onsen, hanami parties, picnics, gay sporting events, and so on. Many bars maintain large photo albums of customers, for customers, often taken at such events. Outdoor pool, Naruko Outdoor Onsen on Nakanoshima island in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture Old onsen in Hakone An private outdoor rotenburo in Gorakadan Guidebook to Hakone from 1811 This rotenburo at Jigokudani Onsen is for Japanese Macaques. ... A hanami party Hanami lit. ...

While most bar owners ("Mamas" or "Masters") are accommodating to new customers and to non-Japanese, the scene is largely geared towards regular, Japanese-speaking customers, and some venues discourage or prohibit non-Japanese from entering, regardless of their Japanese language abilities. A handful of establishments, in contrast, specifically target foreigners with advertising and information in English. These include Bar Physique and Frenz. While most bars have a cover charge system, these do not. The term mama-san or mamasan refers to a woman who works in a supervisory role in certain establishments in East Asia, typically those related to sex work, but sometimes in drinking places as well. ...

With the advent of the internet and less segregation, Doyama is seeing a downturn in visitors. While weekends are busy, foreign visitors should not expect the same numbers as one would expect in a city of this size in the West.

Gay Pride

• October 2006 will see the inaugural Rainbow Parade.

See also

• Homosexuality in Japan
• Shinjuku ni-chōme, Tokyo
• Yukio Mishima, bisexual novelist