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LGBTQ+ Residents in Japan: Partnership Certificates and Legal Recognition

LGBTQ+ residents in Japan live under a two-level system: national law does not recognize same-sex marriage, while municipal and prefectural partnership systems now cover most of the population.12 Knowing what a partnership certificate changes, and what it leaves untouched, shapes how you handle housing, hospitals, visas, work, and inheritance planning. Short-term visitor topics such as public-bath rules, hotel stays, and bringing medication in as a tourist sit outside this article's resident focus and belong to J-Compass's Traveling in Japan section.

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at your municipality's partnership-system page (for Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's partnership oath system page). This article is general information, not immigration, legal, or medical advice; for your specific case, consult an immigration lawyer or gyōseishoshi for status-of-residence questions, a bengoshi or notary for partnership agreements, wills, and inheritance, or a licensed physician for gender-affirming care.

Overview​

Japan has no national marriage or civil-union law for same-sex couples. Six damages suits argue that the Civil Code and Family Register Act provisions that do not recognize same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, and they are now before the Supreme Court.1

Recognition instead runs through local government. Partnership systems began with Shibuya Ward's certificate system, which started on 2015-11-05, and expansion accelerated after the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (population about 14 million) adopted its own system in 2022.34

By the latest joint count, 530 municipalities had a partnership system, covering 92.5% of Japan's population, with 9,836 couples registered (as of 2025-05-31; confirm current figures with Shibuya City).24 That was the final round of the joint survey run by Shibuya Ward and the NPO Nijiiro Diversity; Shibuya states the survey ends with it, so no later figure from that series exists.52

At national level, the touchpoints are partial. They are the 2023 LGBT Understanding Promotion Act (promulgated and in force from 2023-06-23)6, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) workplace harassment guideline that names insults about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and outing7, and a series of court rulings covered below.

How municipal partnership systems work​

No national partnership law exists, so each municipality or prefecture writes its own rules. The examples below use the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (a prefecture-wide system), Shibuya Ward (a ward-level system), and Osaka Prefecture (a non-Tokyo system).

TermReadingMeaning
パートナーシップ宣誓制度pātonāshippu sensei seidoPartnership oath system8
パートナーシップ証明pātonāshippu shōmeiPartnership certificate (Shibuya's ordinance-based name)9
受理証明書juri shōmeishoCertificate of receipt (the document Tokyo issues)10
受領証juryōshōReceipt (the document Osaka Prefecture issues)11
公正証書kōsei shōshoNotarial deed9

Oath systems, certificate systems, and prefecture-wide systems​

Tokyo runs a 宣誓・届出 (sensei todokede, "oath and notification") system based on the metropolitan ordinance on realizing the human-rights principles of the Olympic Charter and its implementing rule. The governor issues a certificate of receipt.810 The rule took effect on 2022-11-01, with applications accepted from 2022-10-11, and was amended effective 2024-04-01.103

Tokyo's eligibility includes a requirement that at least one of the two partners is a sexual minority (undated page, checked 2026-10-10; confirm current requirements with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government).83

Shibuya runs a 証明 (shōmei, "certificate") system under its ward ordinance on respecting human rights and eliminating discrimination. It requires two notarial deeds before the ward will certify the partnership (as of 2026-07-24).39 Since April 2024, Shibuya's system can be used even when the two partners' family-register sexes are not the same (as of 2026-07-24).9

Osaka Prefecture's 大阪府パートナーシップ宣誓証明制度 (Ōsaka-fu pātonāshippu sensei shōmei seido, "Osaka Prefecture partnership oath certification system"), which started on 2020-01-22, certifies that sexual-minority partners have made an oath to be each other's life partner.11

Some municipalities also run ファミリーシップ (famirīshippu, "family-ship") systems that extend recognition to a wider family unit. Setagaya Ward's residence-record procedure, for example, accepts proof of either a partnership oath or a family-ship oath (as of 2024-10-28).12

The three example systems differ on type, residence link, and cost. Each column reflects its source page as dated in the last row.

ItemTokyo MetropolitanShibuya WardOsaka Prefecture
TypeOath and notification (宣誓・届出), ordinance-based10Certificate (証明), ordinance-based3Oath certificate (宣誓証明), prefectural guideline11
Residence linkOne or both live, work, or study in Tokyo, including moving in within 3 months133Both reside and are registered in Shibuya9At least one is a resident or plans to move in11
AgeBoth adults318 or older3Both adults11
ApplicationOnline in principle; in person by advance request13Ward office counter, after the notarial deeds are made3Appointment (online form 24 hours or phone), at least 3 business days ahead11
Issuance timeWithin 10 business days in principle13About 1 week3Same day, about 1 hour11
Typical cost to applicantA few thousand yen for document copies3About ¥15,000–70,000 including notarial deeds; subsidy available3Not stated on the prefecture's page11
As ofUndated page, checked 2026-10-10Comparison sheet undated, checked 2026-10-10; page dated 2026-07-24Page dated 2026-07-01

Eligibility for foreign residents​

Partnership systems key eligibility to where you live (and, in Tokyo, where you work or study), not to your status of residence.13911 Tokyo states that nationality is not a criterion as long as every other requirement is met (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).13

Tokyo's other requirements are that both partners are adults, neither has a spouse (including a de facto spouse) or another partnership, and the two are not close relatives (direct line, within three degrees of collateral kinship, or in-laws) (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).1310 Shibuya requires both partners to reside in and be registered in Shibuya, be 18 or older, have no spouse or other partner, and not be close relatives (as of 2026-07-24).9

Osaka Prefecture requires both partners to be adults, at least one to be a resident or planning to move in, neither to be married or in another partnership, and the two not to be in a relationship barred from marriage under Civil Code Articles 734–735 (as of 2026-07-01).11

Foreign nationals usually need extra proof that they are unmarried. The two examples that spell this out:

JurisdictionProof of single statusOther documentsAs of
Tokyo MetropolitanA document from your embassy or consulate confirming you have no spouse, such as a 婚姻要件具備証明書 (kon'in yōken gubi shōmeisho, "certificate of legal capacity to marry"), with a Japanese translation that names the translator13Residence record and the other eligibility documents listed in Tokyo's guide3Undated page, checked 2026-10-10
Osaka PrefectureA 婚姻要件具備証明書 issued by your home country11Residence-record copy issued within 3 months; photo ID112026-07-01

Document rules vary by municipality. Confirm the exact list, and whether a translation must be certified, with your own city or ward office before requesting papers from your embassy.

Applying and what you receive​

Tokyo and Shibuya illustrate the two main application models. Tokyo is online and document-based, while Shibuya requires notarial deeds before you reach the ward counter.133

In Tokyo, you prepare documents proving eligibility, enter your details and upload the documents in the online system, and Tokyo checks the filing.3 The certificate is issued online within 10 business days in principle, excluding weekends, holidays, and the year-end period (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).13 Since 2024-04-01, both A4-size and card-size certificates are available (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).13

In Shibuya, you download the template and guide, make a voluntary-guardianship deed and a partnership-agreement deed at a notary office, and apply at the Residents and Family Register counter. After screening, the certificate is issued at the counter about one week after application (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).3

Osaka Prefecture works by appointment, booked through an online form available 24 hours or by phone at least three business days ahead, and issues its receipt the same day in about an hour (as of 2026-07-01).11

Costs depend almost entirely on whether notarial deeds are required. The figures below are dated per row (as of the dates shown).

ItemAmountAs ofNotes
Tokyo filingA few thousand yenUndated, checked 2026-10-103Document-copy costs only
Shibuya total, including notarial deedsAbout ¥15,000–70,000Undated, checked 2026-10-103Depends on the deeds
Shibuya subsidy, standard¥56,0002026-07-2414Voluntary-guardianship and agreement deeds
Shibuya subsidy, special¥15,0002026-07-2414Agreement deed only
Notarial voluntary-guardianship deed, base fee¥13,000 per contract, plus ¥300 per page over 3Undated, checked 2026-10-1015Set by the notary fee schedule
Same deed, revenue stamp and registration commission¥2,600 and ¥1,600Undated, checked 2026-10-1015Paid in addition to the base fee
Claim the Shibuya subsidy within 60 days

Shibuya's subsidy toward notarial-deed costs must be claimed within 60 days from the certification date, and it applies to certificates obtained on or after 2020-11-01 (as of 2026-07-24).14 Keep your notary receipts until the claim is paid.

Moving and reciprocity​

A certificate is tied to the jurisdiction that issued it. In Tokyo, if the partnership ends, or if both partners stop meeting the requirement because of moving, changing jobs, or graduating, either partner must file a notification (rule as amended effective 2024-04-01; comparison sheet undated, checked 2026-10-10).103

Shibuya requires you to return the certificate with a notification if either partner moves out of the ward, a partner dies, or the relationship ends (as of 2026-07-24).39 Osaka Prefecture asks you to return the receipt if the relationship ends, a partner dies, or both partners move out (as of 2026-07-01).11

Reciprocity agreements soften the move between participating jurisdictions. Osaka Prefecture's inter-municipal arrangement removes three burdens: returning the certificate to the old municipality, making the oath again, and re-submitting proof of single status (as of 2026-10-01).16

Osaka's partner list is broken down by prefecture, for example 51 municipalities in Hokkaido, 37 in Aichi, 24 in Hyogo, and 13 in Fukuoka, and the page gives no single total (as of 2026-10-01).16 Tokyo has reciprocity with Ibaraki and Gunma from 2025-04-01 and with Tochigi and Yamanashi from 2026-04-01; submitting the prior certificate removes the need to submit koseki extracts or single-status proof again (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).17

The decision when you move looks like this.

What a partnership certificate does and does not change​

Housing: public housing, UR, and private rentals​

Tokyo's certificate opens access to applications for 都営住宅 (toei jūtaku, "Tokyo metropolitan housing") (undated page, checked 2026-10-10; confirm current eligibility with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government).8 Nationally, the government lists the Public Housing Act and its cabinet order among laws whose "de facto marriage" provisions same-sex partners "can be included in" (as of 2025-09-30).18

The same list includes the Land and Building Lease Act and the law promoting rental housing for people who need special assistance in securing housing (as of 2025-09-30).18 Public-housing eligibility is still applied by each operator, so confirm with the specific operator before you apply.

Private landlords and guarantor companies set their own policies. For the semi-public rental operator's own rules, see UR Rentals: No Key Money, No Guarantor, No Agency Fee; for screening by private landlords, see Foreigner-Rejection Patterns and How to Navigate Them.

Hospitals and medical decisions​

Visitation, explanations of a patient's condition, and consent are governed by hospital policy, not by a statute that names partners.19 MHLW's guideline on decision-making for end-of-life care defines 家族等 (kazoku tō, "family, etc.") as not limited to legal kin; it can include close friends the patient trusts, and more than one person.19

The same guideline recommends that patients designate in advance a specific person who can infer their wishes if they cannot communicate.19 The guideline addresses end-of-life care decisions specifically, so it supports naming your partner but does not bind every hospital in every situation.

Tokyo publishes a list of hospitals that have volunteered to accept the certificate for visits and similar purposes (as of 2026-05-01).20 For how admission, visiting rules, and family stays work in practice, see Hospital Admission and the Visitor-Stay Reality.

Employers, insurers, and phone carriers​

Recognition by companies is private policy, not law, and varies from one company to the next. Tokyo publishes three lists: places where its certificate can be used, private services that accept notarial deeds, and other private programs for sexual minorities (as of 2026-07-31).20

Businesses appear on those lists on their own application to Tokyo, so the lists show participants rather than every company with a policy (as of 2026-07-31).20 Ask your employer's HR department, your insurer, or your carrier directly whether they recognize a certificate, and what they will ask you to submit.

What it does not change​

A partnership certificate leaves most national tax, social-security, and family-law rules untouched.

  • Spousal tax deduction. The deduction requires a spouse under the Civil Code, and people in 内縁 (naien, "de facto marriage") relationships do not qualify (as of 2026-04-01).21 See The Deduction Stack: Basic, Spouse, Dependent, and Social Insurance.
  • Inheritance. Under Civil Code Article 890, a deceased person's spouse is always an heir; a partner without a legal marriage is not a statutory heir.22 See Inheritance for Foreign Residents in Japan: Accounts, Property, and Heirs.
  • Tax, pension, and insurance statutes. The government's 2025-09-30 review listed laws where same-sex partners were not found to be includable under "de facto marriage" wording, among them the Income Tax Act, the Inheritance Tax Act's enforcement order, the National Pension Act, the Employees' Pension Insurance Act, the Health Insurance Act, the National Health Insurance Act, the Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance Act, the Employment Insurance Act, and the Child Care and Family Care Leave Act (as of 2025-09-30).18
  • Status of residence. No source shows the Immigration Services Agency treating a municipal certificate as a basis for a spouse-type status of residence; see the visas section below.2324

Protecting a relationship without marriage​

Because the certificate does not create statutory rights, many couples add private legal instruments. Shibuya builds this into its system: its certificate requires a 任意後見契約公正証書 (nin'i kōken keiyaku kōsei shōsho, "voluntary-guardianship contract deed") and a 合意契約公正証書 (gōi keiyaku kōsei shōsho, "partnership-agreement deed") covering matters the ward specifies (as of 2026-07-24; confirm current requirements with Shibuya City).39

The notary fees for a voluntary-guardianship deed are listed in the fee table above.15

For medical decisions, MHLW's end-of-life care guideline supports naming a trusted person in advance, which is the basis for listing your partner as an emergency contact and in advance-care documents.19 These documents help, but they do not override hospital policy.

A partner is not a statutory heir, so a will is the instrument for leaving property to a partner.22 Which country's law governs a foreign resident's will or estate is a question for a bengoshi or notary; see Notary Public (Koshonin) in Japan and Wills for Foreign Residents in Japan: Types, Law, and Validity.

Visas for same-sex partners​

This section summarizes the three main cases. Same-Sex Partnerships and Residence Status is the full treatment, covering why spouse status does not apply, the Designated Activities workaround, the Japanese-partner case, and renewals. Designated Activities Visa explains the status itself.

The cases split first on nationality.

Case 1: two foreign nationals married abroad. According to the Tokyo Bar Association's summary, a 2013-10-18 Ministry of Justice notice states that same-sex spouses do not qualify for 家族滞在 (kazoku taizai, "Dependent") or Spouse of Permanent Resident status even when the marriage is valid abroad, but may in principle enter and reside under 特定活動 (tokutei katsudō, "Designated Activities") on humanitarian grounds.23 A gyōseishoshi firm quotes the condition as a same-sex marriage validly formed under the home country's law, and reads it as unusable where one partner's home country does not recognize same-sex marriage; that reading is the firm's interpretation, not the notice text.24

Case 2: a Japanese national with a foreign same-sex partner. The 2013 notice applied only where both partners were foreign nationals.23 The Tokyo District Court held on 2022-09-30 that treating a Japanese national's foreign same-sex spouse worse than foreign same-sex couples violated the spirit of constitutional equality, though it rejected the claims, and the Tokyo High Court upheld the lower court on appeal (reported 2023-11-02).2526

No public change in Immigration Services Agency (ISA) policy for this case was identified in the sources checked for this article (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current practice with the Immigration Services Agency). The foreign partner therefore needs an independent status of residence, such as one based on work.

Case 3: a Japanese municipal partnership certificate on its own. No source shows ISA treating a municipal certificate as evidence of a spousal relationship; the 2013 route turns on a marriage valid abroad.2324

A municipal partnership certificate is not spousal evidence

Do not plan a status-of-residence application around a Japanese municipal partnership certificate. The Designated Activities route described in the 2013 notice depends on a same-sex marriage validly formed under the home country's law, and a Japanese national's partner has no spouse route at all.2324

Workplace protections​

SOGI harassment and outing under the power-harassment rules​

MHLW's power-harassment guideline (MHLW Notice No. 5 of 2020), which applies from 2020-06-01, sets out what employers must prevent.7 The guideline draws no distinction by the worker's nationality.7

Under "mental attacks," the guideline lists insulting remarks about a person's sexual orientation or gender identity (as of 2026-10-01; confirm current wording with MHLW).7 Under 個の侵害 (ko no shingai, "intrusion into the individual"), it lists disclosing a worker's sexual orientation, gender identity, medical history, fertility treatment, or similar sensitive information to other workers without consent (as of 2026-10-01).7

The privacy measures employers must take for people who consult, and for those accused, cover sexual orientation and gender identity information (as of 2026-10-01).7 The current text uses the term ジェンダーアイデンティティ (jendā aidentitī, "gender identity") where older materials used 性自認 (seijinin, "gender identity") (as of 2026-10-01).7

Outing a colleague counts as power harassment

Disclosing a worker's sexual orientation or gender identity to colleagues without consent is a listed example of パワハラ (pawahara, "power harassment").7 Setting up a consultation system is part of the employer's mandatory employment-management measures, so you can raise it through your company's harassment desk.27

For the full harassment framework, see Harassment in the Japanese Workplace: Pawahara, Sekuhara, Matahara. For escalation routes outside the company, see Employment-Dispute Paths.

No general anti-discrimination statute​

The Understanding Promotion Act states the principle that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is unacceptable, but the government's overview of its basic plan contains no penalty or prohibition mechanism.6 MHLW's fair-hiring guidance includes a pamphlet telling employers not to exclude specific people such as sexual minorities; it is awareness material rather than an enforceable rule.27

On 2023-07-11 the Supreme Court held that restricting a transgender female employee of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry from using women's restrooms was unlawful.28 That case concerned a national civil servant, so it does not set a rule for private employers. See The Limited Statutory Protection for the wider picture.

Being out at work: realistic patterns​

Employers differ widely. The government's basic plan notes that some people cannot disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity even to family for fear of negative reactions, and that employers' initiatives vary.6

The PRIDE指標 (PRIDE shihyō, "PRIDE Index"), run by the general incorporated association work with Pride, assesses how mature a company's LGBTQ+ workplace initiatives are. In 2025, 931 companies applied and 750 received the Gold rating (as of 2025-11-14).29 A rating reflects published initiatives, so treat it as a signal when researching an employer rather than a guarantee about a particular team.

Health care​

Finding affirming providers and sexual health services​

保健所 (hokenjo, "public health centers") offer HIV testing free and anonymously, and the ministry's HIV testing Q&A describes a same-day test with results in about 20 minutes (undated page, checked 2026-10-10; confirm current services with your local public health center).30 Saitama Prefecture's health centers, for example, test free and anonymously on weekdays for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and hepatitis B and C, with items varying by site (as of 2026-07-28).31

Truvada was approved in Japan for HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on 2024-08-28.32 PrEP is preventive and not covered by public health insurance; a monthly cost above ¥70,000 without insurance was reported (as of 2024-08).33

For clinics, testing options, and English-language care, see STI Testing and Sexual Health Services in Japan and English-Speaking Mental Health Providers.

Gender-affirming care and insurance coverage​

Gender-affirming surgery performed in line with the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology guideline has been covered by health insurance since 2018-04, limited to physicians and facilities certified by the GID Society (as of 2018-11-17).34 Hormone therapy was 自費診療 (jihi shinryō, "self-pay treatment") when four medical societies jointly requested its coverage in 2018 (as of 2018-11-17).34

Practitioner sources describe a mixed-billing rule: patients who have already received self-pay hormone therapy fall under mixed billing, so no treatment for the condition is insurance-covered for them (as of 2026-02-21).35 Yamanashi University Hospital, for example, treats surgery for patients with a hormone history as self-pay, with insurance currently applying only to mastectomy before hormones start (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).36

Starting hormones can affect surgical coverage

Because of the mixed-billing rule described above, the order in which you start treatments can decide whether later surgery is insurance-covered.3536 Confirm the current coverage position with a certified clinic before you begin self-pay hormone therapy.

No change to the hormone-therapy or mixed-billing position was identified in the sources checked (as of 2026-10-10). Confirm the details with the clinic that will treat you.

Mental health support​

The よりそいホットライン (Yorisoi Hottorain, "Yorisoi Hotline") at 0120-279-338 is free and open 24 hours a day, year-round; press 4 after the guidance for the sexual-minority line (as of 2026-09-18).37 The government's basic plan names it as a line that also handles consultations concerning sexual minorities.6

For younger people, にじーず (Nijīzu, "Nijiiz") serves LGBT youth aged 10 to 23, and つながるにじいろonライン (Tsunagaru Nijiiro Onrain, "Tsunagaru Nijiiro Online") runs LGBTQ chat consultation via LINE (as of 2026-09-18).37 Pride House Tokyo Legacy runs a free, anonymous chat consultation service, LGBTQ+ Inochi no Sōdan (as of 2026-05-01).38

For emergency numbers and general crisis lines, see Crisis Resources in Japan.

TermReadingMeaning
性同一性障害特例法Seidōitsusei Shōgai Tokurei-hōThe GID Special Cases Act39
性別の取扱いの変更seibetsu no toriatsukai no henkōChange in legal gender status40
外観要件gaikan yōkenAppearance requirement41
戸籍kosekiFamily register, the civil-status record for Japanese nationals42

Japan's legal gender change runs under the Act on Special Cases in Handling Gender Status for Persons with Gender Identity Disorder (Act No. 111 of 2003). Article 3 requires a family-court ruling and lists the conditions: age 18 or older, not currently married, no minor children, no gonads or permanent lack of gonadal function, genital appearance resembling the other sex, and a physician's diagnosis.39

After the ruling, the person is treated as the other sex under the Civil Code and other laws unless otherwise provided, and prior family relations and rights are unaffected.43 On 2023-10-25 the Supreme Court Grand Bench held that the gonad (sterilization) requirement violates Article 13 of the Constitution and is invalid, although the statute text itself has not been amended.4039

The appearance requirement remains in the Act's text, with no amendment identified (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current law with the courts or the Ministry of Justice).39 Courts have narrowed it case by case: in July 2024 the Hiroshima High Court approved a change without surgery, finding that hormone therapy had produced the required appearance and that requiring surgery in every case may be unconstitutional.44 The Tokyo High Court (reported 2025-11-11) held that applying the requirement to an applicant after about 27 years of hormone therapy was unconstitutional and approved the change.41

The procedure itself is built on the koseki. You file at the family court for your address, with all family-register records from birth to the present and diagnoses by two or more physicians; the fee is ¥800 in revenue stamps plus postage (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).40

The koseki is compiled for Japanese nationals and is the only system that also certifies Japanese nationality.42 Because the procedure requires koseki records, foreign nationals generally cannot use it in practice, and a change in legal gender for a foreign resident follows the home country's records; no source states this exclusion explicitly, so confirm your own situation with a professional.4042

Once your home country has changed your sex marker, Japan's side is a residence-card update. A mid- to long-term resident whose sex changes must notify ISA within 14 days under Article 19-10 of the Immigration Control Act; there is no fee, and evidence includes the updated passport, a birth certificate, a court judgment, or similar (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).45

The new passport and residence card start a cascade of other records, from bank accounts to the resident record. See Updating the Name on a Residence Card and Name on Residence Card, Passport, and Katakana Records for how that cascade works.

Where national law stands​

Marriage-equality lawsuits and the Supreme Court​

On 2026-03-25 the Supreme Court's Third Petty Bench referred six same-sex marriage damages suits to the Grand Bench of all 15 justices, the first time the Grand Bench will address same-sex marriage.146 Five high courts (Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Osaka) had found the current law unconstitutional, while a separate Tokyo High Court division found it constitutional.1

The last of the six high-court rulings, in the second Tokyo suit, came on 2025-11-28 and denied damages.47 No ruling date has been announced (as of 2026-10-10; confirm the status with the Supreme Court of Japan).1

Same-Sex Marriage Status in Japan follows the litigation in detail, including the courts, partnership certificates, and visa paths for international couples. Domestic Partnerships and the Future of Marriage Law covers de facto union rights, the limits of municipal certificates, and the wider marriage-law reform debate.

The 2023 LGBT Understanding Promotion Act and its basic plan​

The LGBT Understanding Promotion Act, member-initiated legislation, was promulgated and took effect on 2023-06-23.6 Its first basic plan was approved by Cabinet decision on 2026-06-16.48

According to the government's overview, the plan sets the principle that everyone is respected as an individual regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and that discrimination on those grounds is unacceptable.6 Its measures include:

  • Academic research and regular surveys of public awareness.6
  • Leaflets and training videos for local governments, and knowledge-sharing with medical and welfare facilities.6
  • Sharing corporate examples for workplaces, and consultation systems within national government bodies.6
  • School counselors, and hotlines including the Yorisoi Hotline.6

The overview contains no penalty or prohibition mechanism.6 Implementation status is to be published once a year and the plan reviewed about every three years, and annual implementation reports have been published for FY2023 and FY2024 (as of 2026-10-10).648

Partial recognition in specific laws​

On 2024-03-26 the Supreme Court's Third Petty Bench held that a crime victim's same-sex partner can fall within "a person who had not registered a marriage but was in circumstances similar to a marital relationship" under the Crime Victims Benefit Act, making the partner eligible for survivor benefits.49

The government then reviewed other statutes using similar "de facto marriage" wording. On 2025-01-21 the Cabinet Secretariat listed 24 laws and cabinet orders in which same-sex partners "can be included," among them the DV Prevention Act, the Crime Victims Benefit Act, the Land and Building Lease Act, and the Public Housing Act (as of 2025-01-21).5051

The consolidated list of 2025-09-30 added 9 more, including the Disaster Condolence Grant Act, the Firearms and Swords Control Act, and the Anti-Organized Crime Act, for 33 in total (as of 2025-09-30).18 A separate list of laws where same-sex partners were not found to be includable covers areas such as civil-servant pay and leave, income tax, pensions, health insurance, workers' compensation, and child-care leave (as of 2025-09-30).18

Community and support organizations​

Stonewall Japan is a volunteer-run community organization for Japan's LGBTQIA+ international community, with roots in 1988 among JET Programme participants (undated page, checked 2026-10-10; confirm current activities with Stonewall Japan).52 Nijiiro Diversity, a certified NPO, runs Pride Center Osaka, which opened in 2022-04 and reported 5,047 visitors, 329 in-person and online consultations, and 1,327 LINE consultations (data as of 2025-10-31).53

Pride House Tokyo Legacy in Shinjuku is a permanent LGBTQ+ center opened in 2020-10, with a library and multipurpose space.38 Its own page lists free lounge, information, and consultation services, with events and space rental marked as in preparation (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).54

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) runs human-rights consultation lines, including one in foreign languages.5556 Municipalities also run their own consultation desks; Nagano Prefecture's published list is one example (as of 2026-09-18).37

ServiceContactHours and languagesAs of
MOJ Minna no Jinken 110-ban (みんなの人権110番)0570-003-110; press 4 for other human-rights issuesWeekdays 8:30–17:15, JapaneseUndated page, checked 2026-10-1055
MOJ foreign-language human rights hotline0570-090-911; online consultation also availableWeekdays 9:00–17:00; English, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Spanish, Indonesian, ThaiUndated page, checked 2026-10-1056

For how the MOJ line handles cases, see The Ministry of Justice Human Rights Hotline. For the wider landscape of foreign-resident groups, see The Foreign-Resident Community Structure.

Good to know​

A certificate is not an immigration or tax document​

A partnership certificate does not work like a marriage certificate. It does not unlock the spousal tax deduction, which requires a Civil Code spouse; it does not make your partner a statutory heir; and no source shows ISA accepting it as a basis for a spouse-type status of residence.21222324

Moving can cancel your certificate​

Tokyo requires a notification when you no longer meet its residence, work, or study requirement, and Shibuya requires you to return the certificate when either partner moves out (Tokyo rule checked 2026-10-10; Shibuya page as of 2026-07-24; confirm current rules with your issuing municipality).109 Check whether your old and new jurisdictions have a reciprocity agreement before you sign a lease.

Reciprocity coverage differs by network. Osaka's removes the return, the repeat oath, and the repeat single-status proof between partner jurisdictions (as of 2026-10-01), while Tokyo's covers four neighboring prefectures and waives repeat single-status proof (undated page, checked 2026-10-10).1617

Moving into Shibuya means new notarial deeds, at a total of about ¥15,000–70,000 per the ward's undated comparison sheet, partly offset by the ward's subsidy (as of 2026-07-24).314

Paperwork can out you​

Health-insurance dependent applications, company housing, family allowances, hospital forms, and the resident record can all reveal a relationship. Under the MHLW guideline, disclosing a worker's sexual orientation or gender identity without consent is listed as power harassment, so ask how your information will be shared before you file (as of 2026-10-01).7

The 住民票 (jūminhyō, "resident record") is handled differently by each municipality. From 2024-11-01, Setagaya Ward lets partners in the same household who made a partnership oath request that the relationship field show 夫（未届）/妻（未届） (otto (mitodoke) / tsuma (mitodoke), "husband/wife, unregistered") or 縁故者 (enkosha, "related person") (as of 2024-10-28).12

Setagaya states the notation has no legal effect; data shared with other services and agencies shows 同居人 (dōkyonin, "co-resident") or 縁故者 instead, and these records cannot be issued at convenience stores or by other municipalities (as of 2024-10-28).12 Nakano Ward offers a similar 夫（未届）/妻（未届） notation as a Nakano-specific arrangement that is not proof of de facto marriage; both partners must appear, and copies are then available only at the ward office, by post, or electronically (as of 2026-09-18).57

A marriage from abroad does not create spousal status in Japan​

A same-sex marriage valid abroad does not make your partner a spouse under Japanese immigration rules. According to the Tokyo Bar Association's summary of the 2013 notice, a same-sex spouse does not qualify for Dependent status even when the marriage is valid abroad.23

The same gap applies to national tax and social insurance. Tax, pension, and health-insurance statutes are on the government's list of laws where same-sex partners were not found to be includable (as of 2025-09-30).18

Experiences vary by region and visibility​

Initiatives by local governments and employers vary, as the government's own basic plan acknowledges.6 Population coverage of 92.5% still leaves some municipalities without any partnership system (as of 2025-05-31).2 For coping and recourse strategies when recognition falls short, see Resilience and Recourse Strategies.

See also​

References​

Footnotes​

  1. 時事ドットコム. 「同性婚６訴訟、大法廷に回付 高裁判決割れる、統一判断へ―最高裁」. 2026-03-25. https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2026032500878&g=soc ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  2. 渋谷区・認定NPO法人虹色ダイバーシティ (press release via Digital PR Platform). 「10年間で人口カバー率9割を突破、全国に広がるパートナーシップ制度を渋谷区とNPOが共同調査 最新の導入自治体・登録件数を発表」. 2025-06-27. https://digitalpr.jp/r/112799 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. 渋谷区. 「東京都、渋谷区パートナーシップ証明書制度の比較」 (PDF, undated). https://files.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/assets/12995aba8b194961be709ba879857f70/295bc436c4464ae0af1dc7f862aa6240/hikaku.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22

  4. nippon.com (Japan Data). 「パートナーシップ制度：25年5月時点で人口カバー率9割超す 発足10年で530自治体が導入」. 2025. https://www.nippon.com/ja/japan-data/h02465/ ↩ ↩2

  5. 渋谷区. 「全国パートナーシップ制度共同調査」. Shibuya City website (updated 2026-01-30; page states the FY2025 round is the last). https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/kusei/shisaku/lgbt/kyodochosa.html ↩

  6. 内閣府. "Basic Plan for Promoting Public Understanding of the Diversity of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity" (overview, provisional translation, PDF). https://www8.cao.go.jp/rikaizoshin/kihon/pdf/e_gaiyo.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13

  7. 厚生労働省 (法令等データベース). 「事業主が職場における優越的な関係を背景とした言動に起因する問題に関して雇用管理上講ずべき措置等についての指針」 (令和2年厚生労働省告示第5号, consolidated text noting amendments effective 2026-10-01). https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=00011660&dataType=0&pageNo=1 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  8. 東京都総務局人権部. 「東京都パートナーシップ宣誓制度」 (system overview page, undated). https://www.soumu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/10jinken/sesaku/sonchou/partnership ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  9. 渋谷区. 「渋谷区パートナーシップ証明」 (updated 2026-07-24). https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/kusei/shisaku/lgbt/partnership.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  10. 東京都. 「東京都パートナーシップ宣誓制度に関する規則」 (例規集). https://www.reiki.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/reiki/reiki_honbun/g101RG00005216.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  11. 大阪府. 「『大阪府パートナーシップ宣誓証明制度』について」 (updated 2026-07-01). https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/o070020/jinken/sogi_partnership/index.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14

  12. 世田谷区. 「パートナーシップ宣誓等を行った方の住民票の続柄変更に関する手続」 (updated 2024-10-28). https://www.city.setagaya.lg.jp/02233/19827.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  13. 東京都総務局人権部. 「東京都パートナーシップ宣誓制度（届出希望の方向け）」 (undated page). https://www.soumu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/10jinken/sesaku/sonchou/partnership/partnership01 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  14. 渋谷区. 「渋谷区パートナーシップ証明書取得助成金」 (updated 2026-07-24). https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/kusei/shisaku/lgbt/shomeisho_josei.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  15. 日本公証人連合会. 「Ｑ 22. 任意後見契約公正証書を作成する費用は、いくらでしょうか？」. https://www.koshonin.gr.jp/notary/ow04/4-q22 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  16. 大阪府. 「パートナーシップ宣誓証明制度 自治体間連携について」. https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/o070020/jinken/patoner/index.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  17. 東京都総務局人権部. 「東京都パートナーシップ宣誓制度（都外自治体との連携）」. https://www.soumu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/10jinken/sesaku/sonchou/partnership/partnership04 ↩ ↩2

  18. 内閣官房. 「法律及び政令における『事実上婚姻関係と同様の事情にあつた者』と同一又は類似の文言を含む規定での同性パートナーの取扱いの取りまとめについて」 (PDF, 2025-09-30). https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/houdou/pdf/20250930.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  19. 厚生労働省 (人生の最終段階における医療の普及・啓発の在り方に関する検討会). 「人生の最終段階における医療・ケアの決定プロセスに関するガイドライン 解説編」. Revised 2018-03. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-10800000-Iseikyoku/0000197722.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  20. 東京都総務局人権部. 「東京都パートナーシップ宣誓制度（事業者等の皆様へ）」 (hospital list as of 2026-05-01; business lists as of 2026-07-31). https://www.soumu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/10jinken/sesaku/sonchou/partnership/partnership02 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  21. 国税庁. 「No.1191 配偶者控除」 (タックスアンサー). https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/taxanswer/shotoku/1191.htm ↩ ↩2

  22. e-Gov法令検索. 民法 (明治二十九年法律第八十九号) 第890条. https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/api/2/law_data/129AC0000000089?elm=MainProvision-Article_890&response_format=xml ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  23. 東京弁護士会 性の平等に関する委員会. 「同性パートナーの在留資格（2022年12月9日号）」. https://www.toben.or.jp/know/iinkai/seibyoudou/column/2022129.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  24. 行政書士法人第一綜合事務所. Column on same-sex spouses and the Designated Activities status (published 2022-11-14, updated 2025-10-08). https://dsg.or.jp/column/other-visas/861/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  25. 日本経済新聞. 「日米同性婚、在留資格認めぬ判断『違法』 訴えは認めず」. 2022-09-30. https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUE273AN0X20C22A9000000/ ↩

  26. 日本経済新聞. 「日米同性婚で『特定活動不許可』は不合理 東京高裁」. 2023-11-02. https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUE0161N0R01C23A1000000/ ↩

  27. 厚生労働省. 「性的マイノリティに関する理解増進に向けて～厚生労働省の取組～」. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/koyou/shougaishakoyou/index_00007.html ↩ ↩2

  28. CNN.co.jp. Report on the Supreme Court ruling in the METI transgender employee restroom case. 2023-07-12. https://www.cnn.co.jp/world/35206472.html ↩

  29. HRプロ. 「work with Prideが『PRIDE指標2025』と『レインボー認定』結果を発表」. 2025-11-17 (results announced 2025-11-14). https://www.hrpro.co.jp/keiei/articles/news/3655 ↩

  30. 厚生労働省 HIV検査・相談マップ. 「HIV検査 Q&A」. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/hivkensa/knowledge/question/ ↩

  31. 埼玉県. HIV/AIDS and STI testing information page (掲載日 2026-07-28). https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a0701/kansen/aidsinfo.html ↩

  32. ギリアド・サイエンシズ (press release via Kyodo News PR Wire). Truvada approval for HIV-1 PrEP in Japan. 2024-08-28. https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/202408275444 ↩

  33. AnswersNews. Article on Truvada PrEP approval and insurance status. 2024-08. https://answers.and-pro.jp/pharmanews/28830/ ↩

  34. 日本精神神経学会・日本形成外科学会・日本産科婦人科学会・日本泌尿器科学会. 「性同一性障害に対するホルモン療法の保険適用に関する要望」. 2018-11-17. https://www.jspn.or.jp/uploads/uploads/files/activity/gid20181117.pdf ↩ ↩2

  35. 三原誠・原尚子・百澤明. 「性別適合手術が保険適用になった後の現状について」. Web医事新報 (日本医事新報社), 2019-12-16, updated 2026-02-21. https://www.jmedj.co.jp/journal/paper/detail.php?id=13578 ↩ ↩2

  36. 山梨大学医学部 形成外科. 「性別不合（性同一性障害）の外科治療」 (undated). https://www.med.yamanashi.ac.jp/medicine/plasticsurg/gid.html ↩ ↩2

  37. 長野県. 「性の多様性に関する相談窓口・相談機関など」 (updated 2026-09-18). https://www.pref.nagano.lg.jp/jinken-danjo/sogi/soudan.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  38. Time Out Tokyo. 「プライドハウス東京レガシー」 (listing dated 2026-05-01). https://www.timeout.jp/tokyo/ja/things-to-do/pride-house-tokyo-legacy ↩ ↩2

  39. e-Gov法令検索. 性同一性障害者の性別の取扱いの特例に関する法律 (平成十五年法律第百十一号) 第3条. https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/api/2/law_data/415AC0100000111?elm=MainProvision-Article_3&response_format=xml ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  40. 裁判所. 「性別の取扱いの変更」 (家事審判の申立て案内). https://www.courts.go.jp/saiban/syurui/syurui_kazi/kazi_06_23/index.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  41. 日本経済新聞. 「性別変更時の外観要件適用は『違憲』、東京高裁が判断」. 2025-11-11. https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUF115560R11C25A1000000/ ↩ ↩2

  42. 法務省 民事局. 「戸籍」. https://www.moj.go.jp/MINJI/koseki.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  43. e-Gov法令検索. 同法 第4条. https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/api/2/law_data/415AC0100000111?elm=MainProvision-Article_4&response_format=xml ↩

  44. JURIST (Lois Min). "Japan high court approves non-surgically confirmed female identification of transgender woman." 2024-07-11. https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/07/japan-high-court-approves-non-surgically-confirmed-female-identification-of-transgender-woman/ ↩

  45. 出入国在留管理庁. 「住居地以外の在留カード記載事項の変更届出」. https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00009.html ↩

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  47. 秋田魁新報 (共同通信配信). 「同性婚、二審も損害賠償認めず 東京第2次、高裁判決出そろう」. 2025-11-28. https://www.sakigake.jp/news/article/20251128CO0054/ ↩

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  50. 内閣官房副長官補室. 「法律及び政令における『事実上婚姻関係と同様の事情にあつた者』と同一又は類似の文言を含む規定での同性パートナーの取扱いについて」 (press page dated 2025-01-27, referencing 2025-01-21 materials). https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/houdou/20250121.html ↩

  51. 内閣官房. 同上 attachment (PDF, 2025-01-21). https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/houdou/pdf/20250121.pdf ↩

  52. Stonewall Japan. "Stonewall Japan History." https://stonewalljapan.org/history/ ↩

  53. 認定NPO法人虹色ダイバーシティ (press release via Digital PR Platform). Pride Center Osaka 3.5-year report (data as of 2025-10-31). 2025-11-17. https://digitalpr.jp/r/122617 ↩

  54. プライドハウス東京. 「プライドハウス東京レガシー 常設の総合LGBTQセンター」 (undated). https://pridehouse.jp/legacy/ ↩

  55. 法務省 人権擁護局. 「常設相談所（法務局・地方法務局・支局内）」. https://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken20.html ↩ ↩2

  56. 法務省 人権擁護局. 「外国人のための人権相談」. https://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken21.html ↩ ↩2

  57. 中野区. 「パートナーシップ宣誓を行った方の住民票の続柄変更に関する手続」 (updated 2026-09-18). https://www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/kurashi/koseki/jyuminhyo/douseipa-tona-.html ↩