Japan's Ministry of Health late last month ordered hotels, inns and love hotels not to refuse guests "on grounds of their sexual orientation or gender identity," according to New Now Next.

The directive also warned establishments to "take proper care of them" and not force them to sleep in separate beds or rooms.

Love hotels, at which you can rent a room by the hour, are popular in big cities in Japan where people often live in small apartments with their families. 

Gay couples, however, often report being turned away from such establishments.

Japan has made significant progress on LGBT rights in recent years, including a number of prefectures registering same-sex unions, but remains a traditional and conservative society.