Maybe not northern Japan during the Winter... I deal with winter enough living in Central Oregon and now in Utah. My sister and I spent a really long time at Hasedera because it was kind of in the mountains in Nara. A lot of stairs, but it was probably the most beautiful place I've been to in Japan. Lightly raining picking up all of the forest-y smells. We tried to go to Todai-ji afterwards, but we spent so much time at Hasedera, Todai-ji was closing when we got there! Oh well, still worth it.
True, you've definitely got a point about inclusion. It's either you do or you don't. I get the need preventing het people from causing drama. When I go to drag shows or gay bars, I go there to dance and be entertained, not try to get laid - except now I have a partner, so I guess that doesn't matter much anymore. People who do do that are a major problem, though.
I've been applying for jobs at the same university for the last 2 years, and I have never gotten an interview. I'm just like, "uhhhh... you know, I have a master's degree and teaching experience at the university level." I try not to be pompous about it, but the degree is right there! I can say I'm a master at something! (My thesis was on all-female team superhero comic books and post feminism, so I guess I'm a master at that...)