LGBT rights in Ibaraki Prefecture

Ibaraki Prefecture was the first prefecture of Japan and in the Kantō region to introduce a partnership registry for same-sex couples, as well as the second in the country to pass LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections.

Recognition of same-sex relationships and families
In January 2019, the Government of Ibaraki Prefecture announced it was considering introducing a partnership system for same-sex couples in April 2019. In March 2019, Governor Kazuhiko Ōigawa expressed his personal support for the introduction of such a scheme. The Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly began examining legislation to this effect in June 2019. The prefecture has offered partnership certificates since July 1, 2019, which made it the first prefecture to do so. As of June 2022, at least 71 partnerships were registered in Ibaraki Prefecture.

On 18 August 2022, the Ibaraki prefectural government announced they would recognize Saga Prefecture's partnership certificates, becoming the first prefectures to do so. Similar agreements were signed by Ibaraki with Tochigi and Gunma on 20 December, Mie on 31 January 2023, and Toyama.on September 4, 2023. An agreement was signed by the prefecture with the city of Saitama in Saitama Prefecture on October 30, 2023.

Discrimination protections
In March 2019, legislation banning discrimination against "sexual minorities" was passed in Ibaraki Prefecture.