Generally how accepting are the Japanese of Western people?

Question

I hear that some places forbid Westerners... true? I don't think its bad because they are just preserving their culture from outsiders -- look at England and what happened when it let foreigners in.

So generally how are foreigners treated in Japan?

Answer 1

Well, I lived in Japan for two years so I feel a bit qualified to answer. On the surface, they are a very polite culture. Inside, they really don't want any outsiders there at all. I taught English to Japanese Gov't Employees ( middle aged - mid to high level civil servants ) and they became comfortable enough with me to let me know what they ( Japanese in general ) felt about gaijin. In short, they really want their country to themselves. They are terribly racist regarding other Asian peoples, and they positively hate the Chinese. They have "American Envy" to the nth degree, but still don't want them in the country. I lived in the same area in old Tokyo for two years straight, went to the same local gym and swimming pool every week for two years and even though I saw the same people there for the two years, they still wouldn't even look at me when I went there - let alone talk to me. (Just as an aside, I am not a monster to look at. I have been an actor in the past and have been on TV and in movies) I did visit a sento many many times and while I was allowed in ( I always went with my GF ) not once in two years did any of the other men in there even try to speak to me. I was always as polite as I could be, used the proper Japanese for greetings etc, but they are a very closed culture. I am very well travelled and an open person, but I lost a lot of respect for the Japanese just for their attitudes towards other races. I know now how things like the Rape of Nanking could have happened. That said, if you are a foreign man, you will have no trouble whatsoever 'getting together' with a Japanese woman. They are the most sex-starved women in the world, as the men literally work themselves to death, and then go drinking afterwards! Tongue-in-cheek, but it's like that. I always tell people that Japan is a place that everyone should see, but living there is another thing altogether.

Answer 2

As a traveler, you will generally be treated politely. Hospitality is a big part of Japanese culture and even if you make a faux pas it will most likely be overlooked. Outside the big cities, you may be a bit of an oddity and attract attention. In Tokyo, Osaka, etc. there are enough foreigners that people don't bat an eye. Japanese tend to be more reserved in public which might come off as being rude, but it's just a cultural difference.

There aren't any places that exclude Westerners that I am aware of, but there are places were you might feel out of place - such as a local bath house. Some clubs have a restricted membership list, such as high-end places with real geisha. You're unlikely to encounter such places as a tourist, however.

Answer 3

The only places about which I've heard / seen PROOF of them banning Westerners, are those which have had / can reasonably EXPECT to have, problems with Westerners.

The most obvious example being the sentou and the onsen! Imagine the problems and embarrassment that could be caused by a well-meaning gaijin waltzing into one of those places without understanding the etiquette ... and THEN imagine the chaos and anger that would be caused if a few gaijin went there a bit 'the worse for wear' so to speak (drunk, in other words,) and started taking the p!$$ out of the Japanese clients! Now you must be able to understand why SOME sentou and onsen find it necessary to ban unaccompanied foreigners! Some might just have an outright ban - but you can bet that the proprietor has had SERIOUS problems with gaijin in the past to do such a thing!!

The other places which are very likely to have a gaijin ban are bars / clubs. I'm sure you don't need ME to tell you that trouble follows alcohol around like a bad smell, so you won't be surprised that trouble starts in bars and clubs. When a Japanese crowd starts trouble, they can at the very LEAST be reasoned with! But when a gaijin, or a crowd of gaijin, start problems then HOW is the Japanese bar owner supposed to reason with them? The language barrier might be solvable in normal circumstances, but once you add alcohol you can forget any semblance of reason!

I'm English, and despite living in Japan for more than 3 years I've never been barred from anywhere - but I don't go to bars, clubs or sentou, and I've only been to onsen with my Japanese husband, which qualifies me as 'accompanied'!!

BTW, your first answer has a point! These things work both ways - and unfortunately they usually manage to work negatively both ways..!

Answer 4

I tend to agree with yozora-any time you see a "no foreigner" sign that joint has probably been either trashed or stiffed by some gaijin. However, Japan has no choice but to be welcoming to foreigners due to the extremely low birth rate, so folks might as well learn to get along. If they want to preserve their culture they need to start making some babies. There was some guy in Hokkaido who sued a sento for not letting him in. He won the case but the settlement drove the place into bankruptcy so he never did get his bath.

Answer 5

Well I guess it depends on what your race is.
Unfortunately there is racism in Japan and I think most places will not ban you outwardly if you are caucasian but if you are mid-eastern or Asian descent then I think you'll be treated a little differently than the other westerners.
Other than that, I agree with most of the answers above.

Answer 6

It depends, when i lived there they accepted us right in because the u treat them. If u walk in and treat them in bad ways they wont like u. also some of the older people will gosip about you

Answer 7

And look at what happened to all of those countries that Britain invaded...

Answer 8

Very, its still the late eighties or early nineties over there, just watch their news,