Find Out What Japan Really Thinks of Foreign Tourists

You finally start planning your dream trip to Japan. But you've heard news about overtourism in Japan and now you are worried. What do Japanese people really think about foreign tourists?


After reading this article you will better understand how Japanese people view others. This article will uncover common Japanese attitudes. It will help you feel more confident about your upcoming trip. Please share your opinions or experiences about this topic. Be sure to leave a comment below, in the comment section.

1. Revealing the Japanese Mindset

To better understand Japan, you need to know it is a high uncertainty avoidance culture. What does this mean?

• Japanese people are more likely to: avoid things that are unfamiliar them. They can triggers feelings of discomfort.
• Japanese people are more likely to: stick with what they know to avoid feelings of comfort and safety.
  

Because of this, many Japanese people are unfamiliar with foreign cultures. Meeting foreigners can make some Japanese people feel nervous or uncomfortable.

2. What Do Japanese People Think of Foreign Tourists?

I want to make this very clear, Japanese people do NOT hate foreign tourists. If that were true, I wouldn't want to live in Japan.

• Curious about foreigners: When you travel around Japan, you will discover that Japanese people are largely interested in you.
• Asking foreigners questions: You will find that Japanese people are happy to strike up a conversation and may want to ask you questions about yourself.
• Want foreigners to learn Japanese culture: When you talk to people, you realize that Japanese people want to share their culture with foreign people. It makes them happy to see non-Japanese people picking up the language and customs.
  
  

Many Japanese views about foreign people is based off stereotypes. Sadly, many foreign tourists feed these stereotypes. Here are a few examples:

1. Foreigners are noisy: You might be excited bout riding the Tokyo subway or visiting a temple in Kyoto. Remember to mind how loud you are talking. Japanese people are very careful not to disturb people around them.
2. Foreigners are rude: Social media has captured a small number of tourists behaving badly. Partly to blame is the rise of social media streamers who take advantage of Japanese politeness.
3. Foreigners cause crimes: In 2023, only 5% of arrests in Japan involved foreigners. However, cases that involve foreign tourist have grabbed a lot of media (see part 7 of this article).
4. Foreign people are scary: Tourist in Japan can seem scary to Japanese people. Tattoos are common but in Western societies. However, in Japan, tattoos are traditionally connected with criminals.
   
   
   

3. How Are Tourists Treated in Japan?

Generally speaking, foreign tourists are treated well in Japan. The country is famous for its hospitality and politeness, called omotenahi (御持て成し). It is the cultural concept of looking after guests and see that their needs are met in a considerate manner.

Omotenashi captures the essence of providing service with a sincere attitude. This means that tourists are seen as guests and treated with respect and courtesy. Visitors to Japan are usually left with a positive impression of Japanese people.

4. Are Japanese People Friendly?

As a tourist, you will most most likely be left with the impression that the people of Japan are very hospitable, friendly, and welcoming. However, I argue that much of the friendly attitude you experience as a tourist in Japan is actually politeness. Here is why:

• Wa (和) - harmony: Japanese culture in centered around the concept of 'wa'. It is concerned with social balance, which creates harmony.
• Honne (本音): Honne is your true self. The face that you reserve for only your family and your closest friends. Your honne will be kept from everyone else.
• Tatemae (建前): Tatemae is the self you show to others outside your inner circle. This is the most polite and friendly version of yourself that everyone else sees. This is the face that tourists will most likely experience.

If you want to know more about the Japanese concept of self, check out our article on honne and tatemae.

5. Is Japan Racist?

I personally don't feel that Japan as an overtly racist society. Of course there is racism in Japan, just like anywhere else around the world. However, outspoken racism is not common in Japan and usually only characteristic of right-wing national extremists.

Systemically racist policies do exist and have specifically targeted Zainichi Koreans (Korean nationals who moved to Japan during the Korean occupation, 1910-1945) for decades and are still being fought against today.

As a country, Japan experienced hundreds of years in isolation (during the Tokugawa period; 1603–1867). In Japan, xenophobia, the fear of outsiders, is a common form of discrimination. More than racism.

Often when you do experience xenophobic attitudes in Japan, it is expressed as passive aggression. For example, entering an empty bar and being told that the bar is fully booked out, so you cannot stay. Some places are more direct and might tell you that they only accept Japanese customers.

6. Tourists in the Japanese Media

Sadly, some foreign tourists have ignored Japanese laws and customs. This has created a negative impression of tourism Japan for locals. Here are several examples:

1. In Fukuoka, at Nanzo-in Temple, tourists take photos for Instagram in front of a larger-than-life Buddha. This became a problem when tourists began to behave badly. This included sticking chewing gum to the Buddha, bathing in the sacred waterfall, and blasting loud music. 
2. In July 2023, a 17-year-old Canadian tourist was questioned by police after scratching his name into the 1200-year-old Toshodaiji Temple in the city of Nara.
3. In 2019, a 23-year-old Australian man was arrested after being caught scrawling the tag, “Ghost” on a sign owned by the city of Kyoto. The man was charged with multiple cases of property damage.

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