Find Out What Japan Really Thinks of Foreign Tourists

Generally speaking, foreigners in Japan are treated well. The country is famous for its hospitality and politeness, called omotenashi (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.

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 foreigner 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.

I personally don't feel that Japan as an overtly racist society. I have been faced with racial discrimination, but I have never experienced a direct racist attack. For example:

• Racial discrimination: I have been rejected from entering some businesses because I am a foreigner.
• Racist attack: I have never been openly abused for being a foreigner on the street.

However, reports of racial profiling by Japanese police has been on the rise since 2024. This is seen as a reaction to the increased number of foreigners moving to Japan.

• Japan is not a racially diverse country.
• Japanese nationals make up 97.5% of Japan's population.
• Chinese migrants make up the largest racial minority with only 0.6% of the population.
  
  

Citizens of Japan are protected by racial discrimination under the Japanese constitution. However, foreigners in Japan who are NOT citizens, but living in Japan, are not protected against racial discrimination under the law or constitution.

Often when you do experience racial discrimination in Japan, it is expressed as passive aggressive xenophobia. Here are some examples that I have experienced:

• Entering an empty bar and being told that the bar is fully booked out, so you cannot stay.
• Some restaurants only accept Japanese customers.
• Train staff ignoring your questions or concerns.
• Restaurants and bars over-charging foreigners (this one has discussed in the 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.