Japan is seen as an interesting, special, and traditional country by many people. However, it’s also known for being very closed when it comes to immigration and the presence of foreigners. Even though tourism has increased a lot in the last decades, there are still places where foreigners aren’t welcomed. So, let’s learn a Japanese tour guide’s opinion on why this is happening.
Japan doesn’t want foreigners
Shuhei, known on TikTok as @shuheiogawa769, works as a tour guide and he talks in Spanish about Japanese life and culture. In one of his most recent videos, he explains why in certain places in Japan foreigners aren’t allowed to go.
Many people, mostly tourists, think this is just due to racism, and Shuhei clarifies this is one of the reasons. However, he also added something important: although part is due to discrimination, Japanese strict social rules also have something to do with it because most of the times tourists don’t know or don’t understand since they haven’t grown up in the country.
Why tourists misunderstand the situation
Japanese business owners may worry that a foreign visitor will:
Not understand local social rules
Have difficulty following instructions in Japanese
Disturb the calm atmosphere for other customers
Repeat mistakes made by previous tourists
In many cases, it’s not a personal rejection, but a way to protect the traditional environment of the business.
Strict social rules
According to Shuhei, Japanese culture has very strict social rules when it comes to how to behave in public places. This can be seen particularly in small places like traditional restaurants. The tour guide explains that some tourists, even with no bad intentions, speak too loud, make noise, or behave in a way it’s considered disrespectful in Japan. For their culture, these actions can be seen as very serious.
Shuhei even commented that if one of the tourists he goes with does anything like it, the owner of the restaurant could kick them out immediately. Some owners can even say things like ‘’if I see your face again, I’m going to hit you’’ to show how strict they can be. This doesn’t mean they would actually do it, but I’m sure many people will take them seriously and don’t do it again.
Not all tourists
Despite what we have just mentioned, Shuhei insists on something very important: most tourists don’t do anything wrong. Most people who visit Japan do it with respect and with no intention to break any rule. Unfortunately, due to fear or past experiences, some owners choose to not allow foreigners in, to avoid potential conflicts.
However, he also recognizes he doesn’t feel capable of asking the owners to change their rules, because his job as a tour guide is to explain why all of this happens; not to demand changes.
So…
Some places in Japan do not accept foreigners for two main reasons: racism and strict Japanese social rules, especially regarding behavior in public spaces. Understanding these cultural differences helps visitors avoid misunderstandings and enjoy their trip more fully.
Japan remains a fascinating country, but knowing how social expectations work can make the experience much smoother and more respectful. I mean, when we travel we tend to learn new things about other cultures, right? So, what better way to do it than getting informed about it before going to a certain place and following that specific culture and traditions.
AloJapan.com