Things I wish I Knew Before Traveling to Japan #2
2. Beware of Other Tourists!
Surprisingly, my most frustrating experiences in Japan haven’t been with the locals but with other tourists. While the occasional shove in crowded areas is bound to happen, I’ve had several awkward encounters with fellow travelers.
For instance, two Italian men blocked the entrance to the women’s bathroom at Don Quijote, completely oblivious to the people trying to get by. Then there was a group of tourists from Spain at a revolving sushi bar in Nakano Broadway, who kept angrily shouting “NO QUIERO ESTE” at an elderly waitress after they received something they didn’t want. It was painful to watch. I mean, yelling louder in a foreign language isn’t going to make someone magically understand you. I felt so bad for her that I ended up buying her a drink. When I need to communicate something more complex, I just use Google Translate. It’s not perfect, but it's definitely better than shouting the same words over and over.
It wasn’t just the lack of courtesy in restaurants, though. I’ve also encountered tourists who stare, make creepy advances, or completely disregard personal boundaries. Some parents couldn't control their rude children who would point and yell at anyone who looked even slightly different (and, honestly, I’ve seen adults do the same). This kind of behavior might explain why Harajuku isn’t as lively as it once was.
After a few uncomfortable experiences, I started actively avoiding large groups of tourists. I’ve always felt sympathy for the locals having to deal with unruly visitors, but now I realize we tourists also need to be mindful of each other. On the bright side, I’ve had great encounters with fellow American tourists—everyone I met was friendly and helped me feel less isolated in a foreign place!
