I've just seen a video about signs in front of bars and clubs which say "No foreigners allowed" or "Japanese only". Are those common? Are there are more of those signs in countryside or in the towns?

So how likely is it to run into those when visiting japan?


best regards

I was just in Kyoto for two weeks, and spent more time walking, probably, than doing anything else. I never once saw a sign of that kind.

I will say this however, about the Pontocho, which is a particular tourist-infested area of Kyoto because there are lots of geisha [geiko] there: there is some distrust of foreigners, possibly because of a significant amount of rudeness by foreign, as well as Japanese, tourists. As a result, when I walked down the street which contained almost nothing but restaurants and tea houses, a number of the proprietors called out that they had "English menus."

I took this as code for the fact that they admitted foreigners, whereas places without such menus probably either did not admit or at least did not welcome foreigners.

Other than that, in Kyoto, I never saw anything like what you were talking about. Neither did I see it in Osaka, though I spent considerably less time there.

One other thing, and I certainly do not want to preach: in order to increase the welcome of foreigners, I think it would be great if visitors could do everything they could to be aware of the basics of Japanese manners and etiquette. They are very important to the Japanese. One great way to find out about this is on TheJapanChannel.com's "how to" playlist, on youtube. He really has some great tips, and it's worth watching all of the videos.

Hey ii do come across this. In my opinion, I think foreigners sometimes do not know their culture and cause chaos in Japan thus having this kind of thing - esp Bars & Clubs.

Not being racist, there is one bar where almost all the 'black' people always go (in Tokyo) and it's quite a mess in there.

I guess there is too much foreign perverts trying to get hand on the girls because of their strong sexual hormones.

I have never seen a sign, but I have been asked to leave the moment I entered a restaurant once. I live in a rural area and honestly people aren't as used to foreigners as they are in the big cities. I feel a huge difference in how people behave around me when I go to one of the bigger cities.

On the other side of things, the friendliest people I've ever met were in a town smaller than mine. I had made some bad travel plans (also called not doing any research and just went) and I was stuck in a tiny town for a day. I've never met nicer people anywhere!

when my brother went to Japan... he and his friend went to a "japanese only" bar... his friend is japanese... i think that if you behave your self and respect and watch their manners and copy it... never highlight your existence... haha.. doing that I think you're just fine...

now... I don't think there's too many places like this.. and they are mostly bars and nigh houses...

probably the owner of the restaurant was against gaijin... idk. they can get really racist.

we're half japanese though... my grandparents are Japanese and we we're always close to them