‘‘will locals accept foreigners in rural Japan? ‘‘ ‘‘what do locals think of foreigners?‘‘ you might wonder about these questions if you’ve ever considered moving to the countryside of Japan or if you are looking to travel to a quieter place without many tourists. well, maybe it’s a bit of sensitive topic and there isn’t a simple answer.
during, my travels, and from working with some foreigners in rural Japan, I’ve seen people living in fulfilling lives, and building good relationships with the locals. so I would like to share my thoughts on how to connect with locals, along with some stories that highlight these experiences. I hope it will be helpful in planning your own journey!
will locals accept foreigners in rural Japan?
yes, they will. sometimes they are even happy to welcome foreigners in their communities.
however, from what I’ve experienced in many towns and villages, there are several circumstances that influence how they feel. building good relationships with locals is a quite significant and inevitable thing if you want to live in a happy life in rural Japan. I suppose that’s true even for Japanese.
you don’t have to force yourself to follow all the local rules and culture
don’t get me wrong- this doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want to do. what I want to say is that locals will often welcome you, including your culture, as long as you are also considerate and respectful towards theirs.
you might’ve heard things like ‘‘rural Japan is very conservative’’ or ‘‘they’ll discriminate against you unless you follow all the local rules‘‘ but I would say that’s not an accurate way to describe how they really feel. actually many locals are curious about your culture, but they just don’t want someone disrespectful to theirs.
during my travel, I met a person who has been living in a small town for 7years, and loved by locals so much. I’d like to share her story with you because I’m sure it’ll be helpful if you are planning on moving to the countryside of Japan but also a little bit anxious about whether you can fit in there.
frida jensen
Frida Jensen is a 29-year-old woman from Denmark. She has been living in a small Japanese town (population: 200) for seven years and works for a company that organizes events and tours focused on Japanese traditions. ※a fictitious is used to protect personal information.
I met her while I was working on a farm in the Hokuriku region. My first impression was, “I’ve never seen anyone who is loved by the locals like she is.”
Every morning, when she steps outside to get some fresh air, she finds small gifts left by her neighbors—zucchinis, tomatoes, and other fresh vegetables. She says with a grateful smile, “I don’t need to go to the grocery store anymore.”
One evening, she hosted a Danish dinner for the locals, and about 30 people came to her kitchen. Some of them even started learning English just so they could talk with her and her friends in English.
why do locals love her so much?
If I had to describe it briefly, it would be this: she has a deep respect for the culture and tradition of rural Japan and the small town.
I think the key to getting along with the locals, in her case, was making an effort to learn about their culture. She’s always curious about their traditions and makes sure to include local cultural elements in the events and tours she organizes.
Of course, she doesn’t know everything about the culture, so she talks to the locals, asks questions, and shares her ideas with them. That’s when they realize how genuinely interested and respectful she is. And that’s what makes them want to support her and welcome her—even with the cultural differences.
summary
Many locals will probably be motivated to help you settle into the small town if they see that you are a respectful person. I think there are plenty of ways to show that respect—not just by strictly following all the local rules, which can be exhausting. I will give you some examples.
・to show them that you are making an effort to learn their culture.
・to participate in the local activities, events.
・to spend some time on talking with your neighbors
・to ask questions to the locals if you have something you don’t know
sometimes it’s okay to get complaint by the neighbors, you just have to listen to their thoughts sincerely, and communicate with them. under this circumstance of aging population, locals are happy to welcome you. I really hope you find your own way to show your respect and build a strong relationship with them!