Japanese cultural taboos

Australia
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Japanese cultural taboos
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OK touchy issue... how do the Japanese view a non married couple travelling together? We found in China we had to say we were married to get a room in some hotels!!! Is this the same experience of people in Japan?

The issue may be clouded by the fact that one half of us is of asian origin (female) but in china we got used to the staring. However in the outer regions, verbal taunts/abuse occurred. Just so that we are prepared for this... has anyone else had the same or heard of the same experience in Japan?

Tokyo
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Same se_x couple might meet some negative attitude in the provinces - but a man and woman travelling will not be bothered.

Toronto, Canada
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>> We found in China we had to say we were married to get a room

There are laws in China regarding couples staying in hotels, supposedly to fight prostitution. That's why.

Japan
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First of all, no, there will be no questions about whether or not you are married when checking into hotels in Japan. We have had people in our travel group who were unmarried but living together, rooming together in Japan, checked in with different names, and there was never a question about it, even in small rural places.

We, too, are an ethnically mixed family and while in Japan in the early 90's we experienced some obvious and blatant discrimnation. But things seem to have changed. We have not experienced any incidents at all over the past 5 years of annual trips to Japan. Yeah, sometimes people will give us the extra "look" but it's more out of curiosity than animosity and we find that a kind smile and sometimes even a slight bow (nod) from us is well received.

You may run in to a shopkeeper or small restaurant owner who will seem like they are concerned with your mixed ethnicity, but most likely they are being "stand-off-ish" because they are embarrassed that they can not speak your language and attempting to discourage any awkward attempts at communication. But that will be the exception, and grumpy people can be found all over the world!

Most Japanese people will welcome you and your efforts to be gracious about receiving their hospitality, regardless of marriage or ethnicity. Have a grand time!

Chennai, India
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In Japan, you won't have to undergo any such hassles from hotels. Not even in the North. As far as China goes, I'd like to say a few things for your future referrence.

I'll bet my head that the hotels you questioned you were not the 5 stars, but the "business class" hotels (somewhere between luxury and budget). In most 5 stars, I don't think this should be an issue.

But, if your budget forces you to stay in a business class hotel, you'd do well to ask your cabbie who runs the Hotel. If it's run by a powerful politician, you won't be hassled. Japan, being a rich country already, along with a much more transparent law mechanism, doesn't have this problem.

This unnecessary hassle is done in the name of combatting prostitution. In a ultra fast developing economy like China, which is increasing liberalisation (i.e. more cash, more opportunities), everybody is looking to make a quick buck. This includes the law enforcement too.

Unlike in the past, where everything was based on seniority, today- promotion, perks in the law enforcement is related to the cases they register- thereby indirectly increasing the probability and frequency of hotel raids.

If a hotel you're staying at is run by a party boss, it will naturally get immune from such raids. You and you're partner seem to have lived together for a while- and the last thing you want is a BS hassle- especially after you've dished out your hard earned dough to earn that vacation of yours!

New York
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Hi Egg&Banana,

I don’t think any Japanese people would ask you whether you guys are married or not. So, don’t worry about it! My husband (American with blond hair/blue eyes) and I (Japanese with dark hair/eyes) are a racially mixed couple, but nobody hasn’t bothered us in Japan.

Yeah, many Chinese people stared at us when we were in China a few years ago. LOL!

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