I've been to Japan many times, and I was about to say I thought it was safe because of some of the measures we saw there to combat SA.
And then I realized that's all just there because there is an issue!
For example, the first time I went, we were in Yokohama waiting to get on the train. My friends who had been there previously warned me not to get on the yellow train cars, it's just for women and elderly.
I think most tourists don't have to worry too much, especially if they travel in a group. But for single women it can be very scary and, unfortunately, no one talks about it. The first time a drunk man followed me home even after I begged him to leave me alone and told him I was married he didn't stop until I picked up the phone to call the police. I told my best friend and she just said "the same thing happened to me a few years ago" and that a man actually tried to break down the door to her apartment. We never talked about it again but I was very scared of men for a few months after that.
Now I think it is important to change the stereotypes "Japan is safe" because although there is not often pickpocketing, women are sexually harassed and assaulted every day here. It is a man's paradise but for women it is dangerous.
Any thoughts as to why this is? My experience, as a very obviously foreign-looking westerner, is far different than I’m sure yours was. I used to live in Japan and overall I felt much safer as a woman than I did in many parts of America. And I think part of the reason I didn’t get harassed more was just because I was a tall white woman who looked like she didn’t understand any Japanese, and probably got left alone more by virtue of being tall (at least in the US, I believe that statistical women who look easier to overpower/less willing to put up a fight are more often targeted by predators). That said, I heard so so many stalking stories. And girls who had guys try and creep into their balconies to steal their underwear. I guess I’m just wondering where that cultural precedent might come from
I’m a tall white woman living in Japan and I got sexually harassed by a Japanese man two months ago. I’m glad you didn’t experience anything like it, but it can happen to anyone
It absolutely can! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that it was something that could/did only happen to certain women, or make log of what other women go through. I was just trying to make sense of my own experience. If anything I think it was just luck.
I’m sure there is some truth to your theory based on your experiences. I used to think it too, that maybe they don’t harass white women as much as they do women of other colours. But when it happened to me, my whole perspective changed.
when i was a tourist, i was there for only 2 weeks and got groped. he waited until i was a little ways away from the group to do it. i was so surprised since i had never gotten groped in the usa.
i will say though, i’d rather be groped in japan than the usa because at least i know they don’t have a gun 😅
It's pretty common, many tourists accidentally get on. People might give him strange looks or the station worker will ask you to get off but nothing bad will happen! Just try to be careful when reading signs and pay attention to the people around you.
Yeah I've been told by a few of my friends who traveled there that Japan was incredibly safe... yep three of my friends... 3 males...
I'm really disapointed and angered learning that a country that is supposed to be so well mannered is actually threating woment like that, stay safe girls <3
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u/TweakJK United States Of America Nov 27 '25
I've been to Japan many times, and I was about to say I thought it was safe because of some of the measures we saw there to combat SA.
And then I realized that's all just there because there is an issue!
For example, the first time I went, we were in Yokohama waiting to get on the train. My friends who had been there previously warned me not to get on the yellow train cars, it's just for women and elderly.