Some Chinese tourists to Japan feel like some restaurants in the country aren’t welcoming them with open arms. There’s a reason for that, one Chinese user said in a recent social media thread that generated a lot of discussion within the mainland.
Japan continues to welcome a record number of tourists. While most of the country is happy to receive so many international arrivals, some areas and businesses are wrestling with the inevitable issues created by so many visitors. Restaurants, in particular, are grappling with attendant problems to the tourist influx, such as how – and whether – to handle customers who speak multiple languages besides Japanese.
The language gap, however, isn’t what’s turning some businesses sour on Chinese customers. According to Record China, a user on the Chinese social media site Xiaohongshu, or RED, one of the major issues is cancellations.
No-show by a party of 11
The poster, who said they operate a service for Chinese customers that handles restaurant reservations in Japan, says they always tell diners to make their reservation time promptly – and, if they can’t, to communicate with the reservation broker beforehand.
However, the broker said, in a single day, they had three different groups cancel without notice. What’s worse, one of those groups was a reservation for 11 people.
“I called them four times and emailed them three times, and confirmed multiple times with the store. But they just blew it off,” the poster grumbled. “The store was so nice and emailed me because they were worried the people had been in an accident or something.”
“That’s when it really hit me: it’s no wonder Japanese restaurants don’t welcome Chinese tourists,” they concluded.
Chinese users who responded to the thread also pilloried the behavior of their fellow travelers.
“That’s the worst,” said one. “Untrustworthy people won’t be welcome no matter where they go in the world. As one would expect,” opined another.
Others complained that the problem extends beyond restaurants. “Many places around Japan won’t welcome Chinese tourists. They don’t follow the rules, they have poor morals. That’s what they’re thinking.” A few posters suggested Japanese restaurants should start charging money for reservations.
Make your reservations, people
This generalized charge against Chinese tourists is often tinged with racism. Korean and Chinese residents of Japan regularly face discrimination here, particularly when it comes to housing. Indeed, one restaurant responded to what they perceived as poor behavior by outright banning Chinese and Korean diners – a move that’s not only racist but likely illegal.
However, it’s also hard to deny that Chinese tourists have earned a poor reputation in Japan, even amongst those who aren’t militantly racist. Issues with Chinese resellers in Japan aren’t helping the country’s reputation, either. The RED post shows that this sentiment has made its way back to the mainland – much to the embarrassment of many Chinese citizens.
As tour operators ourselves, we can attest to the importance of not missing a reservation in Japan. One thing we always tell our customers is to treat a reservation as sacred and not to think you can stroll in “fashionably late” 30 minutes or an hour later.
You may think it’s fine to blow off a reservation because you never intend to visit the restaurant again. But before you do, consider the impression that’s going to leave – not just about you, but about your future fellow travelers and the people who helped you on your stay.
Why this page doesn't look like crap
You may notice a few things about this page. First, it’s mostly content – not ads. Second, this article was written by a human, not a plagiaristic Turing machine.
Unseen Japan is a collective of independent authors. We work hard to keep our content free of intrusive ads and AI slop.
Help us keep it that way. Donate to the Unseen Japan Journalism Fund to support our work. Regular donors will receive Insider, our paid newsletter with weekly bonus content about Japan. Plus, your contribution will help us produce more content like this.
What to read next
Welcome Suica App Adds Ticketless Shinkansen, Express Train Support for Tourists
The Welcome Suica App now lets you reserve seats on several bullet train and express lines managed by JR East.
Tourists Feeding Bears in Japan Has Deadly Consequences
A sad story from Hokkaido illustrates how tourist behavior altered the disposition of a bear that came to view humans as food.
Tokyo’s Sento Are Opening Their Arms to Foreign Tourists
Tokyo and the Tokyo Sento Association want more tourists (tattooed or otherwise!) to experience this aspect of traditional Japanese culture.
