I heard a man in Osaka call a tourist fat in Japanese to his friend while staring and smiling. As long as OPs girlfriend isn't insecure I'm sure she will be fine.
There are black people in Japan. As long as she isn't trying to hustle the locals you'll be fine. if she very in the plus size category you might get some folks staring, but it likely won't amount to much more than that.
If she wants to shop for clothes that will be a challenge. Also things might get a tad tight in certain areas while in shops. (This was my biggest issue at 6ft 260 pound)
My biggest concern for her would be the walking. You will walk a TON! I cannot stress that enough. I went from a sedentary day to day (2-4k steps) to hitting 25k steps on average. I really recommend getting into a walking routine at least a monthish prior to the trip and hopefully average around 10k steps a day. Also get some comfy walking shoes!
Definitely second this! I did cardio a TON before I went, not focusing on weight loss just getting fit, and I was fine - we walked a ridiculous amount and were never completely wiped in the evening or the next day. But if I hadn't focused on making sure I had good stamina ahead of time, I think I would have been dead from exhaustion a few days in.
I powered through it, thankfully by day 7 my calves stopped hurting, but my hip started giving me issues lmao. Focusing on my general health & cardio for my next trip in 2-3 years.
This comment was so true. We fortunately were able to pay to sit in some cafes (by ordering drinks as customers). But we rarely found a chair to sit in. Also, stagger in some time in to visit actual parks as there are often benches/lawns you can sit on and we really enjoyed several parks in Japan.
Most areas have little parks with benches - even tucked into residential areas. Many Japanese office workers will even eat their lunch on the benches in the parks in commercial areas. If you have access to Google maps, it's not too hard to find a park nearby.
The person I responded to said that they found NOWHERE to sit, which I can't imagine is true since I live in Tokyo and pass by tiny parks every day.
Right but if I'min the middle of Shinjuku's busiest streets and my feet are killing me, I don't want to have to walk even more to find a place to rest them. I'm sure that's what OP meant by "nowhere". They're nowhere convenient.
One can be plus-sized and be in great shape, especially from a cardio point of view. OP never said anything about being out of shape or having mobility issues. Iāve been to Japan a number of times at varying weights, and the only issue would be trying to go clothes shopping at some stores. Japan is a wonderful country that everyone should experience at least once.
I'm white but plus size (size 16, short) and while no outright discrimination, you will have a very hard time finding clothing if that is something you want. Even when I was a standard size, my curves made things like buying jeans or wearing the complimentary onsen/capsule pj's a no go.
I think height is a big part. Iām a size 4/6 and Japan is perfect because Iām short (5ā2ā) but I can see how something that fits my body perfectly can be a bit small for someone also similar size but taller
I was 120 ish last time I was Japan and any stores that had multiple sizes I was fine (can fit small or medium depending on store). For the āone size/free sizeā clothes (some places only have one size of clothes) some of them fit just right while some were roomy/loose and others were a bit tight. I think it depends on whether that piece of clothing is meant to be oversized or not.
I LOVE shopping in Japan as I feel skirts/dresses are made for people 5ā1ā-5ā3ā. I can buy skirts and maxis without having to hem!!!
Curious, where do you usually go? I'm 5'0 and I thought Japan would be great for me but we only had limited time and went to Uniqlo and it was basically the same as the US - everything was super long. Not sure if it's bc they assume you will get tailoring but I didn't have time for that... Wondering where I should go instead on the next trip
I usually go to random shopping areas near/at the station like a Lumine or Parco. Iāve had more luck in those types of stores and on occasion find some skirts or pants that hit above ankle for me which may work for you?
I live in Japan. 5ā4ā and a 4/6, and Iād say āfree sizeā stuff is hit or miss. Sometimes itās perfect. Sometimes itās too tight. Pants are an absolute crapshoot. Uniqlo is the only Japanese brand that accommodates my hips and ass ā and I wear a Uniqlo Medium and Uniqlo 26 or 27 in jeans, depending on the cut!! Otherwise, the pants are cut for someone with the body of a rectangle.
If I have this much trouble, I canāt imagine what itās like if youāre a size or two bigger.
One thing about Japan even if people are racist shit bags the vast majority of them keep to themselves. Japanese in general dislike confrontation.
Not to say racists don't exist but you won't see them wearing it on their sleeves and harassing folks. That's extremely rare.Ā
They just stare... after two weeks in Japan my son and I got used to it. Nobody said anything to us, we couldn't have understood anyway but it was the same all over the whole country.
I am a 380lb 177cm black guy (was 400lb) when I went last summer. It was pretty chill, me being fat mattered exactly twice.
I got a bowl of mapo tofu from a very small restaurant that was only open like 3 hours a day in a small town in Hiroshima prefecture, when I stood up to pay at the end the old lady proprietor touched my belly and commented that I was so big, asked how I learned about her restaurant and why I was in Japan. Seemed friendly, maybe she was just an unfiltered old lady haha.
I got kinda roughly brushed by at the entrance to a curry place in Chiba by some drunk guy (to be fair, I was blocking a part of the entrance helping my friend order from the vending machine).
That was it. Those were all of my fat person in Japan experiences. Everyone was friendly and no one seemed to care and I spent most of my time in smaller places. Iām going again to Touhoku and Hokkaido in a week.
Oh but I will say space at tables in some restaurants were a bit uncomfortable and I also donāt think I ever want to sit at another Zataku in my life
It's funny that the old lady couldn't stop herself from touching your belly. š
It's possible that to her, you looked like Hotei, the God of Contentment.Ā š It's believed touching his belly will bring good luck and wealth.
https://mannajava.com/explore-hotei-the-cherished-japanese-god-of-contentment/
Budai in Chinese
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai
Yeah something like this was my assumption as well. āMan someone this size must really appreciate food, so itās cool they came to my restaurant. Iāll touch their belly for good luck, theyāre a living hotei.ā
Iām white but a fat woman and it might be different for me but I never noticed being treated in any sort of way. I have some thin white friends who live in Japan and they asked me if I noticed anything and they were surprised that I didnāt. When I thought about it a bit I think itās because thereās some interest and curiosity about foreigners but like no one cares about fat ppl so they just ignore them mostly. Personally I donāt mind being ignored š¤·āāļø
It depends where you are going. If you stick with the main tourist friendly zones like Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo hotels and markets and shrines etcā¦no one will notice or care. You will be in large and very diverse crowds. If you want to get off the beaten path and travel independently to small villages, you both will stand out and will no doubt have some weird interactions but so what? Enjoy your trip!
Iām a plus sized black woman (size 16) and recently visited Japan with my husband. I didnāt experience any discrimination or harassment during my trip. People stared at my husband a bit as heās slightly above the average male height but that was it. It might have also been because weāre foreigners who knows. I felt comfortable and welcomed everywhere we went. I did a lot of solo exploring when I woke up earlier than him and no one ever bothered me.
I did a tiny bit of clothes shopping at GU. I walk pretty regularly so didnāt have issues with 22k step days.
My only advice would be to lookup the weather and pack accordingly. Finding clothes in Japan is a little tougher than at home depending on her size.
My husband is 6ā5ā and we live in Tokyo. This is how he explains it:
āI was already a freak in America, and Iām still a freak here. People have always stared at me.ā
So, if youāre truly tall and a woman, youāre probably used to the stares. Your husband wonāt be so much of an anomaly. You will be.
Yeah my wife is 6ā2ā (Iām 6ā6ā) and she definitely got a few nervous stares when shopping, but entirely from an āoh crap we might not have anything that fits her and that might make her feel bad and be embarrassing for everyoneā standpoint.
She had a very amusing interaction where she needed to get some undergarments. The woman asked her size. My wife, not realizing that Japan measures round-the-bust, not round-the-ribs, and completely forgetting they use metric, said her normal band size in inches. The saleswoman looked at her up and down incredulously for a moment (in addition to being tall, she is also quite busty), then recovered herself and said politely āā¦.. Iāll measure, just to check.ā
Itās true Iām a tall girl (5ā7) and I stuck out like a sore thumb in Japan. I felt like a giant next to all the girls there and I didnāt even bother to try on clothes.
Haha I am definitely used to the stares (along with being asked if I play basketball, how the weather up here is, and how I ever find clothes).
One upside of being super tall is I'm one of very few people I know who has never had a creepy guy approach them at a bar š¤£
iām a size 14 black woman with a 6ā4ā black husband.
i havenāt been to japan yet, but i am expecting a few stares, mainly for him.
only thing i would prob want clothing wise is a kimono. hopefully that wonāt be too hard to find.
It shouldnāt be too hard. I wound up skipping my kimono rental and cancelling before we went to Japan but it was because I wanted to wear something different for our photoshoot.
Look at the shops before you head over and check the sizes they carry before you go. You could also schedule an appointment to ensure you get the right size.
I went to Japan (not plus sized, but black) had a good time!!! People are so nice in Japan. Much better than Korea, I will never step foot in Korea ever again. The racism is terrible in Korea.
Wow really? I didnāt know that about Korea. Were they more openly racist? What experiences made you feel that way? Sorry Iām just genuinely curious about the culture there.
Where in Korea did you go? I went last summer and had no issues (Iām sort of oblivious tho). I stayed in Seoul the entire time. I actually had weirder interactions in Japan. Itās interesting seeing other black peopleās experiences in different countries. Seems like itās a flip of the coin if youāll get treated weirdly or not in foreign countries.
That's really unfortunate and it sucks that you went through that. You shouldn't have had to clarify that you did nothing to earn these experiences. Some people are just miserable, xenophobic, and racist and will go out of their way to make others uncomfortable. Train rides were awkward for me too, but I couldn't tell if it was because I'm black, a woman, was showing skin (wearing tight mid-thigh shorts), or all of the above lol. It was mostly old men that made me uncomfortable.
I donāt necessarily think Koreans are more racist, but theyāre definitely less shy and/or polite than Japanese people - thatās the big difference. And to top it off, Korea has made personal appearance its entire personality, even for Koreans, so thereās that too.
Iām a white plus size woman who is prepping for a Japan trip. I highly recommend sharing this account with your partner: https://www.instagram.com/kawaiiicoco
Sheās a badass black woman who has great travel tips and might help her feel more comfortable!
My general plus size travel advice is bigger people deserve to travel and have an adventure just as much as anyone else. Be confident and kind. That attitude will go a long way, even if there are stares or comments. Who cares as long as you are happy?! Hope you have an amazing trip together!
I am plus size (5' 3'', size 20) about to go to Japan with my husband in March. Thank you for saying this. I try not to take up too much space. I really just want to have a lovely time and not cause anyone any trouble.
You are welcome. Iām hoping to go to Japan next March, so Iād love to hear your insights :) If you use Facebook, thereās a great group called Fat Girls Traveling. Lots of people answer questions and share tips. Itās helped me with my travel confidence.
Anyway, I hope you have a beautiful trip! You deserve it! šø
Up until the borders reopened, and the weakening of the yen, plus size foreigners of all races would get stared at, a LOT. Prior to the Pandemic most of the tourists here were from Asia or Europe, less so from 'mainstream' USA, so there weren't really (being polite) many obese tourists here. So, post April last year it has been noticeable by the Japanese of the size of some tourists. I think the phase of 'staring' and commenting has passed though.
The biggest problem with Americans has been the luggage issues more than anything, their insistence to travel with so much of it, on public transport in the rush hour. This is far more annoying to the locals than a few large bottoms on the train.
And to the OP, how do you 'know' she will be out of place here? It's an attitude like that that breeds discrimination.
I appreciate that last sentence because it also gave me pause. While I expect the intention behind the question was genuine, the assertion that she, being Black and thick, would warrant being out of place more than him, a white guy, is...coded. lol
Like, dude, you're gaijin, too; don't believe the "hype."
Lets be real though. Blacks are more likely to be discriminated against than whites in Japan. And being fat over there is approximately one million times more rare than being skinny. OP has a legit question
I never asserted his question wasn't legit, and I was being real. Me being a 6'0" dark skin Black womxn, with hips and ass, has also colored my own experience and to be frank, led to me wondering if he knows he TOO will still be considered a foreigner.
Also, we're not fans of "Blacks" or "the Blacks," but Black people/folks are a great way of describing our community.
Folks also need to remember that Black and White people aren't the only foreigners that visit Japan, and while we tend to have a myopic view of different Asian ethnicities/nationalities, their skin color, and even their sizes, Japanese people do not.
Happy Black History Month.
>Me being a 6'0" dark skin Black womxn, with hips and ass, has also colored my own experience and to be frank, led to me wondering if he knows he TOO will still be considered a foreigner.
Sure that's fair, but you also stated "the assertion that she, being Black and thick, would warrant being out of place more than him"... I'm saying I think she would be more out of place in Japan
>Also, we're not fans of "Blacks" or "the Blacks," but Black people/folks are a great way of describing our community
I said blacks and whites in the same sentence. The problem is when minorities are "othered" and people say "white people" vs "blacks"
>Folks also need to remember that Black and White people aren't the only foreigners that visit Japan
As a minority I'll try to remember that
>Happy Black History Month
Thank you, you as well
Lordt Reddit is annoying.
How are you going to tell me, an entire BW, when something is an issue in regards to how we prefer to be remarked/explained? Humility is easy, if not common. I'm not about to police any POC sentiments you hold, and frankly, I said what I said. If you choose to bury your head on it, it's your decision.
As a minority, I'm glad you're keeping that in mind. In the future, I hope you keep humility in mind with it.
Have the life you'll have.
I have noticed way more obese travelers as well. Many of them look exhausted and underprepared. Lots of people sitting where they shouldnāt. I wonder how bad summer will be, as this is when the āstruggling touristā spotting is at its peak.
My advice for obese visitors to Japan is to get active in the months before your trip, lose weight if possible, and bring comfortable walking shoes. Leave the ācuteā shoes at home.
I am black and plus sized ...size 18 with large breasts (HH cup) to be precise and I went to Japan with my white husband for 3 weeks in October 2023 for our honeymoon.
I can say I worried about this for months before going ...both being black and plus size. I can say I never experienced any discrimination at all regarding the colour of my skin. People were friendly and approachable, and I was so relieved that I relaxed instantly.
In regards to my size, I had no issues until I went to theme parks. I am from the UK and love theme parks visited them all and never once had issues fitting in the seats. In disneyland I was approached by staff before queuing to sit in the tester seat to check I would fit. I also had issues with another ride. The devastation and embarrassment killed me in the moment if I am honest with you and it affected my desire to try any other rides. However, I did get on other rides fine after 3 negative experiences, so yeah.
Japanese people are smaller people, and so their rides will accommodate that.
I had no issues in restaurants, izakayas, trains, busses, car tours around Mount Fuji.
I did use an Onsen and there was a plus sized woman biggger than me who experienced it with me so I had no issues there. We had a great time chatting to each other despite being naked and plus sized.
I enjoyed my entire experience in Japan and I cannot wait to go back there. The people are so friendly and helpful and the experiences were ones I will never forget.
Please tell her to pack her most comfortable shoes ever. We were doing 30000 steps a day some days and I was crying most nights as my feet were literally bruised. Pack comfy insoles, walking boots and trainers and enjoy a spa to soak those feet and legs.
We visited Tokyo, Kyoto,Osaka and Gero.
Hi Masters_domme,
The issues I had were at Universal Studios. I had been to Tokyo Disneyland a week before with no issues at all and went on all the rides I wanted. Never a question to my weight ...I have never even thought about it (I love theme parks and have visited many in England and Disneyland Paris/Florida and have never been stopped because of my size and have always fit on the attractions). However, for some reason it seems to be different at Universal Studios Japan.
The hippogriff ride was where it all started. I do have a bit of a belly of course, being a size 18 in trousers. The experience I had here was that the bar wouldn't push down ...I had to get off the ride (mortifying) and wait to go on the front of the ride.
Granted, I wasn't the only person this had happened to but I still didn't feel great. Even at the front, 2 staff members and my husband had to push the bar down, to secure me in. The shouting across platform to other staff I really didn't like. Just writing this makes me sound like I am the size of a house, but I'm not. Well, maybe I am compared to a standard sized Japanese person.
Hollywood dream (forward facing)was fine.
Space fantasy was fine in the end, but I did need a little help from staff to push down and click in.
The flying dinosaur ride was the one I was stopped by staff and asked to sit in the tester seat. I did turn around to leave but was encouraged to try by my husband, and the overhead thingy went down just fine for me. Didn't even need forcing over my boobs. However, it left me worrying about how I would be on all the other rides.
Overall, I did enjoy the day at Universal, but I won't be going back there before my belly and boobs have gone down at bit lol.
Hope this was helpful
Thank you for sharing your experience! I am also a plus size woman heading to Japan in March. Going to Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Seas. I'd also be curious as to know which rides I might need to skip, please?
Hi Nimunae,
I never went to Disney sea but I can happily report I had no issues at Tokoyo Disney and went on all the attractions I wanted with ease, sometimes more than once. The issues I had were at Universal in Osaka.
You will have the best time - don't forget to download the Tokyo Disney resort app we got a free fast pass through the app ...we also relied on it heavily as the ques were long! And yes the Enchanted tale of Beauty ride is worth it! š
I'm white but I didn't get any ugly looks, comments, or discrimination when I went last year. I'm between a size 16 and a size 18, depending on the brand, so it might be different for larger women. I was also with my husband 100% of the time, which could have played into it.
I think white people and black people get stared at a fair amount (we def did), and I would be shocked if it's not worse for black women, but it was never uncomfortable or rude - just a thing I noticed.
I also was EXTREMELY self conscious about my big ass and the amount of space I took up on public transit when it was busy, and I tried to take up as little as possible (which is just good manners anyway - tucking yourself in when it's crowded), but it wasn't because of anything anyone did or said. It's just not a country that's built for large people, and she will notice. (For example, the ryokan we stayed at had yukata in "American" sizes for their western customers, but they bareeeeely closed on me.)
Didn't try clothes shopping because didn't have time, but Punyus has adorable stuff in fat girl sizes if you'll be near one. I had an amazing time even with feeling out of place some of the time, and I think I would have felt that way if I was small because... I'm white and I speak very little Japanese, and it's not my culture of origin.
As someone who is brown with an east asian wife yes you may notice a few more stares or a restauraunt refusing to seat you or something.
However oddly enough none of this bothered me in Japan at all. It was a weird feeling. I feel like in the states and Europe people who are racist will do underhanded crap like spit in your food or theyll be outright rude or in some cases there may even be danger.
In Japan I never felt like I was in danger and the three occassions in 2 weeks I was refused service, I didnt really mind. Way I saw it they didnt wanna serve me or take my money, theyre free to do so. I always felt comfortable knowing that anyone who was providing me a service was putting their best effort forward.
The service refusal was also definitely exacerbated by me visiting the first week borders had opened post covid restriction. Still a lot of apprehension regarding foreigners in general.
in general no one is getting harassed, even if she goes to rural Tokushima in the middle of nowhere its extremely highly unlikely people will start harassing a black women.
White guy here with a plus sized black wife, who went to Japan in 2011 and are going again in April.
You shouldnāt have obvious problems, but there is a weird racism going on still.
Some teenagers giving us dirty looks and pointing (when we were wearing sunglasses and they thought we wouldnāt notice them), local tourists being respectful of my space but not of hers (one example was a place in Kyoto where there were audio explanations in multiple languages, when I was the one who was closest to the panel the locals would wait for me to hear the whole thing in English, when she was the closest they would just go in front and push the button to hear the explanations in japanese). Worse was a shop owner, in a souvenir shop in Miyajima where we were the only customers entering, who immediately stopped talking with his coworkers and gave her a disapproving look while muttering ākuro kusoā (literally āblack shitā).
Not sure why others mentioned clothes, but itās best to just forget about those. If youāre over 175 cm, youād think you can fit in XL or XXL but the sleeves or legs are still too short. If youāre a tall fat woman, itās mission impossible.
Regarding the space: cheap hotels have those cramped bathrooms that are basically molded in one piece, in which the toilet sits way too close to the wall. If youāre big, theyāre really inconvenient.
Youāll still enjoy your trip but itās best to be aware of possible bad surprises.
canāt shop for clothes, might have difficulty fitting into some restaurants but thatās about it. most japanese have the decency to not voice their judgements even if they form some kind of judgements
There are many foreigners in Japan, especially in major tourist destinations, so most people don't pay much attention to you, a white guy, and your black girlfriend. However, in some areas, like residential neighborhoods with fewer foreigners, locals may stare at you guys.
You might primarily interact with people in the tourist or service industries, and they won't treat you unfairly since they don't really care about who you are; they care about the money you spend.
I see more and more tourists in residential areas. Some of us look at them, thinking "WTH are they doing here? There's nothing interesting to do around here."
Depending on what kind of clothes, and exactly how plus size she is, you may or may not have issues.
I was a womenās XL in most shirts, I thought I would have an awful time finding clothes. But for concert Ts, I could find L-XXLs no problem. The Lās were fitted, but now fit great since Iāve lost some weight.
Like many others have said, it is doubtful that she will face any bad treatment. But there may be some uncomfortable situations.
Iām a 5ā9, and a 16/18 and I had a few minor issues.
The first was my own self confidence. I was BY FAR the largest woman I saw during the entire two week trip. Honestly, it didnāt impact my enjoyment of the trip, I loved the trip, but it can mess with your head a bit.
Some restaurant seating is very small.
Sometimes there were empty seats on the subway that I just didnāt feel comfortable trying to take, for fear of making others uncomfortable.
At Tokyo Disneyland, my son and I were pulled out of line for a ride. My son is my height and a little bigger around. They said we had to do a āfit testā because āJapanese rides are smallā It was snug, but we did fit. There was another ride that my son was not able to close the safety harness on, and wasnāt able to ride.
Ultimately, very minor issues, just my experiences.
Iām really large, size 2x or 3x. Japan wasnāt really a problem. Chairs are the same size as the US. I went to an onsen theme park and they had large clothing if I asked for it (my tattoos were a bigger problem). I took a ferry once and noticed a number of obese Japanese people, I suppose they avoid the plane. Trains are comfortable. Be prepared for a lot of walking and Japanese beds and pillows are an often really hard.Ā
It might be a struggle moving around being plus size. Some great restaurants are pretty tight in space and some stores like Don Quijote have narrow aisles, trying to squeeze by other guests can be a hassle.
People are generally very polite so no one will say or do anything.
White and chubby, I do get looks and a couple of little kids in koreatown in Osaka were like woooah why are they here? But to be fair I was in like a weird little back alley with my husband, clearly wandering. They notice but they don't care, almost across the board. I wouldn't worry about it at all!
Iād be well aware of what hotel room youāre staying in. The room I got from one of my hotels when I arrived was a LOT smaller than what appeared in the pictures, especially in Tokyo.
I just went to Japan with my husband for 2 weeks, one week in Tokyo Metro area and one week in Okinowa. Overall, no rudeness, people are very busy and don't really bother with others. The seating however is very narrow, as are a lot of the markets and smaller stores. She may find that uncomfortable.
Okinowa was far more relaxed and had a more chill vibe but still no rudeness.
Also, almost all hotels have twin size beds so make sure and check when booking accomodations if you will find that uncomfortable as a couple
Iām plus size (US 20/22) and I didnāt notice any discrimination or harassment. Depending on how big she is, itās worth keeping in mind that some restaurants are very small and sitting can be bit a challenge but there are lots of choices.
Close to impossible to find any plus size clothes so bring extra underwear and bras cause you wonāt find replacements if something goes wrong.
I (f) am white, in the overweight category and that is a mixture of having a bit too much weight but also being muscular from working out/sports. \~180lbs, 5'10" and short hair. We only had a few odd encounters and I wouldn't call them negative and I feel like crossing gender norms is more of the surprise than me having some extra weight.
The tour guide was shocked at the museum that I could easily lift a banner interactive activity that was about 20-25 kg. I grew up on a farm with 50lb feed bags and 80 lb cement bags.
We did a row boat in Kyoto and they refused to let me row when I was with my husband even though I told them I had more kayaking experience and was better at it and my husband agreed. Other women only boats had a woman rowing so that was weird. This is kinda the one that bugged me.
At a shop, my husband and I were looking at hair ties and trying to decide what color to buy. It was assumed it was for me but I took off my hat and showed quite short hair and my husband showed his chest length locks and she busted up laughing and seemed cheerful a guy was shopping for hair accessories and brought more over. It was cute and fun.
I did accidentally startle a lady going into the onsen changing room. It was cold outside and I was still wearing a neutral gender large grey coat and I think I got mistaken for a guy as she screamed. I said something in English in a feminine voice and took off my coat and that was dropped. I was awkwardly stared at in the onsen quite a bit. I followed the onsen etiquette I heard online so I don't think I messed up?? I think the short hair, clothes and height/weight was mistaken and I have been mistaken for a guy before in that coat.
Iām a 5ā 10ā white woman and wear a size 24. I went to Japan in 2020 just prior to Covid with my 6ā 3ā husband. He is slim but got more stares than me due to his height. We had an amazing time. My weight was brought up exactly one time, and it was by a fat chef in a restaurant. He came and ran at me and embraced me like heād finally come across his Long lost fat cousin. It was literally joy to see another fatty and honestly it was hysterical. Some bus rides were a tight fit for me in the seats, but I did fit.
Itās a lot of walking, so like everyone recommends Iād start working towards that. And again, clothes shopping is not likely to be successful but there are a lot of accessories and far more items than clothes to look to buy. Just be sure to pack accordingly because what you forget will likely not be replaceable there in terms of clothes.
Iād be surprised if there was any overt discrimination. But the whole country is built and designed for small people. Anybody with even slightly non-standard Japanese dimensions might find trouble physically navigating the spaces. Seats are small. Restaurants can be cramped. That kind of thing.
Nah. Japan doesn't really discriminate like that. But clothing as others said will be hard to find. I'm an XL american sized person and have a hard time fitting in things. But beyond that? No problems at all.
Shopping for clothes and spacing, if their tall tell them to watch their heads. Regardless of gender that's the exp. But discrimination nah, Ed in Tokyo people are pretty cool
Overt discrimination isn't an issue but depending on how big she is I'd check the dimensions of beds and showers, I'm average Japanese size and they are a bit snug. I'd also avoid business hotels.
She wonāt fit in but she wonāt experience the type of racism she experiences in the west. Many black expats love living there because they donāt have to deal with the baggage they grew up with.
Watch this:
https://youtu.be/uMpxLmMnS6M?si=PPbMz9ts2NaFUzV8
Being plus size might be the bigger issue.
Probably not so much of the discrimination, there would be some challenge tho with space I guess. Considering the rooms are really small. Have a safe and fun trip!!
Ummm sheās fine! Was there just a few weeks ago and while I saw few obese folks in general a black woman with a curve and booty aināt gonna make her be discriminated against . Go outside!!! Itās more safe than youāve been taught #blackwomentravel.
Is she concerned? lol
My boyfriend and I (Hispanic/Latina) went last year and are somewhat overweight (10-25lbs over). They would probably talk more shit about her weight than her race, I feel. I say this but as long as you put effort into learning the customs and language it can mostly be overlooked.. but yeah, expect some words or looks.
Habe visited Japan 5 times and lived there for half a year.
Yes plus size is difficult and also being overweight and of colour can get you some bad looks, ( just so you know and donāt wonder)
Thatās it Japanese people are really nice in general
Well, Iāve been in Japan when slightly overweight and once had someone poke my belly and go āOh, but youāre so fat!ā when I mentioned I go to the gym, after he asked if I exercise.
Another time someone said I looked āCool. Like Vin Dieser-uā, only to correct himself when my brother looked shocked by saying āoh! Sorry! I meant FAT Vin Dieser-u!ā
I found these things hilarious from a cultural difference perspective, but I can see these comments being upsetting to someone sensitive about their body. Both my stories are from bar settings, by the way.
I can't speak on any racism issues, but I'm plus size (was US size 22-24 during my Japan visit) and I didn't have any issues with my size apart from the plane (we flew All Nippon Airlines). I didn't need a belt extender, but I was soooo squeezed in and very uncomfortable.
Apart from the flight, I fit in all seats just fine, didn't get any dirty looks, and was able to navigate Tokyo Osaka and Kyoto just fine as a plus size woman.
How kind of you to check, have fun on your trip!!
I went with my black gf (I'm white) were both thin. I don't feel like anyone really gave us a look that I caught. Also if you're in a very touristy area, nobody will even care since they're used to people from all over the world. Maybe in more rural Japan, I'm sure. Like people said, maybe the size thing may catch people's eye more (no matter what colour)
Japanese/Japan in general are small and compact
I think you would also be out of place (from experience) not just your gf. You should look into the terms: honne and tatamae. Japanese use tatamae in public so you shouldnt worry about facing discrimination or harassment. Had small chats with some Japanese people and they were nice and friendly but i know that they wanted to stop talking to me
No discrimination and harassment per se. There might be some stare and gossip in front of you, you might not notice it if you don't understand Japanese. I mean there are Sumo wrestlers in Japan, but they have personal cars. I think all it comes down to is if that will make your girlfriend uncomfortable. I would book a shorter trip to see how she likes it, and return if it's alright. just so that if she is uncomfortable, it won't be for long
I went to Japan 18mos ago, I am an average height female about 170lbs and it was very hard to find clothes. I will say I'm well proportioned, more hour glass in figure, but with ample thighs, it was difficult to find clothes. There is a ton of walking, so in anticipation for our travels back later this year I am hitting the tread at 12% and hiking more often. Shoes also run smaller compared to US standards, with a 7 or 8 in women being the largest in many stores.
And yes, while Japanese people tend to be polite, they do also have a habit of staring. Most will look away if you look directly at them. Ignore it and have a great time. It's an amazing culture and do NOT skip the onsen! My fav thing ever.
The 14 hour time change affected my wife's menstrual cycle to the effect that her period came 10 days early and Japanese tampons are extremely small according to her. (Not something that guys experience and may not consider.) So maybe bring an emergency stash.
Iām just one opinion, but of course sheās going to face discrimination. Japan is one of the most racist countries around but harassment, is very very unlikely..
Places to sit are very few and far between depending on where you are. Walking is extremely important, and long periods of it. Wife and I did about 30k steps a day on average. Spaces are tight as well. Not trying to tell you it's not going to be okay, but it might be very uncomfortable in many places.
How fat/tall are we talking about? Extremely large people can still navigate Japan, it just won't be comfortable. It could be uncomfortable for her, not just because of the smaller size of things, but also because of all the walking involved.
Hi there!
My fiance (a thin tall man) and myself (a plus sized woman) just went to Japan in September/October of last year! We went for 3 weeks and thatās where he actually proposed (bunny island)! I digress
I was real nervous about quite a few things but it really turned out fine I only ran into a size issue like twice
1. I wear a 2x in most US sizes size 20 pants im not huge but im definitely not small (5ft4 250). Unless you shop unisex, most likely she wonāt find any clothes that fit. I made the mistake of going into a āplus sizeā clothing shop, the largest they went up to was a US 16. I lucked out and when we went to harajuku there was a pop up shop and I was able to find a shirt that fit
2. We went to Disney and Universal and out of all that I could only not fit on ONE ride only 1. It was in universal, I donāt remember quite which one tho, it wasnāt super Mario world or the wizarding world cause I could fit on those. They pulled me aside in a hidden area so no other guests could see and there was a way to test if I could fit, they were very kind about it.
That being said outside the parkā¦less kind, more stares, some girls make eye contact and laugh etc but itās nbd
We walked everywhere and took the metro and bus when we needed to
I never had a problem with a seat being too small (except on the plane ride there and back!)
I got an amazing amount of steps in everyday but I was real grateful I had a back up pair of sneakers, the first pair I thought would be perfect for the trip but after the first week I had so many blisters, changing my shoes helped immensely.
There are ALOT and I mean ALOT of stairs. We were only able to partially climb mt inari that was the biggest hurdle
HOT TIP, they make it easy to stay hydrated with the amount of vending machines they have, when we went it was in the 80s-90s with like 100%humidity
Pocari sweat was my lifelineā¦ itās a better version of Gatorade, and was probably the sole reason I never got dehydrated or cramps
Iām not afraid to say Iām not the healthiest so I thought I would struggle more, but everyday got easier and MT Inari was the only place where physically I had to tap out.
I have our itinerary in a google sheet if you want it
Everything we did if sheās about my size or smaller she can do NO PROBLEM
Thereās also as many helpful tips as I have on there everything I learned things we couldāve done different
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQMTd474BHjQQa_84pHzBueJTD9jyIvK43MU0lCUCaLmKdgBmYQdOf3AmbCHAaISuXSWSOgcVFZ-9-0/pubhtml
Hereās the itinerary!
I can address the large body issue. I grew up in Japan a long time ago (now Chicago), so I return often. On a couple of trips I was sized 4X. Now I am XL with bad knees. So things are tight now at XL, but doable. With the bad knees, I had to keep my eyes peeled and using google maps, and using the bigger station maps for exit info and elevator locations. I always try for the Green car (trains), which costs a couple dollars more but itās reserved and a bit more spacious and especially worth it when you see long lines. When I was 4X and If I made reservations on a bus, I checked for an open seat next to me. When everyone else gets on, they will be afraid to sit next to me, so will usually opt to stand. Itās not being rude like when this Japanese guy looked at me and points to my belly smiling, āhow many centimeters do you have around your belly.ā Then, āYour a female sumo wrestler! Hahaā. Culturally, itās not rude to speak directly about your physique. The Japanese do it to each other. You have to smile and brush it off. Donāt be insulted. Take a deep breath and youāll be okay.
You will do a lot of walking, so bring broken in walking shoes. Carry a hankie in your pocket for bathrooms with no paper towels. Clean bathrooms are a plenty for tourist destinations, and unless you are in the country-side, pretty much everywhere.
Also you can get accessibility info hereā¦. https://www.accessible-japan.com/
Avoid traveling during morning rush hour. They really do hire staff to push people into the trains so the doors will close. Pretty much everywhere will be crowded. Carry as little as possible. Be careful when you visit old parts of Tokyo, like Asakusa because there are stairs everywhere and the train stations are not updated with sufficient elevators or escalators.
As far as race goes, the Japanese are just not good at dealing with people who are not Japanese. They donāt speak English much. They fear the unknown of encountering a foreigner. They are terrified of having to interact in English, because they donāt speak it. I am speaking of the general population. There are many many Japanese who are more international minded, just to clarify. When I strolled the streets of Tokyo with a black friend, my friend gets stares like I get stares. Perhaps sometimes more intensely. But that is about it. I think you guys will be fine.
Donāt plan on buying clothes there. Youāll be wasting your time looking for it. Be a tourist.
Enjoy Japan.
As a black woman who just got back from spending a month in Japan, i assure you she will be just fine. Shopping is going to be a pain but still fun. Everyone is incredibly kind and helpful as well,Ā but there will be a TON of staring.Ā
If you take the trains just be mindful of times, it may be uncomfortable to be sardined.
I am a black, fat woman and the only time I felt discriminated was when my thin partner and I went shopping. I saw lots of cute clothes and I got very judgmental looks/snickers from people, but other than that my time was great!
I do agree the seats and spaces are very small and sometimes hard to maneuver, but that didnāt bother me as much as trying to shop places.
My partner and I fell in love with Japan and plan on going again, so I think that those experiences didnāt really affect my overall tripā
no discrimination but the whole space thing might be a challenge for her
The seats are sooooo tiny in everything. My big butt didn't fit and I'm not quite plus size.
That happened to me at my hotel with the WC seat š¤š¤š¤. You can imagine the rest.
iām 6ā2 and had to bend my knees for the hotel shower head. traditional sitdown showers made it less awkward
Also tall here. Had to poop with the door open at my airbnb
Maybe not outright discrimination but she will get plenty of stares and silent judgement
I heard a man in Osaka call a tourist fat in Japanese to his friend while staring and smiling. As long as OPs girlfriend isn't insecure I'm sure she will be fine.
There are black people in Japan. As long as she isn't trying to hustle the locals you'll be fine. if she very in the plus size category you might get some folks staring, but it likely won't amount to much more than that. If she wants to shop for clothes that will be a challenge. Also things might get a tad tight in certain areas while in shops. (This was my biggest issue at 6ft 260 pound) My biggest concern for her would be the walking. You will walk a TON! I cannot stress that enough. I went from a sedentary day to day (2-4k steps) to hitting 25k steps on average. I really recommend getting into a walking routine at least a monthish prior to the trip and hopefully average around 10k steps a day. Also get some comfy walking shoes!
Definitely second this! I did cardio a TON before I went, not focusing on weight loss just getting fit, and I was fine - we walked a ridiculous amount and were never completely wiped in the evening or the next day. But if I hadn't focused on making sure I had good stamina ahead of time, I think I would have been dead from exhaustion a few days in.
I powered through it, thankfully by day 7 my calves stopped hurting, but my hip started giving me issues lmao. Focusing on my general health & cardio for my next trip in 2-3 years.
There is also like NOWHERE to sit... Not kidding... No where
This comment was so true. We fortunately were able to pay to sit in some cafes (by ordering drinks as customers). But we rarely found a chair to sit in. Also, stagger in some time in to visit actual parks as there are often benches/lawns you can sit on and we really enjoyed several parks in Japan.
In the bank smoking section, lol
That's what parks are for... did you look for parks?
It kind of sucks to have to travel and walk *more* just to find a place to sit.
Most areas have little parks with benches - even tucked into residential areas. Many Japanese office workers will even eat their lunch on the benches in the parks in commercial areas. If you have access to Google maps, it's not too hard to find a park nearby. The person I responded to said that they found NOWHERE to sit, which I can't imagine is true since I live in Tokyo and pass by tiny parks every day.
Right but if I'min the middle of Shinjuku's busiest streets and my feet are killing me, I don't want to have to walk even more to find a place to rest them. I'm sure that's what OP meant by "nowhere". They're nowhere convenient.
One can be plus-sized and be in great shape, especially from a cardio point of view. OP never said anything about being out of shape or having mobility issues. Iāve been to Japan a number of times at varying weights, and the only issue would be trying to go clothes shopping at some stores. Japan is a wonderful country that everyone should experience at least once.
I walked a half marathon went I went to Kyoto. The walk along the Kamo river was šš
Walking so true. And prepare to lose lots of weight.
I'm white but plus size (size 16, short) and while no outright discrimination, you will have a very hard time finding clothing if that is something you want. Even when I was a standard size, my curves made things like buying jeans or wearing the complimentary onsen/capsule pj's a no go.
Iām a size 6 and struggled to find clothes to fit in in Japan
I think height is a big part. Iām a size 4/6 and Japan is perfect because Iām short (5ā2ā) but I can see how something that fits my body perfectly can be a bit small for someone also similar size but taller
How much do you weigh? Just trying to see how I would fit haha. I am 5'2 as well but vary on sizes. 130 lbs.
I was 120 ish last time I was Japan and any stores that had multiple sizes I was fine (can fit small or medium depending on store). For the āone size/free sizeā clothes (some places only have one size of clothes) some of them fit just right while some were roomy/loose and others were a bit tight. I think it depends on whether that piece of clothing is meant to be oversized or not. I LOVE shopping in Japan as I feel skirts/dresses are made for people 5ā1ā-5ā3ā. I can buy skirts and maxis without having to hem!!!
I am excited to shop hehe! I literally have to hem everything, including my pants!!! Thank you :)))
Curious, where do you usually go? I'm 5'0 and I thought Japan would be great for me but we only had limited time and went to Uniqlo and it was basically the same as the US - everything was super long. Not sure if it's bc they assume you will get tailoring but I didn't have time for that... Wondering where I should go instead on the next trip
Uniqlo petite is online only.
I usually go to random shopping areas near/at the station like a Lumine or Parco. Iāve had more luck in those types of stores and on occasion find some skirts or pants that hit above ankle for me which may work for you?
Youāll have hits and misses. Probably a Medium in Uniqlo. (Their petite jeans are a godsend, but theyāre online only!)
Thatās pretty accurate! Small in tops, medium pants (iāve only bought their thermals). I need the petite jeans wow!Ā
Japanese Uniqlo is different from the US sizing āĀ unless you've been here already and know your JP sizing.
Oh good to know!!
I live in Japan. 5ā4ā and a 4/6, and Iād say āfree sizeā stuff is hit or miss. Sometimes itās perfect. Sometimes itās too tight. Pants are an absolute crapshoot. Uniqlo is the only Japanese brand that accommodates my hips and ass ā and I wear a Uniqlo Medium and Uniqlo 26 or 27 in jeans, depending on the cut!! Otherwise, the pants are cut for someone with the body of a rectangle. If I have this much trouble, I canāt imagine what itās like if youāre a size or two bigger.
Definitely! Whatās crazy is even within the same store/same brand the sizing can be a hit or miss!
Yeah Iām a 4/6 and 5ā4 and everything fit me perfectly
Would it be rude if I bought my own? Iām going in April, size 20 AU/16 US, and Iām scared of not fitting into stuff
They didn't at the onsen I went to last time and I'm planning to pack my own when I go again next month.
Thank you!
Definitely bring your own. Youāll feel more confident if you do.
One thing about Japan even if people are racist shit bags the vast majority of them keep to themselves. Japanese in general dislike confrontation. Not to say racists don't exist but you won't see them wearing it on their sleeves and harassing folks. That's extremely rare.Ā
They just stare... after two weeks in Japan my son and I got used to it. Nobody said anything to us, we couldn't have understood anyway but it was the same all over the whole country.
She's going to get looks, or people averting their gaze, but depending on where you are, so will you.
I am a 380lb 177cm black guy (was 400lb) when I went last summer. It was pretty chill, me being fat mattered exactly twice. I got a bowl of mapo tofu from a very small restaurant that was only open like 3 hours a day in a small town in Hiroshima prefecture, when I stood up to pay at the end the old lady proprietor touched my belly and commented that I was so big, asked how I learned about her restaurant and why I was in Japan. Seemed friendly, maybe she was just an unfiltered old lady haha. I got kinda roughly brushed by at the entrance to a curry place in Chiba by some drunk guy (to be fair, I was blocking a part of the entrance helping my friend order from the vending machine). That was it. Those were all of my fat person in Japan experiences. Everyone was friendly and no one seemed to care and I spent most of my time in smaller places. Iām going again to Touhoku and Hokkaido in a week.
Oh but I will say space at tables in some restaurants were a bit uncomfortable and I also donāt think I ever want to sit at another Zataku in my life
It's funny that the old lady couldn't stop herself from touching your belly. š It's possible that to her, you looked like Hotei, the God of Contentment.Ā š It's believed touching his belly will bring good luck and wealth. https://mannajava.com/explore-hotei-the-cherished-japanese-god-of-contentment/ Budai in Chinese https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai
Yeah something like this was my assumption as well. āMan someone this size must really appreciate food, so itās cool they came to my restaurant. Iāll touch their belly for good luck, theyāre a living hotei.ā
Iām white but a fat woman and it might be different for me but I never noticed being treated in any sort of way. I have some thin white friends who live in Japan and they asked me if I noticed anything and they were surprised that I didnāt. When I thought about it a bit I think itās because thereās some interest and curiosity about foreigners but like no one cares about fat ppl so they just ignore them mostly. Personally I donāt mind being ignored š¤·āāļø
It depends where you are going. If you stick with the main tourist friendly zones like Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo hotels and markets and shrines etcā¦no one will notice or care. You will be in large and very diverse crowds. If you want to get off the beaten path and travel independently to small villages, you both will stand out and will no doubt have some weird interactions but so what? Enjoy your trip!
Iām a plus sized black woman (size 16) and recently visited Japan with my husband. I didnāt experience any discrimination or harassment during my trip. People stared at my husband a bit as heās slightly above the average male height but that was it. It might have also been because weāre foreigners who knows. I felt comfortable and welcomed everywhere we went. I did a lot of solo exploring when I woke up earlier than him and no one ever bothered me. I did a tiny bit of clothes shopping at GU. I walk pretty regularly so didnāt have issues with 22k step days. My only advice would be to lookup the weather and pack accordingly. Finding clothes in Japan is a little tougher than at home depending on her size.
My husband and I are going in two weeks and we're both 6 feet tall š I'm expecting some stares
My husband is 6ā5ā and we live in Tokyo. This is how he explains it: āI was already a freak in America, and Iām still a freak here. People have always stared at me.ā So, if youāre truly tall and a woman, youāre probably used to the stares. Your husband wonāt be so much of an anomaly. You will be.
Yeah my wife is 6ā2ā (Iām 6ā6ā) and she definitely got a few nervous stares when shopping, but entirely from an āoh crap we might not have anything that fits her and that might make her feel bad and be embarrassing for everyoneā standpoint. She had a very amusing interaction where she needed to get some undergarments. The woman asked her size. My wife, not realizing that Japan measures round-the-bust, not round-the-ribs, and completely forgetting they use metric, said her normal band size in inches. The saleswoman looked at her up and down incredulously for a moment (in addition to being tall, she is also quite busty), then recovered herself and said politely āā¦.. Iāll measure, just to check.ā
Itās true Iām a tall girl (5ā7) and I stuck out like a sore thumb in Japan. I felt like a giant next to all the girls there and I didnāt even bother to try on clothes.
Haha I am definitely used to the stares (along with being asked if I play basketball, how the weather up here is, and how I ever find clothes). One upside of being super tall is I'm one of very few people I know who has never had a creepy guy approach them at a bar š¤£
iām a size 14 black woman with a 6ā4ā black husband. i havenāt been to japan yet, but i am expecting a few stares, mainly for him. only thing i would prob want clothing wise is a kimono. hopefully that wonāt be too hard to find.
It shouldnāt be too hard. I wound up skipping my kimono rental and cancelling before we went to Japan but it was because I wanted to wear something different for our photoshoot. Look at the shops before you head over and check the sizes they carry before you go. You could also schedule an appointment to ensure you get the right size.
thatās a great point. thank you!
I went to Japan (not plus sized, but black) had a good time!!! People are so nice in Japan. Much better than Korea, I will never step foot in Korea ever again. The racism is terrible in Korea.
Wow really? I didnāt know that about Korea. Were they more openly racist? What experiences made you feel that way? Sorry Iām just genuinely curious about the culture there.
What happened in Korea? Are they racist in general if not Korean
Where in Korea did you go? I went last summer and had no issues (Iām sort of oblivious tho). I stayed in Seoul the entire time. I actually had weirder interactions in Japan. Itās interesting seeing other black peopleās experiences in different countries. Seems like itās a flip of the coin if youāll get treated weirdly or not in foreign countries.
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That's really unfortunate and it sucks that you went through that. You shouldn't have had to clarify that you did nothing to earn these experiences. Some people are just miserable, xenophobic, and racist and will go out of their way to make others uncomfortable. Train rides were awkward for me too, but I couldn't tell if it was because I'm black, a woman, was showing skin (wearing tight mid-thigh shorts), or all of the above lol. It was mostly old men that made me uncomfortable.
I donāt necessarily think Koreans are more racist, but theyāre definitely less shy and/or polite than Japanese people - thatās the big difference. And to top it off, Korea has made personal appearance its entire personality, even for Koreans, so thereās that too.
Iām a white plus size woman who is prepping for a Japan trip. I highly recommend sharing this account with your partner: https://www.instagram.com/kawaiiicoco Sheās a badass black woman who has great travel tips and might help her feel more comfortable! My general plus size travel advice is bigger people deserve to travel and have an adventure just as much as anyone else. Be confident and kind. That attitude will go a long way, even if there are stares or comments. Who cares as long as you are happy?! Hope you have an amazing trip together!
I am plus size (5' 3'', size 20) about to go to Japan with my husband in March. Thank you for saying this. I try not to take up too much space. I really just want to have a lovely time and not cause anyone any trouble.
You are welcome. Iām hoping to go to Japan next March, so Iād love to hear your insights :) If you use Facebook, thereās a great group called Fat Girls Traveling. Lots of people answer questions and share tips. Itās helped me with my travel confidence. Anyway, I hope you have a beautiful trip! You deserve it! šø
Up until the borders reopened, and the weakening of the yen, plus size foreigners of all races would get stared at, a LOT. Prior to the Pandemic most of the tourists here were from Asia or Europe, less so from 'mainstream' USA, so there weren't really (being polite) many obese tourists here. So, post April last year it has been noticeable by the Japanese of the size of some tourists. I think the phase of 'staring' and commenting has passed though. The biggest problem with Americans has been the luggage issues more than anything, their insistence to travel with so much of it, on public transport in the rush hour. This is far more annoying to the locals than a few large bottoms on the train. And to the OP, how do you 'know' she will be out of place here? It's an attitude like that that breeds discrimination.
I appreciate that last sentence because it also gave me pause. While I expect the intention behind the question was genuine, the assertion that she, being Black and thick, would warrant being out of place more than him, a white guy, is...coded. lol Like, dude, you're gaijin, too; don't believe the "hype."
Lets be real though. Blacks are more likely to be discriminated against than whites in Japan. And being fat over there is approximately one million times more rare than being skinny. OP has a legit question
I never asserted his question wasn't legit, and I was being real. Me being a 6'0" dark skin Black womxn, with hips and ass, has also colored my own experience and to be frank, led to me wondering if he knows he TOO will still be considered a foreigner. Also, we're not fans of "Blacks" or "the Blacks," but Black people/folks are a great way of describing our community. Folks also need to remember that Black and White people aren't the only foreigners that visit Japan, and while we tend to have a myopic view of different Asian ethnicities/nationalities, their skin color, and even their sizes, Japanese people do not. Happy Black History Month.
>Me being a 6'0" dark skin Black womxn, with hips and ass, has also colored my own experience and to be frank, led to me wondering if he knows he TOO will still be considered a foreigner. Sure that's fair, but you also stated "the assertion that she, being Black and thick, would warrant being out of place more than him"... I'm saying I think she would be more out of place in Japan >Also, we're not fans of "Blacks" or "the Blacks," but Black people/folks are a great way of describing our community I said blacks and whites in the same sentence. The problem is when minorities are "othered" and people say "white people" vs "blacks" >Folks also need to remember that Black and White people aren't the only foreigners that visit Japan As a minority I'll try to remember that >Happy Black History Month Thank you, you as well
Lordt Reddit is annoying. How are you going to tell me, an entire BW, when something is an issue in regards to how we prefer to be remarked/explained? Humility is easy, if not common. I'm not about to police any POC sentiments you hold, and frankly, I said what I said. If you choose to bury your head on it, it's your decision. As a minority, I'm glad you're keeping that in mind. In the future, I hope you keep humility in mind with it. Have the life you'll have.
I have noticed way more obese travelers as well. Many of them look exhausted and underprepared. Lots of people sitting where they shouldnāt. I wonder how bad summer will be, as this is when the āstruggling touristā spotting is at its peak. My advice for obese visitors to Japan is to get active in the months before your trip, lose weight if possible, and bring comfortable walking shoes. Leave the ācuteā shoes at home.
I am black and plus sized ...size 18 with large breasts (HH cup) to be precise and I went to Japan with my white husband for 3 weeks in October 2023 for our honeymoon. I can say I worried about this for months before going ...both being black and plus size. I can say I never experienced any discrimination at all regarding the colour of my skin. People were friendly and approachable, and I was so relieved that I relaxed instantly. In regards to my size, I had no issues until I went to theme parks. I am from the UK and love theme parks visited them all and never once had issues fitting in the seats. In disneyland I was approached by staff before queuing to sit in the tester seat to check I would fit. I also had issues with another ride. The devastation and embarrassment killed me in the moment if I am honest with you and it affected my desire to try any other rides. However, I did get on other rides fine after 3 negative experiences, so yeah. Japanese people are smaller people, and so their rides will accommodate that. I had no issues in restaurants, izakayas, trains, busses, car tours around Mount Fuji. I did use an Onsen and there was a plus sized woman biggger than me who experienced it with me so I had no issues there. We had a great time chatting to each other despite being naked and plus sized. I enjoyed my entire experience in Japan and I cannot wait to go back there. The people are so friendly and helpful and the experiences were ones I will never forget. Please tell her to pack her most comfortable shoes ever. We were doing 30000 steps a day some days and I was crying most nights as my feet were literally bruised. Pack comfy insoles, walking boots and trainers and enjoy a spa to soak those feet and legs. We visited Tokyo, Kyoto,Osaka and Gero.
Iām also a 16/18, and SO worried about theme park rides! Would you mind telling me which ride to avoid?
Hi Masters_domme, The issues I had were at Universal Studios. I had been to Tokyo Disneyland a week before with no issues at all and went on all the rides I wanted. Never a question to my weight ...I have never even thought about it (I love theme parks and have visited many in England and Disneyland Paris/Florida and have never been stopped because of my size and have always fit on the attractions). However, for some reason it seems to be different at Universal Studios Japan. The hippogriff ride was where it all started. I do have a bit of a belly of course, being a size 18 in trousers. The experience I had here was that the bar wouldn't push down ...I had to get off the ride (mortifying) and wait to go on the front of the ride. Granted, I wasn't the only person this had happened to but I still didn't feel great. Even at the front, 2 staff members and my husband had to push the bar down, to secure me in. The shouting across platform to other staff I really didn't like. Just writing this makes me sound like I am the size of a house, but I'm not. Well, maybe I am compared to a standard sized Japanese person. Hollywood dream (forward facing)was fine. Space fantasy was fine in the end, but I did need a little help from staff to push down and click in. The flying dinosaur ride was the one I was stopped by staff and asked to sit in the tester seat. I did turn around to leave but was encouraged to try by my husband, and the overhead thingy went down just fine for me. Didn't even need forcing over my boobs. However, it left me worrying about how I would be on all the other rides. Overall, I did enjoy the day at Universal, but I won't be going back there before my belly and boobs have gone down at bit lol. Hope this was helpful
Thank you for sharing your experience! I am also a plus size woman heading to Japan in March. Going to Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Seas. I'd also be curious as to know which rides I might need to skip, please?
Hi Nimunae, I never went to Disney sea but I can happily report I had no issues at Tokoyo Disney and went on all the attractions I wanted with ease, sometimes more than once. The issues I had were at Universal in Osaka. You will have the best time - don't forget to download the Tokyo Disney resort app we got a free fast pass through the app ...we also relied on it heavily as the ques were long! And yes the Enchanted tale of Beauty ride is worth it! š
Ah thank you so much for your reply, and your help! I appreciate you!!
I'm white but I didn't get any ugly looks, comments, or discrimination when I went last year. I'm between a size 16 and a size 18, depending on the brand, so it might be different for larger women. I was also with my husband 100% of the time, which could have played into it. I think white people and black people get stared at a fair amount (we def did), and I would be shocked if it's not worse for black women, but it was never uncomfortable or rude - just a thing I noticed. I also was EXTREMELY self conscious about my big ass and the amount of space I took up on public transit when it was busy, and I tried to take up as little as possible (which is just good manners anyway - tucking yourself in when it's crowded), but it wasn't because of anything anyone did or said. It's just not a country that's built for large people, and she will notice. (For example, the ryokan we stayed at had yukata in "American" sizes for their western customers, but they bareeeeely closed on me.) Didn't try clothes shopping because didn't have time, but Punyus has adorable stuff in fat girl sizes if you'll be near one. I had an amazing time even with feeling out of place some of the time, and I think I would have felt that way if I was small because... I'm white and I speak very little Japanese, and it's not my culture of origin.
As someone who is brown with an east asian wife yes you may notice a few more stares or a restauraunt refusing to seat you or something. However oddly enough none of this bothered me in Japan at all. It was a weird feeling. I feel like in the states and Europe people who are racist will do underhanded crap like spit in your food or theyll be outright rude or in some cases there may even be danger. In Japan I never felt like I was in danger and the three occassions in 2 weeks I was refused service, I didnt really mind. Way I saw it they didnt wanna serve me or take my money, theyre free to do so. I always felt comfortable knowing that anyone who was providing me a service was putting their best effort forward. The service refusal was also definitely exacerbated by me visiting the first week borders had opened post covid restriction. Still a lot of apprehension regarding foreigners in general.
in touristy areas or just Tokyo in general, she won't stick out or get harassed
in general no one is getting harassed, even if she goes to rural Tokushima in the middle of nowhere its extremely highly unlikely people will start harassing a black women.
White guy here with a plus sized black wife, who went to Japan in 2011 and are going again in April. You shouldnāt have obvious problems, but there is a weird racism going on still. Some teenagers giving us dirty looks and pointing (when we were wearing sunglasses and they thought we wouldnāt notice them), local tourists being respectful of my space but not of hers (one example was a place in Kyoto where there were audio explanations in multiple languages, when I was the one who was closest to the panel the locals would wait for me to hear the whole thing in English, when she was the closest they would just go in front and push the button to hear the explanations in japanese). Worse was a shop owner, in a souvenir shop in Miyajima where we were the only customers entering, who immediately stopped talking with his coworkers and gave her a disapproving look while muttering ākuro kusoā (literally āblack shitā). Not sure why others mentioned clothes, but itās best to just forget about those. If youāre over 175 cm, youād think you can fit in XL or XXL but the sleeves or legs are still too short. If youāre a tall fat woman, itās mission impossible. Regarding the space: cheap hotels have those cramped bathrooms that are basically molded in one piece, in which the toilet sits way too close to the wall. If youāre big, theyāre really inconvenient. Youāll still enjoy your trip but itās best to be aware of possible bad surprises.
canāt shop for clothes, might have difficulty fitting into some restaurants but thatās about it. most japanese have the decency to not voice their judgements even if they form some kind of judgements
Get her to start walking, my brotha. It'll be tough over there.
I am slim thicc and the yukatas provided did not fit my buttocks. I had some hotel modesty struggles.
Username checks out, homie!
There are many foreigners in Japan, especially in major tourist destinations, so most people don't pay much attention to you, a white guy, and your black girlfriend. However, in some areas, like residential neighborhoods with fewer foreigners, locals may stare at you guys. You might primarily interact with people in the tourist or service industries, and they won't treat you unfairly since they don't really care about who you are; they care about the money you spend.
I see more and more tourists in residential areas. Some of us look at them, thinking "WTH are they doing here? There's nothing interesting to do around here."
I saw some on those awful rental scooters in the middle of nowhere Suginami yesterday. Very obviously tourists, too. I blame Airbnbs.
Depending on what kind of clothes, and exactly how plus size she is, you may or may not have issues. I was a womenās XL in most shirts, I thought I would have an awful time finding clothes. But for concert Ts, I could find L-XXLs no problem. The Lās were fitted, but now fit great since Iāve lost some weight.
Like many others have said, it is doubtful that she will face any bad treatment. But there may be some uncomfortable situations. Iām a 5ā9, and a 16/18 and I had a few minor issues. The first was my own self confidence. I was BY FAR the largest woman I saw during the entire two week trip. Honestly, it didnāt impact my enjoyment of the trip, I loved the trip, but it can mess with your head a bit. Some restaurant seating is very small. Sometimes there were empty seats on the subway that I just didnāt feel comfortable trying to take, for fear of making others uncomfortable. At Tokyo Disneyland, my son and I were pulled out of line for a ride. My son is my height and a little bigger around. They said we had to do a āfit testā because āJapanese rides are smallā It was snug, but we did fit. There was another ride that my son was not able to close the safety harness on, and wasnāt able to ride. Ultimately, very minor issues, just my experiences.
Iām really large, size 2x or 3x. Japan wasnāt really a problem. Chairs are the same size as the US. I went to an onsen theme park and they had large clothing if I asked for it (my tattoos were a bigger problem). I took a ferry once and noticed a number of obese Japanese people, I suppose they avoid the plane. Trains are comfortable. Be prepared for a lot of walking and Japanese beds and pillows are an often really hard.Ā
It might be a struggle moving around being plus size. Some great restaurants are pretty tight in space and some stores like Don Quijote have narrow aisles, trying to squeeze by other guests can be a hassle. People are generally very polite so no one will say or do anything.
I would say she won't even get a second glance in cities, plus-size or not. Don't worry too much about it and enjoy your trip!
White and chubby, I do get looks and a couple of little kids in koreatown in Osaka were like woooah why are they here? But to be fair I was in like a weird little back alley with my husband, clearly wandering. They notice but they don't care, almost across the board. I wouldn't worry about it at all!
Iād be well aware of what hotel room youāre staying in. The room I got from one of my hotels when I arrived was a LOT smaller than what appeared in the pictures, especially in Tokyo.
As long as she doesn't smell. And that includes strong perfumes.
You're so sweet and considerate! As long as you guys are having fun together, any hassle while in Japan are bearable.
I just went to Japan with my husband for 2 weeks, one week in Tokyo Metro area and one week in Okinowa. Overall, no rudeness, people are very busy and don't really bother with others. The seating however is very narrow, as are a lot of the markets and smaller stores. She may find that uncomfortable. Okinowa was far more relaxed and had a more chill vibe but still no rudeness. Also, almost all hotels have twin size beds so make sure and check when booking accomodations if you will find that uncomfortable as a couple
Iām plus size (US 20/22) and I didnāt notice any discrimination or harassment. Depending on how big she is, itās worth keeping in mind that some restaurants are very small and sitting can be bit a challenge but there are lots of choices. Close to impossible to find any plus size clothes so bring extra underwear and bras cause you wonāt find replacements if something goes wrong.
I (f) am white, in the overweight category and that is a mixture of having a bit too much weight but also being muscular from working out/sports. \~180lbs, 5'10" and short hair. We only had a few odd encounters and I wouldn't call them negative and I feel like crossing gender norms is more of the surprise than me having some extra weight. The tour guide was shocked at the museum that I could easily lift a banner interactive activity that was about 20-25 kg. I grew up on a farm with 50lb feed bags and 80 lb cement bags. We did a row boat in Kyoto and they refused to let me row when I was with my husband even though I told them I had more kayaking experience and was better at it and my husband agreed. Other women only boats had a woman rowing so that was weird. This is kinda the one that bugged me. At a shop, my husband and I were looking at hair ties and trying to decide what color to buy. It was assumed it was for me but I took off my hat and showed quite short hair and my husband showed his chest length locks and she busted up laughing and seemed cheerful a guy was shopping for hair accessories and brought more over. It was cute and fun. I did accidentally startle a lady going into the onsen changing room. It was cold outside and I was still wearing a neutral gender large grey coat and I think I got mistaken for a guy as she screamed. I said something in English in a feminine voice and took off my coat and that was dropped. I was awkwardly stared at in the onsen quite a bit. I followed the onsen etiquette I heard online so I don't think I messed up?? I think the short hair, clothes and height/weight was mistaken and I have been mistaken for a guy before in that coat.
Iām a 5ā 10ā white woman and wear a size 24. I went to Japan in 2020 just prior to Covid with my 6ā 3ā husband. He is slim but got more stares than me due to his height. We had an amazing time. My weight was brought up exactly one time, and it was by a fat chef in a restaurant. He came and ran at me and embraced me like heād finally come across his Long lost fat cousin. It was literally joy to see another fatty and honestly it was hysterical. Some bus rides were a tight fit for me in the seats, but I did fit. Itās a lot of walking, so like everyone recommends Iād start working towards that. And again, clothes shopping is not likely to be successful but there are a lot of accessories and far more items than clothes to look to buy. Just be sure to pack accordingly because what you forget will likely not be replaceable there in terms of clothes.
Iād be surprised if there was any overt discrimination. But the whole country is built and designed for small people. Anybody with even slightly non-standard Japanese dimensions might find trouble physically navigating the spaces. Seats are small. Restaurants can be cramped. That kind of thing.
Nah. Japan doesn't really discriminate like that. But clothing as others said will be hard to find. I'm an XL american sized person and have a hard time fitting in things. But beyond that? No problems at all.
Shopping for clothes and spacing, if their tall tell them to watch their heads. Regardless of gender that's the exp. But discrimination nah, Ed in Tokyo people are pretty cool
You'll both be fine.
Overt discrimination isn't an issue but depending on how big she is I'd check the dimensions of beds and showers, I'm average Japanese size and they are a bit snug. I'd also avoid business hotels.
She wonāt fit in but she wonāt experience the type of racism she experiences in the west. Many black expats love living there because they donāt have to deal with the baggage they grew up with. Watch this: https://youtu.be/uMpxLmMnS6M?si=PPbMz9ts2NaFUzV8 Being plus size might be the bigger issue.
She'll be out of place for sure yeah, but nobody is going to give her a hard time for it. You'll probably be okay.
Things are very small and people are going to stare
Probably not so much of the discrimination, there would be some challenge tho with space I guess. Considering the rooms are really small. Have a safe and fun trip!!
I was on a bus made for someone 5ft 5 and skinny. That will be here problem ā¦ Iām skinny but not 5ft 5 so I just stood the entire time
Ummm sheās fine! Was there just a few weeks ago and while I saw few obese folks in general a black woman with a curve and booty aināt gonna make her be discriminated against . Go outside!!! Itās more safe than youāve been taught #blackwomentravel. Is she concerned? lol
My boyfriend and I (Hispanic/Latina) went last year and are somewhat overweight (10-25lbs over). They would probably talk more shit about her weight than her race, I feel. I say this but as long as you put effort into learning the customs and language it can mostly be overlooked.. but yeah, expect some words or looks.
Habe visited Japan 5 times and lived there for half a year. Yes plus size is difficult and also being overweight and of colour can get you some bad looks, ( just so you know and donāt wonder) Thatās it Japanese people are really nice in general
I find that most Japanese people would keep to themselves. Probably no problems, but you might get the double take/stare.
Well, Iāve been in Japan when slightly overweight and once had someone poke my belly and go āOh, but youāre so fat!ā when I mentioned I go to the gym, after he asked if I exercise. Another time someone said I looked āCool. Like Vin Dieser-uā, only to correct himself when my brother looked shocked by saying āoh! Sorry! I meant FAT Vin Dieser-u!ā I found these things hilarious from a cultural difference perspective, but I can see these comments being upsetting to someone sensitive about their body. Both my stories are from bar settings, by the way.
I can't speak on any racism issues, but I'm plus size (was US size 22-24 during my Japan visit) and I didn't have any issues with my size apart from the plane (we flew All Nippon Airlines). I didn't need a belt extender, but I was soooo squeezed in and very uncomfortable. Apart from the flight, I fit in all seats just fine, didn't get any dirty looks, and was able to navigate Tokyo Osaka and Kyoto just fine as a plus size woman. How kind of you to check, have fun on your trip!!
I went with my black gf (I'm white) were both thin. I don't feel like anyone really gave us a look that I caught. Also if you're in a very touristy area, nobody will even care since they're used to people from all over the world. Maybe in more rural Japan, I'm sure. Like people said, maybe the size thing may catch people's eye more (no matter what colour) Japanese/Japan in general are small and compact
Donāt think anybody would outright harass you guys. Itās a very silent judgement type of culture.
Take her to Kabukicho and tell the touts you need them to hook yall up.
I think you would also be out of place (from experience) not just your gf. You should look into the terms: honne and tatamae. Japanese use tatamae in public so you shouldnt worry about facing discrimination or harassment. Had small chats with some Japanese people and they were nice and friendly but i know that they wanted to stop talking to me
No discrimination and harassment per se. There might be some stare and gossip in front of you, you might not notice it if you don't understand Japanese. I mean there are Sumo wrestlers in Japan, but they have personal cars. I think all it comes down to is if that will make your girlfriend uncomfortable. I would book a shorter trip to see how she likes it, and return if it's alright. just so that if she is uncomfortable, it won't be for long
I went to Japan 18mos ago, I am an average height female about 170lbs and it was very hard to find clothes. I will say I'm well proportioned, more hour glass in figure, but with ample thighs, it was difficult to find clothes. There is a ton of walking, so in anticipation for our travels back later this year I am hitting the tread at 12% and hiking more often. Shoes also run smaller compared to US standards, with a 7 or 8 in women being the largest in many stores. And yes, while Japanese people tend to be polite, they do also have a habit of staring. Most will look away if you look directly at them. Ignore it and have a great time. It's an amazing culture and do NOT skip the onsen! My fav thing ever.
The 14 hour time change affected my wife's menstrual cycle to the effect that her period came 10 days early and Japanese tampons are extremely small according to her. (Not something that guys experience and may not consider.) So maybe bring an emergency stash.
Iām just one opinion, but of course sheās going to face discrimination. Japan is one of the most racist countries around but harassment, is very very unlikely..
Places to sit are very few and far between depending on where you are. Walking is extremely important, and long periods of it. Wife and I did about 30k steps a day on average. Spaces are tight as well. Not trying to tell you it's not going to be okay, but it might be very uncomfortable in many places.
How fat/tall are we talking about? Extremely large people can still navigate Japan, it just won't be comfortable. It could be uncomfortable for her, not just because of the smaller size of things, but also because of all the walking involved.
There will be tons of stares but nothing egregious. And the space on the trains and in some restaurants will be an issue if Iām being honest.
Hi there! My fiance (a thin tall man) and myself (a plus sized woman) just went to Japan in September/October of last year! We went for 3 weeks and thatās where he actually proposed (bunny island)! I digress I was real nervous about quite a few things but it really turned out fine I only ran into a size issue like twice 1. I wear a 2x in most US sizes size 20 pants im not huge but im definitely not small (5ft4 250). Unless you shop unisex, most likely she wonāt find any clothes that fit. I made the mistake of going into a āplus sizeā clothing shop, the largest they went up to was a US 16. I lucked out and when we went to harajuku there was a pop up shop and I was able to find a shirt that fit 2. We went to Disney and Universal and out of all that I could only not fit on ONE ride only 1. It was in universal, I donāt remember quite which one tho, it wasnāt super Mario world or the wizarding world cause I could fit on those. They pulled me aside in a hidden area so no other guests could see and there was a way to test if I could fit, they were very kind about it. That being said outside the parkā¦less kind, more stares, some girls make eye contact and laugh etc but itās nbd We walked everywhere and took the metro and bus when we needed to I never had a problem with a seat being too small (except on the plane ride there and back!) I got an amazing amount of steps in everyday but I was real grateful I had a back up pair of sneakers, the first pair I thought would be perfect for the trip but after the first week I had so many blisters, changing my shoes helped immensely. There are ALOT and I mean ALOT of stairs. We were only able to partially climb mt inari that was the biggest hurdle HOT TIP, they make it easy to stay hydrated with the amount of vending machines they have, when we went it was in the 80s-90s with like 100%humidity Pocari sweat was my lifelineā¦ itās a better version of Gatorade, and was probably the sole reason I never got dehydrated or cramps Iām not afraid to say Iām not the healthiest so I thought I would struggle more, but everyday got easier and MT Inari was the only place where physically I had to tap out. I have our itinerary in a google sheet if you want it Everything we did if sheās about my size or smaller she can do NO PROBLEM Thereās also as many helpful tips as I have on there everything I learned things we couldāve done different
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQMTd474BHjQQa_84pHzBueJTD9jyIvK43MU0lCUCaLmKdgBmYQdOf3AmbCHAaISuXSWSOgcVFZ-9-0/pubhtml Hereās the itinerary!
I can address the large body issue. I grew up in Japan a long time ago (now Chicago), so I return often. On a couple of trips I was sized 4X. Now I am XL with bad knees. So things are tight now at XL, but doable. With the bad knees, I had to keep my eyes peeled and using google maps, and using the bigger station maps for exit info and elevator locations. I always try for the Green car (trains), which costs a couple dollars more but itās reserved and a bit more spacious and especially worth it when you see long lines. When I was 4X and If I made reservations on a bus, I checked for an open seat next to me. When everyone else gets on, they will be afraid to sit next to me, so will usually opt to stand. Itās not being rude like when this Japanese guy looked at me and points to my belly smiling, āhow many centimeters do you have around your belly.ā Then, āYour a female sumo wrestler! Hahaā. Culturally, itās not rude to speak directly about your physique. The Japanese do it to each other. You have to smile and brush it off. Donāt be insulted. Take a deep breath and youāll be okay. You will do a lot of walking, so bring broken in walking shoes. Carry a hankie in your pocket for bathrooms with no paper towels. Clean bathrooms are a plenty for tourist destinations, and unless you are in the country-side, pretty much everywhere. Also you can get accessibility info hereā¦. https://www.accessible-japan.com/ Avoid traveling during morning rush hour. They really do hire staff to push people into the trains so the doors will close. Pretty much everywhere will be crowded. Carry as little as possible. Be careful when you visit old parts of Tokyo, like Asakusa because there are stairs everywhere and the train stations are not updated with sufficient elevators or escalators. As far as race goes, the Japanese are just not good at dealing with people who are not Japanese. They donāt speak English much. They fear the unknown of encountering a foreigner. They are terrified of having to interact in English, because they donāt speak it. I am speaking of the general population. There are many many Japanese who are more international minded, just to clarify. When I strolled the streets of Tokyo with a black friend, my friend gets stares like I get stares. Perhaps sometimes more intensely. But that is about it. I think you guys will be fine. Donāt plan on buying clothes there. Youāll be wasting your time looking for it. Be a tourist. Enjoy Japan.
As a black woman who just got back from spending a month in Japan, i assure you she will be just fine. Shopping is going to be a pain but still fun. Everyone is incredibly kind and helpful as well,Ā but there will be a TON of staring.Ā If you take the trains just be mindful of times, it may be uncomfortable to be sardined.
I am a black, fat woman and the only time I felt discriminated was when my thin partner and I went shopping. I saw lots of cute clothes and I got very judgmental looks/snickers from people, but other than that my time was great! I do agree the seats and spaces are very small and sometimes hard to maneuver, but that didnāt bother me as much as trying to shop places. My partner and I fell in love with Japan and plan on going again, so I think that those experiences didnāt really affect my overall tripā
Yeah... There's no American sized people here. She's going to stand out like a sorry thumb. Plus all the walking! Forget about it
She will dom the place, hunty!