I’m looking into some summer programs in Tokyo and I noticed some of them offer the chance to stay with a japanese family. I think that could be a really great immersion experience but Im worried that it may not be a good idea as a poc with some pretty large and sometimes visible tattoos. Does anyone have any advice/insight/experience around this?
3 comments
I do not, but I wish you the best of luck and commend you for being brave enough to ask this question on reddit. I sadly do not think you are likely to get very sympathetic responses on reddit, especially not on this sub.
given that this depends heavily on the family you’d be staying with, and the area you’d be staying in, and the community, i’d foremost be very up front about it and try to interview the families and ask *their* opinions on it. some might not mind at all, some might warn you that it’s not a good idea there. if it’s through some kind of agency, talk to them as well. i doubt you’re the first person with this kind of question for them.
IME there not many homestays in Tokyo. Most of my friends stayed in some school dorm, school facilitated shared apartment, or found their own temporary housing. I can think of two people I knew on homestay, but maybe there were a few more.
Part of the issue is that many Tokyo people live in (very) small apartments.
So don’t feel defeated if you don’t get assigned a homestay.
Also, if you want to check out a sento, there are some that are OK with tatoos.