I’ve been in Japan for years and I’m German. So I don’t often go out of my way to talk to people but I’ve always tried to help people if I can. I guess you would say I’m a bit shy lol.
Lately with the increase of tourism there’s been an increase in lost or confused tourists. I want to help but I’m very nonconfrontational so I don’t know if it’s rude to help them (yes I know that’s silly) or if I should let them figure it out. I’m specifically referring to when they’re asking for things like directions to locals (randoms, 駅員,店人, etc.) Like should I step in and offer to translate directions or ask if they need any help. Some people like to figure things out on their own, I know I do. Some times you can tell they want to try some Japanese they’ve learned or something like that. I feel I could be helpful being able to speak German, English, Spanish, enough Mandarin to convey directions, and Japanese. I just worry that I’m annoying them.
I’m wondering what others think about this. Thank you.
26 comments
If you helped every tourist looking like they needed help, it’d be impossible to continue on with your day. I help if it’s not too much out of my way.
If I’m out with friends and we’re walking out of the station and I see tourists who look lost and are staring at their maps/phones, I just keep walking with my friends.
If I’m ordering something at a stall/getting something for take out, and the person in front of me or behind me is a tourist who needs help, I’ll help them.
Totally depends on the situation. If I am passing through, unless there is clear trouble or distress, I do nothing. Recently, I did help some people on the train from the airport though, because we were in such a confined space for a long period of time and it was easy to overhear their situation (train schedule and station, etc. there were uncharacteristically long delays and they seemed more panicky than usual because of it). If someone was just generically confused or lost, I would not really help. Those people are usually not alone or have a phone anyways. Part of traveling is stopping and getting your bearings in an unfamiliar place.
Edit: another recent example was at an izakaya, where a waiter couldn’t understand a group of travelers and there was a lot of language confusion. I was on the next table over, so I thought it was appropriate to help
As long as you don’t come across as having “My Japan Syndrome”.
If someone asks for help, I’ll help out within reason. Otherwise, I leave well enough alone.
If someone is asking for help I will help them if I can but I don’t offer unsolicited help unless they look like they’re lost and in distress. It’s been my experience that a lot of foreigners are not particularly friendly when offered unsolicited help or advice from another foreigner.
I always felt bad when I was working in Shinjuku because I’d get approached daily by tourists looking for a spot and I had no idea where it was (but I’d take em to someone that knew and ask).
If I see someone struggling and I’ve got time I help. I’ve been helped in other countries in the past and always appreciate it
If I have time, I’ll help if I can. I have no qualms about accepting “no” or saying I can’t help after all. This goes for any stranger looking distressed, not just tourists.
I always hope someone will offer help if I’m ever lost on the boonies. That’s the kind of society I want to live in.
I’d let them figure it out; that’s part of tourism
If they ask I’ll help. A Spanish speaking couple was lost and was trying to make it back to Hiroshima, same direction I was going. Not speaking any Spanish but profanity and counting to 5, I hand to motion them to follow me to the right track. One station has Hiroshima in the name but isn’t the main stop, they looked to me as if it’s the right one I shock my head and when we got there I nodded and they departed.
I don’t go out of my way to help but I don’t make myself unapproachable either.
They will survive. Most tourists don’t need help and will find it if they do.
Funnily enough, I’ve only ever given directions in Korea, and although I was born there, I’ve never lived there. Multiple times I’ve had tourists asking me in English which train to get on to get where they’re going (even though I’m a tourist myself lol), which I can tell them easily enough since I know my way well enough around the Seoul subway system.
Another time, I was in a convenience store and a Chinese couple was talking to the clerk, but their heavily accented Korean couldn’t convey anything. Their conversation was continuing for a while and going nowhere, so I talked to them in English (I don’t speak Chinese), and their English was also heavily accented, but I could make enough sense of what they were saying to figure out what they wanted to buy.
I’ll help when asked, but wouldn’t really go out of my way to do so
I also helped Japanese tourists who had troubles and problems with communicating with local people when I studied abroad. I just helped them because they were in trouble in front of me.
However, it’s not necessary to help them actively since it’s hard to know whether they are actually in trouble or they just need some time to figure out what to do.
I’d be surprised if someone asked me even though he just wanted to help me. I’d appreciate it but feel awkward at the same time, in my opinion.
It may be helpful but it may be condescending as well.
If you want to do that, it’s better to work in a tourism industry or be a volunteer tour guide.
I work in Shinjuku, so I come across lost or confused tourists every day. I help out someone about once a week or so. It’s usually nothing more than “Does this Oedo Line go to Roppongi?” or “Which track is it for (tourist spot)?” Nothing takes over half a minute.
I mean just go help If you want to help. You probably won’t see them anyways, who cares what they think if you are fine with it. If they are fine with it you might even become friends.
I helped a Dutch guy when he was searching for a nightclub and we went there together and had a great night going to golden gai and nightclub and even met with cute girls in golden gai bar etc.
I’ll help if someone asks me for help but I’m generally not stepping in uninvited unless it’s some kind of emergency
I usually can’t even help the little old Japanese ladies that come up to me asking for directions… I have an absolutely terrible sense of direction and not even Google Maps and hearing someone tell me the directions 5 times helps. So, uh. I’m useless for this. I always try if someone comes up to me or looks really vulnerable and in need of help.
I’ve helped foreigners who look lost when they’re in Osaka station, staring at a map. I just approach them from the side, say hello in English, and ask if they need help with anything.
I’ve been fortunate enough that strangers (usually Japanese people) have helped me in the past when I was lost, so I like to pay it forward.
I never help unless I am asked or it is blatant they need help and are holding up the line or something. I figure if they aren’t asking then they wanna figure it out for themselves
If it’s obvious I try to help…
Took a subway from Yurakucho station the other day.
There were 3 loud American tourists who were holding the door as they hesitated to leave the train.. They weren’t sure if this was Ginza or not. They kept shouting “yo this isn’t Ginza no way”, “look the next station is Ginza yo”. They held the door for like a full min, super obnoxious. Because they saw Ginza 1chome was next.
A Japanese lady was actually trying to help them the best she could, telling them no, Ginza is here, desperately. They ignored her, she left the train, then they started to talk even louder, calling that poor lady a lier. And finally getting off at Ginza 1 Chome “yooooo Ginza here we come yo!”.
Felt sad for that poor lady that went out of her comfort zone to help despite her poor English, only to be ignored and belittled.
So no I didn’t help them lol.
If you have time you can always just ask them if they need help, especially when they are standing and staring at a map or seem lost.
I generally don’t offer to help unless they look concerned or are obviously in a state of panic or confusion.
I used to help more. Especially pre-iphone. But actually I had a couple of people look defensive or annoyed so now I very rarely help.
I have zero issues; we all were new here once.
Today I helped a tourist at the 長崎原爆資料館 because it was a “perfect situation “ he was standing in line in front of me asking the store clerk complicated questions about the 折鶴 on display and she was in the middle of taking out google translate and i just asked him if he’d like me to interpret, he said yes please and they were both super happy. Only took 2-3 mins out of my day and helped people communicate. I don’t go out of my way to do stuff like that, but if it appears in front of me like that ill help, or if someone approaches me asking for directions or help i usually help them.
I’ll ask people if they need help, especially if I’m not in a rush. Most of the time, they just say ‘no, thank you,’ but sometimes they’ll ask for help and I’ll give it. (I’ve been avoiding asking maskless people, though.)
The people who end up needing help I can usually help within two or three minutes. Most of the tourists I end up helping are Japanese: Tokyo ain’t easy no matter where you’re from.
The very first time I had ever visited Japan, I had just dropped off a rental Motorcycle in Akasaka and was trying to make my way back to Yokohama. I didn’t have anything like a pocket wi-fi.
I was down in some station and I was looking confused at the train map when another foreigner walked up to me and asked if I needed help. She didn’t look like a traveler and I assume she was living in Japan.
Anyways, I showed her on my phone where I was hoping to go and she told me I was at the completely wrong station and directed me where to go.
I was super grateful for her help, and whenever I see travelers in Japan I try my best to pay it forward. Though one time in Aomori I tried to tell a couple of young Asian girls visiting from China that they were at the wrong platform and they refused to believe me.
You can’t help everyone.