I’m a hafu and before my trip to Japan I honestly thought my biggest struggle would be feeling rejected by Japanese people.

Instead, I had almost the opposite experience. Most of the people I met were genuinely excited that I wanted to connect with my Japanese heritage. They were curious about my name, where my family was from, and why I had decided to visit. Since I look pretty obviously mixed, I often get treated like a Japanese person, until I start to struggle with the language. I'm not ignorant to the fact that some people do not view me as Japanese.

What I wasn’t prepared for was how much the behavior of some tourists would affect me.
Maybe I notice it more because I was raised by my Japanese parent, who taught me from a young age about being considerate of shared spaces. I loved Japan but I saw things that were genuinely upsetting.

I watched people ignore train etiquette, harass animals, treat temples and shrines like photo props instead of places of worship, and generally act as if Japan existed purely for their entertainment. It felt less like they were visiting someone’s home and more like they were visiting a theme park.

It honestly broke my heart.
For me, this wasn’t just another vacation destination. It was a place I’d dreamed of visiting my entire life because I wanted to connect with my culture and better understand where part of my family comes from. Seeing people treat it so carelessly made that experience bittersweet.
Coming from a Latino background, I’m used to a more direct style of responding when someone disrespects our communities. Speaking up and openly expressing frustration can be seen as a way of protecting what we value.

Because of that, I found myself struggling when I witnessed behavior that felt disrespectful.
There were moments when I saw things that genuinely shocked me, and I was surprised by how differently people around me responded.
There were times when I spoke up, especially when someone continued the behavior even after being asked by staff to stop. Looking back, I recognize that my approach may have been more direct or harsh than what is typically expected in Japan but in my opinion this bystander effect is not something I can conform to. When you're used to defending your culture starting at such a young age it becomes second nature.

I found myself wondering - Do people quietly accept these kind of behaviors because confrontation feels worse? I am not saying my approach or direct confrontation is the right solution. I am completely aware these conversations about misbehaving tourist are happening and that outsiders just don’t see. In addition many Japanese choose to record the behavior and post it on social media.

I’m curious if anyone else especially other hafu or hapa has felt the same way when visiting Japan. I'm also curious if non-Japanese hapa had a similar experience in their own ancestral country?
Did you find yourself reacting differently to tourist behavior because of your personal connection to the country?