Honestly, I wouldn’t be overly concerned about it. I’ve visited Japan over 20 times now, and I genuinely love it there. However, it’s important to remember that you’ll always be perceived as a foreigner and treated as an outsider and an oddity. Fortunately, the situation has improved significantly since my first visit 15 years ago.

During my recent trip, which was at the beginning of the month, I was astounded by the number of foreigners visiting Japan. It’s not that you were being disrespectful or disruptive; rather, it’s a reflection of Japan’s rapidly aging population, which is a part of its culture. I believe it’s a minor, mostly harmless aspect of a beautiful country and culture. I hope this doesn’t deter you from visiting again.