[tommasi]

Yes it is true in the countryside but in big cities like - Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka - you will be fine.

I'm sure there are places in your country as well where foreigners or certain race of people are not so welcomed.

As far as you disallowed to come in to certain places, yes it is true but you are talking about places in the red light districts. Words are already spread and those sex workers know that foreigners bring in STD s. It is also because they don't want to piss off Japanese customers by foreigners taking all of their women.

Also, some of the local bars, don't expect people to let you in unless you can speak Japanese. Those people who run those places do not speak English and if you cannot communicate with them in Japanese, they would ask you to leave for sure. I mean, isn't it normal?

All the foreigners in Japan are referred to as gaijin and people have problem with that because most of them have never been treated as a minority back home. For Japanese, gaijin is not a discriminatory word but because of this reason, foreigners take it offensively. Some Japanese people have never seen foreigners so just let it go. Again, if you can speak the language, it won't be a problem.

For long timers, this gaijin thing is very annoying because no matter how well you speak Japanese or how long you live in Japan, you would always be a gaijin. I know it's fucked up but that's how it is. So when you go to Japan, please choose the location wisely and be prepared.

Good luck!!