As a proud son of Detroit, Mich, raised with deep Mexican-American roots, this journey to Japan began with excitement, and hesitation. In a time when travel under the Trump administration raised questions about how Americans of color might be received abroad, I didn’t know what to expect. Would I be welcomed? Would my ethnicity or the tense political climate back home impact how I was treated?
What I discovered instead was something far more powerful: kindness, curiosity, and a shared love of food, culture, and hospitality.
Day 1: The Long Flight &
a Taste of Japanese Hospitality
The 12-hour flight to Japan immediately introduced me to cultural differences. Instead of a typical hamburger, the airline meal was a patty smothered in mushroom gravy with a side of rice, more meatloaf than McDonald’s. Flight attendants checked in every 10-15 minutes, offering tea, snacks, and smiles. Already, it felt like a country deeply rooted in care and respect.
Day 2–3: Disney Dreams
and a Coca-Cola Mishap
Tokyo Disneyland was magical, hotter than Michigan, but worth every drop of sweat. The Monorail, built exclusively for Disney, made travel easy. Nearly every staff member spoke English, making the park feel incredibly accessible. By Day 3, I learned that not everything translates the same: a mislabeled Coca-Cola turned out to be a laxative! Still, DisneySea’s night show fireworks, boats, characters dancing under castle lights made up for any discomfort.
Day 4–5: From Tourist Traps
to Authentic Tokyo
Moving into Ginza, the real Japan unfolded. English was scarce. Hotel rooms? Tiny. Yet it was here I felt the most welcomed. A translator-turned-tour guide named Scott (@scott_tokyotourguide) showed us the true heart of the city. We ate sandwiches from Family Mart better than many U.S. restaurants. I saw suited Uber drivers, respectful to a fault, refusing to let passengers open their own doors. It felt foreign, but in a beautifully intentional way.
Day 6: Walking Through History
Shibuya’s buzzing streets showed two sides of Japan—samurai traditions and a deep respect for community. Scott explained why people walk on the left in Tokyo (samurai logic!) and the right in Okinawa (merchant culture). We ended the day in Cat Street, walking past luxury boutiques, closed thrift stores, and fashion-forward locals.
Day 7–8: Speed Racing
& Bamboo Climbing
My girlfriend channeled her inner Mario Andretti while go-karting through Tokyo’s packed roads. I struggled to keep up. Later, on a bullet train to Kyoto, I was blown away by efficiency and cleanliness. The following day, the 97-degree heat didn’t stop us from hiking to the iconic Bamboo Forest. Japan’s vending machines, strategically placed and well-stocked, were lifesavers.
This trip began with fear— fear of being judged, of being turned away, of being othered. But from the airline staff to street vendors, tour guides to Uber drivers, Japan offered respect, warmth, and fascination with who I was: a Mexican-American from Detroit traveling the world.
Despite the policies back home, I was never treated as less than.
Raul Garcia