Expat Advice: Relationships in Tokyo, Japan

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Tokyo

What is your current status? Are you single, dating, in a long-term relationship, married or divorced?

Single

What is it like in your country of residence for someone with your relationship status (married/divorced/dating)? If you're single, how do you meet other people? Do English-speaking people tend to gravitate to certain parts of your city?

If you are a foreign woman (white, latino, asian, black, etc.), it would be quite difficult to date a Japanese man or even a foreign man. Among the different ethnicities mentioned, Asian women have a slightly "better" chance to meet a guy. But that doesn't say much.....

As for foreign men, it's sad but their seemed to be a preference for white men. Caucasian men almost instantaneously would be able to date a woman the moment they arrive in Japan. I think this is a sad reflection of certain built-in culture bias.

Single folks meet people through work or school. I had some classmates from back home who were living in Japan so I met more friends through them. I created my network of friends by meeting friends of friends.

English-speaking people definitely tend to hang out together. As for gravitating towards certain parts of Tokyo, I don't think so except Western men like to go to Roppongi because of the bar scene. I DO NOT recommend a foreign woman to venture that area alone at night.

What would be the best advice you could give someone with your relationship status that lives in your country of residence? Any other thoughts?

I think as a single woman, Tokyo's extremely difficult to meet a partner. I am not sure about the lesbian scene. That could be different. But for heterosexual non-Japanese women, it's tough.

Be prepared!!!! I am speaking from my own experience as well as nearly all my foreign women friends'