How to Stay Safe as a Woman in Japan

Japan is generally a safe place but of course it's not perfect. Not to scare you, but stalkers are common (if you didn't know that already) and a threat towards women's general safety actually exists. Don't take stalking lightly, because it can get pretty serious. 

There was this one night when I decided to go out for a walk and sat somewhere and was suddenly groped by a man on a bicycle. It scared me so badly, especially since it happened around my neighborhood. I suddenly felt his hand, and I just froze. I couldn't even scream. Then he just pedaled away.

It terrified me because a) I live alone; and b) I live on the 1st floor (this is strongly unadvised for females by the way... Please don't ask why I still did it). So since then, I've been more alert.

Here's a list of several tips I've received from friends and police officers:

1. Be mindful of what you wear.

No, I am not saying that you should avoid body-hugging dresses, short skirts and plunging necklines. Of course you are free to wear whatever you want, but you must first and foremost be aware that you WILL most likely catch attention. This leads me to my second point.

2. Be mindful of the people around you, especially when you are walking home. There was this one rare time I decided to wear a really short mini skirt. Thankfully, I had a friend with me that time, and thankfully, she noticed an old man following us (and this was just a few steps away from my building). At first we weren't completely sure, so we decided to test it. We kept turning at every corner, and each time, the man would appear. We were slightly terrified. So we ran and stayed somewhere else for about 10 minutes just to make sure.

If you feel like someone is following you, don't allow that person to know where you live. I think turning around and looking that person in the eye would scare him/her off... Or not? What do you guys think?

3. If you take the train everyday going to and from work, switch up the train cars that you use; don't enter just one. My friend was once stalked because she took the same car every time, and so it was easy for a particular man to find her and follow her. She eventually changed her routines and got rid of him. 

4. Before unlocking your door, look around. I was advised to make sure that no one is in sight before going inside. 

5. Upon entering your house, even if you live alone, loudly say, "TADAIMA!" This implies that someone else is in your home. 

6. Do not hang anything outside your house that implicates that you are a girl. I know, this sounds weird. But one time, a police officer knocked on my door and told me to keep my pink umbrella inside the house (I just use black/ clear umbrellas now...).

7. Related to #5, do not hang underwear outside. I have heard stories of stolen bras and panties. Oh, boy.

8. Related to #7, hang at least one manly looking shirt. Again, this sounds strange, but this is a tip I've heard more than once. You'd want to imply that a man lives in your house.

9. Buy pepper spray and carry it with you at all times. 

I bought this off Amazon. It's been over a year and I thankfully haven't had any reason to use it so far. But it helps to just carry it around just in case... You know?

10. Learn some self-defense. Would be quite handy, again, just in case something happens. I looked into Krav Maga and found one in Tokyo (they also offer lessons in Yokohama), which offers free trials. Here is the Krav Maga Global Japan website if you want to look into it.

So there you go! I hope this list was helpful.

If you have any more ideas, please feel free to share in the comments below.