Welcome to Gaia! ::

yes. it is common practice. it seems strange to us but in Japan it is rare to see a foreigner. japane is a homogenous country. i personally got the royal treatment there because not many black people have lived in the country side. aside from that Japanese do not have the opportunity to meet foreigners in their own country. The Japanese people are are required to study English in their educational system however then dont really get the chance to speak it to a real American, Canadian, Briton and etc. When they see one of us they either freeze up because they feel their English isnt good enough to speak or they walk right up to you and try their English. Its quite fun I think.

I went to China too and had people come up to me asking if they could take my picture and touch my hair.

When you go to Japan (or China) you pretty much get a lot of attention (outside the major cities of course).

Royal treatment? Wow, that actually sucks. I'd leave if that happened to me. Nosey people tick me off. But to hold a conversation with a student who's learning wouldn't bother me. I plan to go there on a summer day, just to see the scenery. Thanks for the warning though xp .