Free websites to make new friends

I'm a little bit frustrated you know? I've been looking for a website in which to find new friends from all ove rthe world but all of them seem to be asking for payment in order to upgrade your membership and be able to contact people.

I mean, take a website like japan-guide. What is the free membership for? you can only send smiles to the people you'd like to contact, but there's no way you can do it unles you upgrade your membership. I took a look at the price and they want 15€ for a month only! that's crazy, I mean, it's more than what I earn by posting on MyLot for a month and definitely too much for someone who hasn't got any job.

What I'd like to know is: do you know any FREE website like japan-guide that lets you meet foreign people by searching for a specific person? for instance I was interested in japanese people because I'd like to know more about their culture and eventually visiting Japan, therefore making new friends who can show me around would be great.

I'm starting to lose any hope:|