Hi there
I’ve (26F) been to Japan before in 2019, adored it and am planning to return in early December.
I am only visiting Tokyo this time as last time I was mostly in Kyoto and didn’t get to fully explore Tokyo. I will be there for 10 days.
I want to split my trip into two main locations – I’m thinking 4 nights in either Ueno or Tokyo Station area and 4 nights in Shibuya (spending one night in Narita due to flight time). This is because I want to be able to travel to areas closer to those sides of Tokyo and I figured it’s easier to be based in those locations and cover those areas in one go, rather than going back and forth all over the place, maybe even saving some money here and there because I like walking. I considered finding one good central hotel, but honestly, the idea of moving spots mid trip doesn’t bother me.
Are there any areas I should avoid at certain times or in general? I understand Japan to be one of the safest countries for a solo female traveler but I also still want to keep my wits about me and be informed. I don’t really want to be around heavy “alcohol areas” at night or clubbing areas. Night life is not my thing, but I do want to appreciate the Christmas lights so would walk in areas populated with other people.
I plan to visit some of the main hotspots, but I also like walking along the one way roads and just taking in Tokyo, so it’s important to me to be able to wander and just get lost (figuratively) in the streets.
I had certain areas I definitely want to visit – Harajuku, Shibuya (incl. Daikanyama & Naka-meguro, Asakusa, Yanaka, and Kagurazaka.
With these in mind I figured Shibuya central is a good base for the Western areas and Ueno for the connections via Ueno station (skyliner too), walking to Asakusa & Ueno Park, etc. Tokyo Station area seems like a good second choice if Ueno is not recommended.
Any advice is appreciated 🙂
26 comments
Tokyo like the rest of Japan is one of the safest places on earth
If you want to avoid drinking/ prostitution areas at night, which, even if safe, can I guess be annoying if you have touts or drunkards around later at night, then maybe avoid Shinjuku Eastern side (esp. Kabukicho), Ikebukuro backstreets, backstreets in Ueno, Shibuya mostly on the back of the Dogenzaka / Love hotel hill, Roppongi, Shinbashi on the West, Akasaka Mitsuke – Akasaka area, Otsuka esp. Northwestern side, Uguisudani, Yoshiwara (though for that one you’d really need to go there -on purpose- to get lost at night) and maybe Kinsicho southern side.
Keep in mind that it remains safe, on the main roads it’s as safe as it can get, you most likely won’t get into trouble if you don’t purposefully look for it, but if you’re not confortable with it you don’t -have to- go there.
As a solo female traveller, you should probably avoid Ueno/Uguisudani area and Minami-Senju areas at night.
Ueno/Uguisudani area is where the both homeless population of Kanto area congregates and where less savoury love hotels are found. Minami-Senju is where some of the flophouses are still located, although area does undergo gentrification. This may result in a fairly unpleasant experiences, though rarely dangerous one.
Now, the other problem is that any area that is convenient from tourist standpoint, because of all the eateries and such is going to be a relatively heavy drinking area. Thus said, Japanese drinking culture is very different from western male binge drinking, so unless you plan to extensively use the subway/JR Yamanote line after 10 am or before 6am – you may not even notice it.
It’s just a simple fact of life in Japan: areas filled with people = area filled with bars and izakayas and such for the most part. But the fact it that unless you actively go into Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, Nonbei Yokocho or Harmonica Yokocho – they are not in your face. And even if your hotel would be opposite one of major night clubs in Shibuya, you may not really notice it, because sound insulation in Japan works. You may want to avoid Roppongi or Kabukicho/Shin-Okubo perhaps, however, otherwise you’d be fine.
Also note that unless you have a specific experience in mind – there is really no point in moving hotels in Tokyo. The difference between accessing an area from Tokyo/Ueno and Shinjuku/Shibuya is usually less than 20-25 minutes at worst.
In general you’ll be fine. Just like any other place you visit, just be cautious of your surroundings (love hotels, host clubs, red lanterns, etc) and who you’re talking to. Don’t be too trustworthy with strangers. Take notice if you see someone following you. Any business, you can go in and let them know if you don’t feel safe.
Are you using a tour group? I think it’s still required for foreigners and they don’t really let you go off and explore random places from my understanding, but a stroll in the neighborhood you’re staying in should be okay.
From my perspective (also female, but living in Tokyo and tend to go out by myself) I wouldn’t be worried about avoiding any particular areas, but just keep an eye out for particular behaviors in general. Anyone following you, trying to encroach on your personal space when there’s ample other space available etc. You’ve said your not too interested in the nightlife vibe but might go see some Xmas illuminations, which are mainly crowds of families, couples and other tourists, so with that in mind, it sounds like the dark alleys of Kabukicho or Shinjuku etc aren’t on your to-do list. Like I said, it’s more particular behaviors from anyone to be conscious of, but I think that’s also a global consideration! Have fun!
A male opinion, If you don’t do clubbing, then I don’t think Tokyo really had any bad areas. The main problem that foreign men seem to have is getting caught up with touts, and as a woman, they are not going to approach you. I’ve been to all the ‘worst’ places in Tokyo. I did all the random getting lost, walking around stuff as well.
It honestly seems like western women worry more about what can happen in Japan based on their home country, than what will actually happen. A drunkard salaryman on the train professing his hate for foreigners is the worst most tourists face, and even that doesn’t happen very much. Most people male or female have zero problems.
Even though I’m a guy, I can still sense danger when it’s there. If I’m downtown in my home city, I have eyes in the back of my head, and I’m on point. You can let that guard down in Japan, and it seems like your previous visit was just fine, you did some Tokyo right?
Someone mentioned Minami Senju, and while yes that area looks shady for Tokyo, even Japanese women by themselves weren’t on edge at 12AM.
Personally, I wouldn’t waste valuable time moving hotels. Transportation is so good that you don’t really need to. Find one hotel you like and stick to it.
I’m a woman living in Tokyo and I go anywhere I like.
I would only advise against drinking/clubbing in Roppongi – spiked drinks are a thing there, and sometimes bad things happen to women – you don’t want rape to be something you remember Tokyo by – and obviously in general just keeping your wits about you, like you would anywhere. If anyone tries to talk to you on the street and get you into a bar, obviously just keep walking. Don’t go with them, don’t engage.
I would also recommend staying in one hotel the whole time. Shibuya is always a good choice. Lugging luggage through the city to change hotels is a pain.
Basically be cautious anywhere remotely close to a US Military base
Near any US military bases. Proceed with caution
I am surprised at some of the comments. In general Japan is safe, however, crimes exist. Many Americans just don’t recognize what is going on due to the cultural differences. Culture differences= differences in crime. As most people here said, in general, you should be safe. Be careful because it’s hard to perceive “dangerous” situation. Your “gut feelings” may not work like it does in your home culture. Two men attempted to pull me into a car in Tokyo, a block from the popular, crowded Shibuya train station. This happened early evening, I had not been drinking and it was the very first night I arrived in Japan. Fortunately, I got away and ran to two young girls walking a half a block away. I speak the language(I know the language and culture/ college major). I spent the night going through books of mug shots at the police box right next to Shibuya. I also had a taxi driver drive me to a hotel as opposed to my requested location. He would stalk me in his car when ever he saw me. By all means go to Japan but don’t be naive.
I think you already have plenty of good advice. Some basic advice of places to avoid and to be aware of your surroundings.
Central Shibuya has a lot of drunk people out at night (especially for the weekends). Generally you shouldn’t experience any problems, but you’ll see drunk people around.
Also note that there are other things to avoid like don’t go into a business that someone drags you into, even someone who befriends you at a bar and suggests you go somewhere else. Be careful people who like buddhist monks handing you things. Sometimes they will hand you something and then request money for it and refusing to take it back. It’s a known scam. Be aware of cults…although I don’t think you’d get sucked into a cult while on vacation.
In general Tokyo is pretty safe. I lived in Los Angeles for many years and visited some tougher parts of New York and Chicago so Japan feels very safe. You shouldn’t let your guard down just in case.
Male here, but I did things that would have set off my “sketchy alarm” here in a US city, but in Tokyo I felt completely safe and even felt weird that I thought something bad would happen.
One night (around 11?) I walked from Shin-Okubo station to my hotel on the northern edge of Kabukicho through a back alley (that was actually semi-residential), and passed a group or two of people, and it was never an “oh fuck, this was a mistake, I need to avoid them” feeling.
An exception: I wandered Senso-ji in Asakusa one night on the walk back to my hotel because it was rainy and the place had barely anyone there, and a “monk” approached me asking for a “donation” and gave me a little prayer card or something. When I gave him 400¥ he looked sad, took out a notebook, and showed me a list of past donations that were like 5000¥, and I went “nah, forget it,” and went to give him back his latte prayer card thing, but he waved it off and said bye. He was posted up near the Five Story Pagoda and probably came over to me as an easy mark since he saw me taking pics of it. That was probably the sketchiest situations I didn’t put myself in knowingly. There are def people there at tourist spots that can smell a tourist and will try to take advantage of our naïveté to get some coin.
At night you’ll be surrounded by some drunk people heading to bars (but it’s not just young people that you might be sketched out by) or people socialiIng around stations like Shibuya, but that’s more of a nuisance that gets in your way as you’re trying to walk around or anything. You shouldn’t hang outside of the storage lockers at the Shibuya Scramble at 11pm drinking a Strong Zero by yourself, but it felt okay passing by with your head down on your way back to your hotel or wherever. You’ll get some touts in Akihabara or Shinjuku, but just keep walking and ignore them even if they try to speak some English to get your attention.
I lived in Tokyo for 5 years and only had one bad experience. It was in Roppongi. It all could have been avoided if I wasn’t stupid and drunk. I went into a Nigerian bar and used my debit card to pay. My bank account was cleaned out the next day. The bank gave me all of my money back but it was still a pain to deal with. If it feels shady you probably should just avoid it. The vast majority of Japan is ultra safe.
The advice given so far is pretty good, in terms of areas and switching hotels. I’m a woman, mid 30’s, I’ve been living in Japan for five years and while I wouldn’t say Japan is totally safe and there’s never anything to worry about it is largely safe.
Two bits of advice: avoid taking the last train, and if you feel worried at any time or think you’re being followed or something similar go into the nearest convenience store. You’re likely close to one at all times, there’s at least one other person there, and if you feel the need they can call the police for you.
Minami-Senju. There is the really narrow area for those homeless. They are those who chose to live as that way. So, a little scary. But they are mostly so old (mostly over 65 years old) now that you can easily run away even if some troubles occur.
Not a female but when I went the only places I felt uncomfortable were Kabukicho, and some back streets in Ikebukuro, and even then mainly just after sundown. But these types of places are pretty noticeable as there’s usually girls or security looking dude’s hanging outside the doors.
I’ve been to Tokyo alone. Like others have said, I’d just stick to avoiding the red light districts at night (Shinjuku, backstreets of Ikebukuro, etc). I’ve only had one issue and it was in a smaller neighborhood called Hatagaya in Shibuya. I stayed in a hostel/hotel there and a drunk guy outside a Family Mart kept asking me to drink with him and then smacked me on the ass when I walked away.
I’d probs avoid Roppongi 5-chome after like 1 am it’s pretty seedy. But you really wouldn’t be there alone anyway.
3 years ago I was stumbling around Kabukicho late at night walking through the most tout infested areas. I saw plenty of OL (office ladys) walking by themselves home late at night. They were pretty unbothered, of course on every street there were plenty of other people around.
Roppongi was one of the only areas in which I felt unsafe as a solo female traveller last time I was in Japan (2019). In the day it was fine; after about 6pm it was quite intimidating/felt unsafe.
The only other area I can think of in the backstreets of Ikebukuro after about 8pm, where lots of love hotels were. But that wasn’t too bad, just a little unexpected compared to the main streets I’d been exploring in the day.
People say avoid red lights districts, but tbh you’ll get more problems from weird Japanese dudes on the train trying to film up your skirt or something.
If you have time, Odaiba is also a cool place to visit. Lots of malls, good food, things to look at/ do, and the giant Gundam. It’s just south of Tokyo and the train ride can take a while to get there from wherever you are staying at
Roppongi is a place I’d definitely avoid as a single female. Had my sketchiest experience there (got out ok) but would only go there with a group
This is an advice I was given when I first came to a big city: when you see a female homeless person on the street, turn back and never enter the area again.
Hey, another solo traveller here. The only uncomfortable experiences I ever had in Japan was in Ueno during the day.
A guy was following me and smelling my hair, he was not discrete at all and I had to hide in a shop until he left. Not sure how long he followed me for but when I went inside the store he stopped outside and waited. Later the same day the Nigerian guys who promote clubs kept asking me to go with then.
I’ve walked in Kabukicho drunk and late at night without issues, same on Shin Okubo or even on the last train so I found it ironic that all those were fine but not a weekday in the middle of the day.