What are some places to avoid when traveling in Japan?
I will be giving Kabukicho and other red light districts a wide berth. However, I don’t know what the other Tokyo red light districts are. In Osaka, Soemon-cho was described as an adult entertainment district where touts ask if you want prostitutes and there are adult stores everywhere. In Kyoto, there is Pontocho Alley which I’ve heard is sketchy too.
Am I missing anything else?
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Pontocho is not sketchy or dangerous. Lots of good food there
I wouldnt consider Kabukicho dangerous. Just don’t follow the touts. There’s so many people there
I stayed in Kabuchiko back in 2018 and had no problem.
There’s a bit of a red light district around Gotanda, but you weren’t likely to be going there anyway. I don’t think there’s anything particularly unsafe about the area though. Overall, wouldn’t worry about it. Kabukicho is fine to wander around in too – it’s not dangerous in the sense that you’re going to get stabbed there or anything.
Neither of those places are dangerous. While I know the country has crimes like any other country; I, as a young, relatively small woman, have never felt safer wandering around a city at night as I did in Tokyo/everywhere else in Japan. I spent six weeks there, stayed out until late at night, every night, and felt so damn safe it was almost ridiculous. Both of the places you mentioned are beautiful at after dark and are wonderful life experiences! Like visiting New Orleans on Halloween or the night markets of Singapore.
Also I was on holiday the entire time, not for school/work. So, I did all of the tourist and off the beaten track things from Sapporo to Fukuoka, Kanazawa to Miyajima, Niseko to Fujiyama, Noboribetsu to Yufuin, etc. I barely slept lmao
The area around Shinseikai in Osaka was supposed to be notoriously sketchy and dangerous in Japan. I had no idea, stayed for a week, enjoyed the stay, and returned to the area for two more stays before learning of its “sketchiness”.
If that’s the worse Japan can offer, I won’t consider anywhere in Japan dangerous.
Anyone who considers pontocho sketchy wouldn’t consider anywhere safe to walk at night lol. It’s not a red light district, it’s a street full of restaurants and bars. If you find yourself in an actual red light district just ignore the touts and anyone else soliciting you and you will be fine.
If you know what you’re doing in Tokyo and don’t mind the touts (which should be -very careful- not to bother you if they want to keep their license), Yoshiwara is an interesting walk.
I stayed in Kabukicho in April this year and the touts are completely harmless if you just disregard them or say “no thanks, not interested”. Pontocho alley is actually really nice and full of amazing foods, nothing dangerous at all.
There is no no go area in Japan. Just don’t follow sketchy guys in rip off bars and you will have pretty much no problem wherever you are in Japan.
None of those places are dangerous. Kabuki-cho is an entertainment district. They all are. They’re full of people going to arcades, bars and restaurants as well as the other benign stuff. There’s a famous-ish movie theatre in Kabuki-cho that has Godzilla’s head on it.
If you’re a woman or with a woman you’re invisible to the touts.
This kind of stuff is pretty common in Japan, anyway. Akihabara has a bunch of adult stores, including Japan’s largest. It’s right by the station.
Just got back and never felt unsafe or on edge. The touts in Kabukicho are easy to brush off and not aggressive, in my experience. In Osaka, I was regularly solicited for a “massage”, but same deal, just say no thanks.
Kabukicho isn’t dangerous lol, just ignore the touts and you should be good. Rule of thumb usually is that red light districts aren’t that dangerous since they don’t want unnecessary attention and police all the time
I had my hotel in shin-imamiya when i was in Osaka. I should have done more research, i have never seen that many homeless people around in my entire life. By day they walk around drinking beer from the extremely cheap vending machines, and by night they all sleep in the middle of the street. They didnt harass me personally, just sometimes they screamed good morning at me, but it made me feel unsafe getting back to the hotel at night. The reception also closed at like 5pm because and opened again at 9 because of it, probably
Kabukicho really isn’t that dangerous as long as you don’t follow a barker into their weird bar. All you have to do is walk past them and ignore them and you’ll be fine
I’ve never followed a tout, but is it possible to accidentally walk into one of these bars they try to get people in? All of those businesses are just off in random buildings aren’t they?
Just want to make sure I can go into other kabukicho businesses or know which ones to avoid.
I’ve never felt in danger anywhere in Japan and I’ve been there over a dozen times, even walking around major cities at night felt safe
It’ll be fine if you go there, just don’t follow any African touts into bars
I was wary of kabichiko as a solo male traveller after hearing incessantly about how they target solo males. I just finished my trip there and can say my local bus stop in a small Canadian town is more sketch than kabichiko lol. Just don’t a.) get wasted before/during your stay and b.) don’t follow touts into sketchy looking areas away from the crowds. It really isn’t rocket science.
Some places to avoid:
Mt Fuji when it’s not climbing season (definitely dangerous)
I think the Daikiretto sounds pretty dangerous if you’re not an actual mountain climber.
The no entry zone on Mt. Shirane
I’m sure there are lots of other unsafe areas in Japan.
Osaka Nishinari, especially in Airin district. Many tuberculosis patient, drug addicts, and criminals gathering around to hide. I once went part time there for construction site, found criminal who’s from Miyazaki province. I heard couple stories from them. There are Yakuza too.
People are pretty chill, and they gonna ask you for a cigarette. If you are woman and went there in midnight… Well, you gonna get raped. Best of luck not going there deep inside.
Only ‘dangerous’ places are remote mountainous areas for hiking.
Because bears.
And no people / treacherous trails.
But even those dangers you can mitigate.
I’d say Japan is by far the safest country you could possibly travel to
Kabukicho isn’t too bad. Just ignore the touts. Tbh, i actually haven’t encountered any dangerous areas in Japan since moving here, and I semi regularly visit the industrial districts in Chiba and Kawasaki for urban photography.
Kabukicho isn’t dangerous at all if you don’t follow the touts.
My first time in Japan I stayed in Kabukicho. On the way to the hotel I watched someone walk into Don Quijote on Godzilla Road, and leave their roller bag at the door. It was still there when they were done shopping.
Kabukicho isn’t dangerous. I’ve stayed in two different areas and it’s fine. You’ll miss out if you avoid it. It’s colourful and full of people enjoying themselves.
I remember walking back to the hotel on the west side of Ikebukuro station and a guy, obviously Yakuza, stopped me to ask if I wanted a massage
Uh oh, how am I gonna get out of this now… “no sorry, very tired” I said, hoping he wouldn’t try to convince me over and over
He didn’t insist once, in fact he shook my hand and wished me a good night
That’s how “dangerous” Japan is, unless you’re actively asking for troubles
Calling Kabuchiko dangerous is a bit misguided. Just ignore the touts and it’s like any other place in the city.
Nowhere in Japan is that dangerous other than environmental factors and dodgy roads in the country 😂
What country are you from? Everywhere has crime problems, but Japan has less. Just avoid touts. Any business that tries to drag you in is dubious in any country.
There aren’t dangerous places in Japan…maybe a forest full of bears or the top of a mountain?
There are dangerous activities though, avoid drugs, prostitution or anything else the touts on the street might offer you.
I don’t think there is any place in Japan that is sketchy if you are sensible and mind your own business as a male. Unfortunately if you are female things can be sketchy around not busy train stations after midnight especially on Friday / Saturday nights when there are drunk guys lurking about.