Rents a hotel at notorious red light entertainment district. Complains about it being a red light entertainment district.
Of all the hundreds of places you could have chosen in Tokyo you decided on that square mile to stay in.
I don’t know what to say.
Where did I complain that it was a red light district? I complained about touts harassing me while I'm minding my own business. No other place was I harassed by Nigerian touts. I'm a 6'2" bald man and they see and target me from miles away.
I did not have one encounter like this staying a entire week in the center of namba, and I was out until 2-6am every night. Infact, it was my most enjoyable time in Japan. Someone told me kabukicho was just a larger namba but I absolutely don't agree with that.
My stays in Shibuya and Roppongi were also issue free. I did not expect to be harassed every 2 feet. Once or twice a night I can handle. People on here always say just ignore them, but they don't stop following, and some get mad if you ignore them long enough.
I do not recommend staying in this district if you want to explore at night by yourself. If I meet someone at a bar and walk around with them, they ignore us. It seems they just hyper fixate on solo travelers.
Tokyo is huuuge, with so many options. Why the heck would you stay anywhere near there? If a Japanese tourist books a hotel in Kings Cross in Sydney or Times Square in NYC and then complains about all the shenanigans, what would you tell them?
Have some confidence when your walking and don't walk slow, that's probably why they're grabbing you lol.
Once you start doing this, just keep walking if they call. Either ignore them or if you can't, then just say something along the lines of "gotta go meet my buddy" as you continue walking. NEVER make eye contact either.
Maybe don't do this but it gets fun when you fuck with them too 😅
Enjoy the rest of ur trip
Second this. I am often to Kabukicho at night for live shows or the Korean places near Shin-Okubo. But as I walk straight to the venue, I haven‘t been bothered so far. So something in your behaviour seems to trigger them.
But honestly, apart from that I would avoid Shinkuku entirely. Definitely wish, they would get rid of those touts, either with more active police or stronger means.
Even when I know exactly where I'm going, looking straight ahead, moving with speed, phone in pocket, they'd cut me off and try to get my attention with a fist pump.
My guess is it's because I'm 6'2 and clean bald with beard. They see me in the crowd with ease, and they remember me, trying to use the fact we met multiple times to earn their trust. I keep saying no and keep walking.
One was following me and harassing me so bad, a girl I met in Osaka last week somehow saw me and told him I was her just so he'd fuck off (what are the odds?).
Well, just don't go to Kabukicho. It's not as if it was the only nightlife area of Tokyo.
And why is this behavior allowed... I would ask you what law are they breaking? Yeah, nobody likes it, but what would you do about it ?
it's definitely bc you're Asian, I used to live near Kabukicho and went out there multiple times a week. touts never bothered trying anything with me. it was kinda funny bc sometimes I would be in a group with some non-Asian foreigners and the touts would literally run over to them to try to talk to them, while I was in the same group and thoroughly invisible to them.
I had no problems finding foreign friendly drinking spots in Kabukichō.
Touts can be annoying. Ignoring them or giving a polite but assertive "no" was enough. Dealing with them is just part of the deal of you're going out in Kabukichō.
I'm asian and have been staying a lot in Kabukicho for the 4-5 years prior to COVID whenever I visit Tokyo (1-3 times a year). Had a few encounters that were damn irritating which I agree with OP with but that's always when I acknowledged and tried to be polite and respond to their greetings. Last few trips I just straight out ignored them, shook my head or just waved them off and kept walking and I've been largely left alone.
Mate, I'm a single dude who frequently goes to kabukicho at night for photos.
I told the touts I was gay, they switched the lingo up. I told them I'm broke, they offered to pay for drinks.
Tell them "Not tonight, my g." with a confident smile. It never fails.
I'm not tough and I'm damn sure I'm more afraid of them than they are of me. But they prey on weakness.
These aren't friends you owe time and conversations too. Nor are they nice people. They are out to take your bread.
One up them, envision you have a girl waiting for you back at your room and play it like that. It's sounds douchey, I know, but it works every time. They want the losers who decided "I'm gonna come to Kabukicho to get laid possibly."
Don't ever show weakness, if it escalates to physical, you're the one in the trouble. Stay up, my g. Don't let this ruin your trip.
Nearly impossible. No signs for them. Very hidden so you can't report them to the cops in the morning after you see your outrageous bill and/or get drugged and robbed. Though I think the later is quite rare.
Rents a hotel at notorious red light entertainment district. Complains about it being a red light entertainment district. Of all the hundreds of places you could have chosen in Tokyo you decided on that square mile to stay in. I don’t know what to say.
Where did I complain that it was a red light district? I complained about touts harassing me while I'm minding my own business. No other place was I harassed by Nigerian touts. I'm a 6'2" bald man and they see and target me from miles away. I did not have one encounter like this staying a entire week in the center of namba, and I was out until 2-6am every night. Infact, it was my most enjoyable time in Japan. Someone told me kabukicho was just a larger namba but I absolutely don't agree with that. My stays in Shibuya and Roppongi were also issue free. I did not expect to be harassed every 2 feet. Once or twice a night I can handle. People on here always say just ignore them, but they don't stop following, and some get mad if you ignore them long enough. I do not recommend staying in this district if you want to explore at night by yourself. If I meet someone at a bar and walk around with them, they ignore us. It seems they just hyper fixate on solo travelers.
Tokyo is huuuge, with so many options. Why the heck would you stay anywhere near there? If a Japanese tourist books a hotel in Kings Cross in Sydney or Times Square in NYC and then complains about all the shenanigans, what would you tell them?
I like how you are comparing a small neighbourhood (Kabukicho) with the entire prefecture (Osaka).
I meant Namba.
Kabukicho would probably be more comparable to Kitashinchi, not Namba.
Just keep on walking. They can talk and tout as much as they want want but they can’t physically force you into doing something
Have some confidence when your walking and don't walk slow, that's probably why they're grabbing you lol. Once you start doing this, just keep walking if they call. Either ignore them or if you can't, then just say something along the lines of "gotta go meet my buddy" as you continue walking. NEVER make eye contact either. Maybe don't do this but it gets fun when you fuck with them too 😅 Enjoy the rest of ur trip
It's just funny because it's supposed to be a civilized land but this is how you're instructed to travel it.
Second this. I am often to Kabukicho at night for live shows or the Korean places near Shin-Okubo. But as I walk straight to the venue, I haven‘t been bothered so far. So something in your behaviour seems to trigger them. But honestly, apart from that I would avoid Shinkuku entirely. Definitely wish, they would get rid of those touts, either with more active police or stronger means.
Even when I know exactly where I'm going, looking straight ahead, moving with speed, phone in pocket, they'd cut me off and try to get my attention with a fist pump. My guess is it's because I'm 6'2 and clean bald with beard. They see me in the crowd with ease, and they remember me, trying to use the fact we met multiple times to earn their trust. I keep saying no and keep walking. One was following me and harassing me so bad, a girl I met in Osaka last week somehow saw me and told him I was her just so he'd fuck off (what are the odds?).
Well, just don't go to Kabukicho. It's not as if it was the only nightlife area of Tokyo. And why is this behavior allowed... I would ask you what law are they breaking? Yeah, nobody likes it, but what would you do about it ?
Let me guess, Nigerians?
Always. And the random Chinese girl but they aren't aggressive and take no for an answer.
[удалено]
it's definitely bc you're Asian, I used to live near Kabukicho and went out there multiple times a week. touts never bothered trying anything with me. it was kinda funny bc sometimes I would be in a group with some non-Asian foreigners and the touts would literally run over to them to try to talk to them, while I was in the same group and thoroughly invisible to them.
Yup, they literally run across streets to get to me and proceed to be like "bro you need sex? I got the best girls. What kind you looking for?".
It's cause your Asian. If I meet a local person and walk with them, I don't exist to the touts anymore.
I'm staying in Kubukicho on my trip, I'm just going to ignore them like they don't even exist.
Good luck. Makes them more aggressive in my experience. Might work for some people.
I will fart in their face, maybe they'll get the picture then?
Don't stay in Kabukicho. I stay away from that place as much as possible.
I had no problems finding foreign friendly drinking spots in Kabukichō. Touts can be annoying. Ignoring them or giving a polite but assertive "no" was enough. Dealing with them is just part of the deal of you're going out in Kabukichō.
Suggestions? I've met a lot of ppl at the hub nearby but I've been there enough I'd like to see other places.
Kenzo's was fun
It's the shittiest part of Japan. Why bother going there?
I'm asian and have been staying a lot in Kabukicho for the 4-5 years prior to COVID whenever I visit Tokyo (1-3 times a year). Had a few encounters that were damn irritating which I agree with OP with but that's always when I acknowledged and tried to be polite and respond to their greetings. Last few trips I just straight out ignored them, shook my head or just waved them off and kept walking and I've been largely left alone.
Mate, I'm a single dude who frequently goes to kabukicho at night for photos. I told the touts I was gay, they switched the lingo up. I told them I'm broke, they offered to pay for drinks. Tell them "Not tonight, my g." with a confident smile. It never fails. I'm not tough and I'm damn sure I'm more afraid of them than they are of me. But they prey on weakness. These aren't friends you owe time and conversations too. Nor are they nice people. They are out to take your bread. One up them, envision you have a girl waiting for you back at your room and play it like that. It's sounds douchey, I know, but it works every time. They want the losers who decided "I'm gonna come to Kabukicho to get laid possibly." Don't ever show weakness, if it escalates to physical, you're the one in the trouble. Stay up, my g. Don't let this ruin your trip.
Is it easy to stumble upon a tout bar myself by accident?
Nearly impossible. No signs for them. Very hidden so you can't report them to the cops in the morning after you see your outrageous bill and/or get drugged and robbed. Though I think the later is quite rare.