Is Tokyo dangerous?

Question

I've heard some scary things about Tokyo and some of it's wards; particularly Shibuya and Shinjuku. Is there anywhere in Tokyo that is safe, and are the unsafe places just exaggerated? Thanks.

Lol, Godzilla. No, I'm serious.

Answer 1

It's dangerous... Tokyo is one of the most dangerous cities in Japan. Espically if you're female.(Male is not an exception,too.)

I suggest you not to go there.....zz

Answer 2

Tokyo is just like any other big city in terms of safety. If you stay in the safe places, yes, you will be safe. However, if you go to the dark corners that are considered not so safe, then the opposite holds true. Granted, there are more "safe" places than an American metropolis, the dangerous places are a little more daunting in that they don't look dangerous. In the States, you KNOW when you have entered the war zone, per se, but in Tokyo, there are no "telltale" signs of danger. So, the best thing to do is stay where the lights are brightest, or better yet, stay with someone you trust, or who knows the city.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Ny, Osaka and Tokyo are not the same cities. Heh, they're both Japanese, sure, and exist on Honshu island, yes, but mentalities are just slightly different.

But as far as Tokyo being safe. It's safer than any place you'll find in the United States. One thing you've got to realize is that Shibuya and Shinjuku are particular wards. Shibuya is very fashionable and lots of foreigners gather gravitate there, so there's lot of commerce and thus lots of police. Shinjuku has its bad parts, sure. The bulk of Tokyo's redlight districts are found there and there's plenty of places influenced by the yakuza, but as long as you don't go looking for trouble, you'll be fine. Just follow the same precautions you would anywhere else in the world and you'll be alright.

Answer 4

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, and the place where over 13 million people live, making it one of the most populous cities in the world but also, a big city to visit, find out more with hotelbye . Most of the city was devastated by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and then again by the bombing in the WWII, however, Tokyo was able to achieve a remarkably rapid recovery both times. The main attraction of Tokyo is the Imperial Palace with its beautiful 17th-century parks surrounded by walls and moats. The palace is still in use by the Imperial family.

Answer 5

Good heavens, I can't believe people can think it's unsafe here! Maybe I've been putting my life in danger, but I have never thought twice about going around in trains and on the metro, as well as on the streets around midnight. It's true that you'll see drunken salary men, but they're totally harmless and not the gropey type at all. In fact from what I've heard Japanese people aren't bothered with sex much, and as a result the birth rate is drastically falling!

My apartment is about 20 minutes from the station and I walk back in the dark every night between 9 and 10 pm. I've never, ever felt unsafe.

Answer 6

Nope. I have walked the streets of Tokyo at 3am on numerous occasions and the worst thing that has ever happened to me was some drunk guy rolfed on my shoes.

Seriously - use common sense like you would anywhere else. Just because Tokyo is safer, in terms of threats to personal safety, doesn't mean it's a license to be totally naive.

Will someone pull a gun on you in a dark alley and demand your money? No.
Will some sweet-talking girl charm you out of your money? If you let your guard down.

Will someone attempt to roll you if you are in Shinjuku drunk? No.
Will someone attempt to charge you $50 for a beer in Shinjuku? If you go to the wrong club.

Will a taxi driver cheat you? No.
Will a taxi pick you up? On a late night, it does get harder for a foreigner to get a cab. Not impossible, but harder.

Will a gang of thugs isolate you and try to thump you? No.
Will a gang of thugs isolate you and try to thump you if you provoke them? Oh, yeah.

Go out, have fun, but use common sense.

Answer 7

You've already got lots of good answers and I think most are correct.

Dangerous has many meanings.
And like many have already said, there is no place on earth that is 100% safe.
It's just the difference in percentage rates.
For example you will probably never be a victim of a driveby shooting in Tokyo no matter how late it is outside, and no matter what kind of clothes you wear. But if you hang out everyday in front of a Yakuza office that is warring with another group then yes your chances of getting shot accidently will rise considerably.
But not as much as standing on a street corner in Compton, CA wearing a Neo-Nazi T-shirt with a swastika on your forhead.

Walking around at 3AM drunk will usually be OK in Japan since most of the people out walking are drunk as well just like you but there is always a chance of getting mugged.
With that said, was I ever afraid of getting mugged when I was in Tokyo walking around at 3AM drunk? The answer would be no. I did not look over my shoulder everytime I heard some one walking behind me when I walked 30 mins back home drunk from Shinjuku almost every weekend when I lived there.

I know many girls who have been groped on the train during rush hour and I even have a friend who got stabbed by some crazy person on the subway but this is not something that frequently happen in everyday life. (You don't wake up thinking, "Oh I hope I don't get stabbed on the train today") Well I guess the groping can happen pretty frequently depending on which train you ride. I guess that's one thing Tokyo needs to work on. Getting rid of the friggin' pervs.

Shinjuku is known for it's shady aspects and the so-called red-light districts where the Japanese mob is known to do business but I walked these areas almost everyday and never felt threatened or even afraid. Of course you do get a few sneers from young Yakuza-ish people and an occasional "WTF are you looking at" glares but as long as you don't stare back or challenge them, they will usually leave you alone.

As for Shibuya, since there are many younger kids hanging out with hormones going crazy, there's bound to be stuff happening at night. There are occaisional brawls and once in a while you see some crazy stuff happening. I once went to Shibuya at night and was stopped by a thuggish looking individual when I tried to enter a video game arcade. He told me (quite nicely actually) that the arcade was off limits since "Udagawa Keibitai" (A local street gang) was having a meeting. I peeped inside and saw at least 40 thuggish looking teenagers carrying Jr. sized bats and looking very menacing. This was back in 94 and I haven't seen too many street gangs in Shibuya since but they do exist.

So there are things you have to be careful of when living in Tokyo just like any city but as many have said, it's not as bad as the US. As long as you don't do anything stupid or draw lots of unwanted attention to yourself (Like running a debt with the mob, gambling heavily, getting drunk and picking fights, stealing other people's stuff, doing drugs etc) Tokyo is probably one of the safest cities in the world.

Answer 8

Tokyo is extremely risk-free and Japan ordinary is between the international’s maximum welcoming and maximum secure international locations with little or no highway crime. The variety of offenses committed in Japan is around one-8 the huge variety contained in usa. maximum travellers to Japan remark that they experience very risk-free strolling down the line and in no way experience threatened. theft of bags and money is amazingly uncommon. there have been many thoughts of individuals forgetting a wallet or digital camera on a prepare and searching it risk-free back on the closest police container.

Answer 9

More safe than any major American cities. But you also need to use common sense. Like not walking around at 3AM in the morning. The two areas you mentioned has alot of night clubs. There's bad guys in any city you'll go in the world. Over all,Japan has a low crime rate. Los Angeles probably has a higher crime rate than all of Japan.

Answer 10

Tokyo and Japan in general are not dangerous. They are safer then almost anywhere else. It is because it is ingrained into their minds at a young age to be like everyone else. Like a couple people said earlier, use common sense and don't go walking around in alleys late at night and don't walk around the clubs at like midnight. If your a girl you should be aware that it is sorta possible to be groped on a subway or something but, that is highly unlikely.

Answer 11

In Tokyo,
if you are attractive, young lady and go to place where night clubs can be located.. it would be dangerous for you during night. On trains, not much reported how many women are being harrased on crowded trains, only who has courage enough to face the situation has reported it. For guys, I think they can handle the situations as it is not really dangerous, even they would be on the streets after midnight.
I saw drunk men lying on the ground and sleeping on trains, still can go back home safe. I heard news about the homeless people being the target of assault for young people,
to make it short, yes it is dangerous in some cases, and safety in other situations.
I have lived in Osaka too, and there not much difference in Tokyo..I did not worry much about danger but getting home after work and not missing the last train. taxi is expensive for 30 minutes drive.
Hotwad..I agree with you about the mentalities.. I lived in the city side..I"ve seen many.