I've been doing some research and I've seen many articles and stuff about Kabuki-cho and Roppongi (I believe there are more?) being dangerous places. Are they really that dangerous? And are there signs or something that tell you where these "red-light districts" are so you can avoid it all together? Thanks.
2007-03-07 09:11:53 · 9 answers · asked by Need answers! 1 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
Compared to US standards, absolutely not. Compared to Japanese standards, yes. In addition to Chinese, a few Americans and Iranians have been murdered in Roppongi over the past two years -- it is highly unlikely, though, that they were targets of random violence. So, you most likely will not get hurt or even bothered by anyone if you visit for a few drinks in one of the bars. I lived two blocks away from Roppongi crossing for two years, and I'll admit that Roppongi is a seedy area -- there are questionable characters out there, and the Nigerian touts are annoying. That said, I never felt "in danger" there -- at most, I was annoyed or had "heightened awareness" to avoid certain folks that looked like they might be up to trouble. Usually, the biggest annoyance is seeing folks puking on a Sunday morning while you are out jogging/walking (and the smell)...or having some drunk stumble into you as you are trying to walk down the street. (Not to mention the one time I ran into a foreigner having sex with a prostitute on the street!) If you dont like places like this stay away -- trust me, you wont be missing anything.
2007-03-11 05:06:03 · answer #1 · answered by Christian K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been to and through both many times during the day and night. They're not like some Hollywood-imagined bad neighborhood where thieves are slinking about or gangs of thugs wandering around looking for fight. There's just a lot of hype and not much evidence of them being so dangerous.
If you're looking trouble, you'll find it. Main problem is getting overcharged at some dubious drinking place, hostess club, and the like.
Last year four Yakuza members were killed in a Chinese Restaurant in Kabuki-cho. They were killed with chinese swords. Brutal, yes, but no harm to any bystanders whereas in America, there would have been leading flying all over the place and many injuries thereby.
Kabuki-cho has a lot of restaurants and movie theaters so not everyone there is looking for a "good time" of an illicit nature.
Roppongi as another person said is a drinking place with clubs, bars, and Western restaurants like T.G.I.Fridays, HArdRock, and Antonio's.
The main danger in Roppongi is getting blind stinking drunk or stepping in the left-overs of someone who is blind stinking drunk:
http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?menu=c10400&no=267453&rel_no=1
2007-03-07 19:41:04 · answer #2 · answered by samurai_dave 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually I think it's easiest to consider Kabukicho as the red light district. But it's also filled with all sorts of entertainment other than sexual services. Same with Roppongi.
Like the others have said it depends on what you consider is "dangerous". I think compared to other places in Tokyo like Shinagawa or.....say Tokyo station area yes Kabukicho and Roppongi can be considered a little bit on the dangerous side. But should you carry a taser if you're going to walk through it at 1:00 AM? No. As long as you behave and not bother anyone you won't find trouble. Unless you're very unlucky that is.
Compared to NYC or Los Angeles, Kabukicho and Roppongi is a small park in a residential area. By this I mean it's that safe. Not boring. Kabukicho and Roppongi will go toe to toe with NYC or LA anyday when it comes to having fun.
2007-03-08 10:24:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truth is, by American standards, there are no dangerous places in Japan. When a city the size of Tokyo has to report on murders 300 miles away to add drama, you know it's a safe city. Pretty much, the most dangerous people in Japan are the foreigners and the Yakuza (the Japanese mafia). But, you're only as likely to have a run in with the Yakuza as you are with the mafia in Chicago. They mainly deal with loans, gambling, prostitutes, and love hotels. As long as you don't have a careless lifestyle Roppongi and Kabuki-cho are fine. I've been at both, by myself, in the middle of the night and didn't even feel a little nervous. And as far as I know, the Yakuza avoid problems with foreigners. (an international incident would oblige the government to actually crack down on them)
So, they can be classified as dangerous by Japan standards, but only if you're looking for trouble.
2007-03-08 00:21:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Noooo...nooo, the two places aren't dangerous at all, esp not by American standards. You have your pickpockets and you have your unsavory types, but the pickpockets are easily beatable (keep your buttons buttoned and your bags zipped!) and the unsavory types don't like to cause trouble. Kabuki-cho and Roppongi are known as yakuza havens, and that his true, but they won't bother you unless you disturb them somehow. And even if you are looking for a particular place in the redlight areas (they're avoidable areas, but sometimes not) and the doorman says "No gaijin allowed" just smile, say "sorry, my mistake" and walk out. Some have asked me if I was looking for a specific place or a restaurant. Don't worry.
2007-03-08 02:07:56 · answer #5 · answered by Hotwad 980 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kabuki-cho and Roppongi is the drinking area. There are a lot of restaurants, clubs and bars. And when I say a lot, it doesn't mean something like a block of bars and restaurants, basically the whole area is full of them. Hence, most of the people at night turn out drunk. The crime rate in these areas is very high due to this fact. There are a lot of fights, prostitutes trying to turn fast money, not to mention drugs, etc. But there are not as many guns in Japan. By this I mean, guns are not legal, which makes the number of gun holders very low. So there are not as many shootings as other legal countries. The shootings are usually between the different mafia groups in Japan trying to kill each other.
2007-03-07 19:05:28 · answer #6 · answered by Mickey22_jp 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not quite sure what you consider "dangerous." If you are talking about violence or theivery, then you probably don't have to worry much. The only red-light district signs you will see are the actual signs showing you the girls. The yakuza are professional, and have no interest in petty crimes. They are content using and abusing the prostitutes, and screwing people over in shady-business dealings.
I HAVE been robbed twice in Japan (totally different areas than where you are talking about) but both times were because of a careless error on my part.
2007-03-07 22:26:47 · answer #7 · answered by Erdrick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean by "dangerous"? If you simply mean that you don't want to get involved with prostitutes, then this is easy to avoid. If you refuse them, they won't force you to go with them (after all, they want money, so if you won't pay, they don't want you). If you are scared or nervous about being in a red light district, then the best thing to do is avoid them. There are many other places to go in Japan, so nobody needs to go to these places if they don't want to...
2007-03-07 17:35:31 · answer #8 · answered by Yuka 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Look at it this way...Put Los Angeles and New York city together, and they'll have a higher crime rate than the whole country of Japan !
2007-03-08 10:36:32 · answer #9 · answered by Smelly Cat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋