Is Tokyo Safe For a Solo Woman at Night? [SHINJUKU]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- We send Sherry, a female Japanese local out into Shinjuku alone with a camera and a support team, and things escalate quickly... Tonight we take a look at if Tokyo is really safe for a solo female traveler at night. Huge thank you to Magical Trip for helping us back a support team for Sherry on this one!
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*Would YOU do Shinjuku ALONE? (Especially solo females). --- Let us know below!!*
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Well I guess you know my answer to that 😂
@@TokyoLens yes, but not the areas you covered ...
I think you really need to do it again with a foreign woman.
Absolutely not. Lol Ive been and it was the only place in Tokyo that me and my husband felt unsafe. No way would I go alone.
@@GreatSageSunWukong maybe Sharla, since she speaks Japanese and understands what they might be saying
9 cops dragging someone back to pay their bill at a restaurant but not one patrolling for jerks hrassing women that is frustrating.
They actively avoid dealing with touts and just focus on petty crime.
Because it's their culture. Women are seen as object
Are you smoking?
The restaurants don't move, so it's easy for the police to keep tabs on them. On the other hand, how many hundreds of thousands of women do you think there are in Kabukicho?
And since problems between men and women happen in an unspecified number of completely random places, it would be impossible for the police to monitor them all.
it will become harassment when they are threaten or they complain, you want thousand of police to monitor every men or women? stop being stupid idiot!
“All women are queens” bro if those tactics didn’t work men will stop doing them.
Ever heard of freedom of speech?
I think the aggressive guys were “nice” and stepped away because the knew she was filming. One of them even mentioned her camera.
Yeah those guys are touts for the girls clubs nearby, touting of course being illegal there. Normally they target men, and a woman walking alone through that area is a bit of a red flag. Most of them likely thought it was a police sting operation they narrowly avoided.
Yeh I thought I heard that too.
Those guys may have manners but, they are aggressive / pushy, when they want you to commit /buy their services. I’m a guy, I’ve been in Kabukicho alone, and being harassed is annoying. To a lonely woman, it could potentially be dangerous. If business owners want more foreigner business. Get those guys out of there, you’re only gonna detour business letting them hang around.
@@ATOMIK_DUNKZ no Japanese, men or women would stop and talk or even acknowledge Nigerian touts. They sell drugs and sell rip off electronics and have affiliation with yakuza. That’s why they don’t allow you to film
She also is alert and has her guard up.
Wonder if it would be different if she had drinks first, or if she was emotional/sad/crying.
Predators like easy targets and openings.
and this was with a visible camera now imagine it without one
same thing.
It's the same thing.
Source: I have done the walk so many times purely to people watch I lost count.
@@Official-OpenAI im not to sure about that. people tend to be more tame when theres a visible camera.
@@guygreenleafLies, you’re a man
@@Sometimesieat I have done that with & without camera, it's pretty much the same old thing
Wow! Thank you, Norm. This was an eye-opener. I travel alone, so this is valuable info for a single woman. Watching your "walking around at night" videos, I thought Japan was mostly safe, but I was shocked by the guys chasing girls down. That's scary.
it is mostly safe, you just need to use common sense, and if you feel really uncomfortable there is a police always nearby in such hot spots, just make it clear that you will not hesitate to call for help and those people leave you alone
I saw 'scouting' happen in that exact last spot too. They seem to ask a few times, give them a firm no and keep walking like you're unbothered. Easier said than done but do your best. I know you may be tight on time and want to see what you can but if you are approached, just get yourself into the station and just find the information booths with the guys in there, they know enough English to know what is going on and may deter anyone away from you.
Why are they chasing the girls? I don't get it ???
@@SuperDuperLucawhat does scouting mean
To be fair, they did go to the worst areas of downtown Tokyo where tourists would go.
Thank you Norm for this unique experience lol I couldn’t have done this alone 😁
Thanks for bugging me to do it!!
Super glad you enjoyed it that much and that we were able to get a whole support team!!
Who knows…. Might need to try it again somewhere else lol
@ I am very appreciative towards the whole team who made this possible😆
I was nervous and scared for you just watching. I'm glad you had Norm and others around you to keep you safe. This is important info for single travelers.
@@sherryberryjp Thank you Sherry!
Thank you Sherry! Do you generally feel safe on the streets at night in other parts of Tokyo?
I’ve witnessed “scouting” as you called it in Kyoto. A young adult woman coming from train chased down by guy. She did similar maneuver to slip through crowd and she was telling him to go away. She seemed capable and confident so I didn’t do anything but part of me wishes my friend and I had ganged up on him and yelled till she got away. I’d never seen anything quite like it before.
See that all the time in America, however normally they get murdered lol.
So what exactly are these guys trying to do?
@@nely26most likely "scouting" for s.x workers
These scouts are basically pimps.
@@nely26scouting for porn
I love the fact that Norm brought a whole crew for this, shows that they were completely ready to stance up if anyone had actually tried to pull something on Sherry. Especially by the way they actually did have to intervene with that other dude chasing that girl.
Having lived in Tokyo for four years, I’ve never done the Shinjuku solo walk at night and you and Sherry showed a lot about it..it was very interesting and I have the same comment as Sherry in the end! Thank you for getting out a cold dangerous night and created this vid!😆
Better to stay safe!!
Got any good videos coming for this year?
I LOVE JAPAN🇯🇵!
Fortunately for me, I’m an Early Bird! I wake up nice and early to go for my long daily walks, and once the sun sets - it’s Bed Time 🛌 for me! 👌
Stay Safe Everyone! 💙
✌️🇬🇧🇳🇱
I'm getting a bit too old to stay out very late but this is great information for any solo female traveler who just wants to check out the nightlife or go out for a drink! And thanks to Sherry for braving some of these areas!!
Huge thanks to Sherry!!
Props to Sherry for putting herself out there for this and it’s interesting to see how different areas of Japan feel like
Thanks!!
I've seen that show she's talking about! It really is like that show where they let kids go out on their own, but instead of a kid it's Sherry! Only a few minutes in and it's really interesting to see this perspective on cities in Tokyo
it's a pretty popular show here in Japan!!
@@DividedZone I used to watch that show but never thought I would be in it LOL
Can you tell me what is the name of the shows?
Hajimete no Otsukai
@@TokyoLens oh.. Thank you.
Its sad that women’s safety has become free content on youtube when men take it for granted. At the same time i appreciate how you managed things, always asking her if she was comfortable. That’s a good way to lighten up more people on this serious topic across the world
Men go through this but in a different manner. They get jumped and robbed mostly, nobody tend to make content about it because assault on men gets over looked and down played.
@@UnexpectedlyKawaii that happens to women too. but i dont think you get robbed every single time you go out, whereas this type of stuff happens EVERY time you go out as a woman.
@ thanks for proving my point
@@UnexpectedlyKawaii oh hell nah😭😭😭
@@UnexpectedlyKawaiiwhy dont you make your own video about it then? be the change you want to see
The content creators who go on about how fab these areas are make me very cross. They don't or extremely rarely go over the dangers and situations you may/will face in the day and at night as a single woman. Thank you for showing a part of it here. Well done for you!! I couldn't of done it.
Ah, a subject close to my heart as a solo female traveller. Personally, I've never felt unsafe in Tokyo, although I do take sensible precautions like avoiding dimly lit alleys etc. That said, I do tend to avoid Shinjuku in general because it's really not my scene lol. But I do wonder if a lone Japanese woman might get treated differently to a foreign woman?
Avoiding Shinjuku as a whole is generally a good idea
But yeah… that’s a good question 🤔
@@TokyoLens If I had the luxury of my own secret bodyguards watching, I would happily test that out when I'm back in Tokyo in a few weeks 🤣
@@TokyoLens As a local I think situation will be different but it will be depend on where she is. Center of Shinjuku (Kabuki Cho) and Shinjuku gyoen is near but it will be different, and that location effect will be differently effect if she is Japanese or foreigner.
@@TokyoLens I go out in that area a lot because of its convenience and I've never been harrassed (and I am always alone walking to/from my destination). People have once or twice tried to get me to come into a bar but it wasn't heavy pressure, it was similar to the touts in this video. I did get nampa'd before in Shibuya but it's rare. Basically, if you don't look like you speak Japanese, Japanese people most likely won't try to talk to you. If you do, it's probably a completely different vibe.
@@jeanieinjapanwhat does nampa'd mean?
A few weeks ago, I finally made my dream of visiting Japan come true. I travelled solo for two weeks, starting and ending my stay at a hotel right in the heart of Kabukicho, Shinjuku. I'm typically very confident walking alone at night as a solo female traveller - but not this time. I was chased by men, followed wherever I went in that location, and at times, I felt very unsettled by the relentlessness of it. Thank you so much for making this video!! I think it will really help bring specific attention to this for women travelling on their own in that area. You hear of scams etc around there, but not much specifically warned of how targeted the harassment would be for a solo female traveller, so you've done a great job with this 💜
Yes it was the same for me in September :/
@@LaurenYoung99how bad was it? Cause I wanna go by myself
I love Sherrys positive mindset a lot. It's very interesting how many ppl are interested in talking to (or running after!) a woman at night when she's alone. Crazy and unsetteling (not just for Japan ofc)
I hate how women are treated like that in society. Every gender deserves to feel safe wherever they go!
@@Pancake_Dragons Totally true, I watch a lot of these experiment vids and almost every time sth weird happens to them. I just hope some ppl reflect on their behavior so every person can feel save no matter what time/environment they're in
"talking"
Yeah, they should start by deporting the Nigerians.
Kabukicho is home to the Nigerian mafia, and they are involved in a certain amount of crime.
I’m glad the team helped the girls get away they saw!!
私は日本人ですが夜の新宿、特に歌舞伎町周辺は治安悪いです。ナンパや違法なバーの呼び込みなど沢山の悪い輩が出てくるのでついていかないように気をつけてください。
The sad part about this is actually what I see in every big city around the world, and especially here in the States. You see a woman running to get away from someone, and no one (except you guys who were actively looking for it) stopped to help.
As a man, it breaks my heart to see, but it also puts me in a horrible spot because now I will almost always come across as a creep if I were to legitimately ask someone if they were lost and needed help.
As a society, the sense of community just seems gone, and it's sad that it seems so widespread.
The thing is, people who are lost will ask for help. Just let them choose who they want it from.
Because most of the people around her would not have known she was being followed. We can clearly see that she is in trouble because we are watching the video, but if you go to Kabukicho, it is full of people. Few people pay attention to a particular person in that crowd. If she had screamed, of course people around her would have helped her.
This happened to me in Boston during the nighttime. I was coming off a highway going into downtown and a woman was crossing the road actively trying to get away from this guy who looked like he wanted to murder her but I was around a bunch of cars so assumed if she was in actual danger she would’ve let one of the cars know but nobody did anything and before you knew it, the light turned green so had to keep driving. This happened a few years ago and I still feel guilty to for not atleast asking if she needed help because the looks in both their faces and body language said this was serious
@@bebenut123 No, people who are lost won't necessarily ask for help.
But! It is a lot in the delivery. A genuine "Hey, are you lost? Do you need help?" will not come across creepy. A lot of the intent comes across nonverbally.
@@some-online-dude Really depends on how you actually try to phrase to those, it can still sound & comes off as creepy
I very much appreciate videos like this. I'm planning my dream Japan trip and will be single female traveler and knowing where i can be safe vs where to avoid is helping me plan where to go and what to do.
Butting in here, but I hope you have a great trip! If you wanted to do some of the sketchier areas I would definitely do it with family / a good friend / possibly a professional guide. I had my cousin walk me through Kabukicho and Golden Gai on my first time there, and it was madness (but I'm a sort of "bright lights, city mouse" kind of person). I will pass on the advice he gave me going through there...
"Don't worry about being polite here. Accept nothing, no drinks, no offers, no invitations to go anywhere. If someone wants you to do it, don't."
I avoid Kabukicho during the day. It’s the only place I’ve felt creeped out in Tokyo. No one ever really bothers me though, but I don’t think I give off “friendly” vibes when I’m alone 😂
Hahaha got those vibes tuned for the Shinjuku streets 😂
@Sperbs it's funny because when my brother and I were in Shinjuku we were just wandering around (during daylight mind you)& then I noticed the streets just getting empty and the signage getting, um, weird. And I told him, "Oh I know where we are...Kabukicho. Let's go back!" But happy that was just during the daytime and not at night, and not solo!
during the day it's absolutely fine, at night it's just the street touts to ignore.
Shinjuku entertainment areas 😬 even when I'm with other people it's too crowded, too noisy, very uncomfortable. I try to avoid going anywhere near it. On the other hand, I liked the feel of the area around the government building and loved the free view of Tokyo in all directions from the observation floor. Have a great week, Norm 💜✌️🐦
This was such a cool video!!
I traveled to Tokyo back in 2017 with my mom, and honestly Shinjuku was the only place both me and her hated lmaoo it was super crowded, super loud everywhere, the streets were way more dirty than anywhere else, some places even smelled a bit, and the guys that hang around there even in the afternoon are sort of scary/uncomfortable to be around...
i see some things haven't changed since then lol being a woman traveling solo or with a small women-only group is quite challenging pretty much anywhere in the world, unfortunately (especially at night)
but there are a bunch of foreign tourist there. I wonder why Shinjuku is hated but still gets many tourists
Thanks Sherry, Norm and crew for making this video, it explains quite well the unpredictable "human element" of just about anywhere in the world we choose to go, when it only takes one person, or even a small group of people, for things to head in the wrong direction. Japan has an amazing reputation worldwide for saftey, but nowhere is 100% safe. I guess it shows whenever we enter an area that relies on highly sociable activities like bars and restaurants with locals and tourists.
I think this is such an important video! Specially because from the people watching you here Norm, they get your pov, but you are male, speak Japanese and could probably intimidate a lot of these guys. This video had a very specific goal and I’m here for it!
Magical Trip was wonderful! We did the same Fushimi Inari (private) tour last November. Our guide, Naru, was super knowledgable and took some really great pictures for us too. We had a wonderful time. It was definitely a highlight of our month long trip.
Experienced really pushy guys in Shinjuku too! I kept trying to walk away from them and they didn’t stop bothering me until they realized my husband was walking several feet away.
I have been to most of the places you showed in Shinjuku. When I travelled to Japan for the very first time (as a solo female traveler), I stayed in the Shinjuku west side near the LOVE sign and I loved it! It is a lot more quiet than the east side. However, although Shinjuku could be a little sketchy especially on the east side where it's very crowded and busy, I actually really like it and always book a hotel nearby there. The reason being is it's very central for shopping as there's a huge Bicamera there as well as many other shops and malls that I like going to so that I can do all my shopping all in one day. Plus the express bus terminal is also just across the east exit of Shinjuku so it's very convenient for me to take the bus to the airport and other parts outside of Tokyo and there's also some great restaurant and food places in Shinjuku.
I do avoid going to the Kabuchiko district and I've never been to the Golden gai you showed in this video. I did get asked by this middle aged Japanese man when I was waiting to cross the street if I want to drink with him on my most recent trip in April 2024. I simply told him I don't speak Japanese (in English) and he left me alone. I'm Asian and I often get mistaken by Japanese people for looking Japanese. I don't think Shinjuku is a bad area for solo travellers as I've been there many times as a solo traveler and had no issues. You just have to be a little careful about people coming up to talk to you and try to scam you but other than that, I would highly recommend people to visit Shinjuku for both solo male or female.
There is so much police and nobody is trying to prevent stalkers or those scouts? It’s so unsafe
so glad to see this. definitely know the sketchy things are everywhere. sounds like sherry had a great time!
lol she had a surprising amount of fun shooting this
sketchy doesn't mean dangerous.
@@Official-OpenAI but sometimes it does. also disreputable and dishonest. At least according to Oxford.
I've travelled to Tokyo many times as a solo female traveller, and I always avoid parts of Shinjuku like Kabukicho, etc. There are plenty of other fun places you can walk through as a solo girl at night and be pretty safe (as long as you have common sense, of course). Also, many tourists get caught out by cheap accommodation near Kabukicho and end up having to walk through there whenever they're returning to their hotels at night.
2:16 he was trying so hard😂
In my time in Japan, I was stalked and encountered quite a few perverted guys. The most terrifying experience was the man who followed me many times to my house here in Tokyo. Take note, I’m always wearing pants and long sleeves or sweater. It’s not so safe for women here. Many creeps 😅
The way I explain it these days is that even the safest major cities have it's dodgy places you should avoid, especially alone at night. Haha, but last time I went to Shinjuku for two nights out, I knew none of this and feel lucky to escape unscathed. The most dangerous point was when I was approached by one of the notorious Africans who started probing in English for what I was looking for before attempting to persuade me to follow him through a mildly decorated door in a non commercial dank alley to meet some ladies. Apparently it's a well known scam that if you follow them, they will drug you and make a huge bill on your credit card and if you don't comply, probably beat you up. Scams like this are such a shame because Shinjuku really is a truly spectacular place with a bustling night life. My advice is to plan well before going there, know which streets to avoid and only visit places that have an established reputation.
Sherry's Wholesome Smile is the Star of this episode 💖
I'll be visiting Japan soon and I just couldn't shake the feeling that as a woman you still need to be extremely careful even though the country is praised for it's safety. Thank you for this information. The lack of respect for a woman's "no" is what will keep me on my guard no matter what country I visit.
This is so cool! I feel like I’m watching a light hearted, gritty documentary, lol. So cool Norm. Thanks to Sherry for playing along!
I would never trust anyone for the amount of serial killers documentaries Ive watched 😭
Interesting video! I was actually in Tokyo just about a month ago as a solo female traveller and visited Shinjuku. I visited Kabukicho for a couple hours in the late afternoon to early evening, and while it didn’t feel unsafe at that time, it was definitely the sketchiest area I saw in Tokyo. Worth a visit, but I wouldn’t want to go there at night by myself.
I was shocked at the amount of aggressive african scammers in the Kabukicho area when I visited about a month ago, nowhere else in Japan had I experienced that. It honestly ruined my otherwise great evening and I was about ready blow up and tell them to screw themselves. I wanted to check out one of the bars in the Golden Gai, but by then I wasn't really in the mood for it anymore, unfortunately. Still, can't wait to visit Japan next time when my 日本語 improves and likely delve into the less touristy cities, like Hiroshima, Nagoya or perhaps Aomori.
Thanks Norm. Reminds me of my last trip to Japan over a decade ago now. All night in Roppongi, was a fun night. First guy seems like he was trying his Nampa(pick up game).
Japan is generally safe for Foreigners, safer then a lot of other places people go to on Vacation elsewhere in the world, but low crime against foreigners, doesn't mean no crime.
Tips for Solo Travelers if going to Shinjuku/Tokyo at large at night that I read and heard before going to Japan.
1. If a "tut" aka greeters on the street try to get you to go into a specific bar, decline them, politely if possible.
2. Know the drink prices before ordering, if they don't say and its not on the menu assume it is very expensive. A attractive female sits besides you and wants you to buy her drinks, it can be very expensive.
3. If you do not like something that is happening, be loud and say NO, they do not want attention, especially do this if you are a female.
4. Buddy up with other travelers from you hotel/guesthouse if you can.
Otherwise, Stay safe, and have fun.
I worked for a travel and tourism company and it was astounding to me that at the time, 70% of all solo travellers were women (2017).
There are no words to express how disheartening it is to hear of stories of solo female travellers having their trips and adventures ruined by not feeling safe.
Super useful information! When I visit I plan to go solo, but I heard the night life is where the fun is at!
stay safe!
@@TokyoLens Thank you! Amazing video
Sherry got the full vip treatment with her own secret service. Still, Shinjuku looks like it is a lot safer at night then a lot of cities around the world. Even some parts of Toronto these days.
Watching this in prep for my solo 24 hour Tokyo walk next month! This’ll be super useful 💖
Stay safe Laura!!
@@TokyoLens I will! I’ll be most nervous from 10pm - 3am I imagine! But I’m sure it’ll be fine 🙌🏻
気をつけて下さいね。
不審者や客引きとは目を合わせないで歩いて下さい。
外国人女性の方が声をかけられやすいと思います。
私は若い頃、新宿や渋谷で夜通し遊びましたが怖い思いをした事はありません。
しかし今は外国人も多いので治安が悪くなっているかもしれません。
As a young American female (24 years) I felt very safe almost everywhere at all hours, while in Japan.
Exceptions are parts of Roppongi and streets with many bars (Only at night. I have walked these safely when the bars are closed).
I cannot say it enough, single females, avoid Roppongi.
Shinjuku, I never had problems. But normally had one buddy. Even just another female. And traveled from the train to our destination and back. Never had problems in Shinjuku.
My partner and I and later family have had positive experiences in Shinjuku. However, none of us have been through there alone and not too late either. Strangest experience was a chat with a clearly sloshed Japanese couple just outside Golden Gai. We were indulging in a late evening icecream and they started talking to us.
Never felt unsafe kicking about myself at night but with the caveats that my hotel was out east in Kinshichō and I'm a bald Scotsman so unlikely to be the target of creeps. I daresay it'd be far different as a lone female.
Happy New Year, Norm and Sherry!
I usually prefer just traveling alone when I'm in Japan. So when I'm in Tokyo going to Shibuya and Shinjuku, I'm used to it. I'm definitely not the girly type and usually wear baggy stuff, so I don't really attract attention, haha.. Though I will never drink or enter any bars alone there! Once, I encountered in Shibuya there were these noisy, maybe late teens or early 20s noisy guys on the streets running past strangers. They shout random things at you, as they pass you by. It's just so rude and annoying. I instantly had that intrusive thought to replay the moment and just trip the guy and have him fall face flat on the pavement.
But yeah, for most ladies, being alone in Shinjuku, especially at night... I wouldn't recommend it.
Honestly it'll be cool to see more cities across the world do something like this when talking about different disterects or burrors or what ever.
That show she mentioned is really cute, but also super surreal from an American perspective.
Also wow! Not even 1 minute and a guy swoops in and is immediately sketchy
Immediate sketch!!! lol
That’s Shinjuku in a nutshell
Thank you for doing this! I'm visiting next month, and while I don't usually go out in the evening, I was thinking of changing things up a little and seeing Tokyo at night this time. This was immensely helpful to my planning.
Many years ago, a friend and I (both female) booked an AirBnB in Shinjuku. However, you would definitely need to walk past/through Kabukicho to get to it (we didn't know that when booking the place). We didn't feel too unsafe, but there definitely were many scouts around. We avoided eye contact with them, and even if they did try to engage in conversation with us, we showed disinterest and that we didn't know japanese. Generally, it was okay but I would not want to stay there again.
i would like to add that people confuse or interchange very low crime rate with no crime. it's still a crazy world out there even in japan. stay safe travelers and always be aware of your surroundings.
Great video idea Norm. Really good to have a better understanding of this subculture as i was just observing it myself in Nov. I guess i'm lucky i can travel there myself without getting harassed. Feels bad when i saw so many girls getting harassed there. Big props to Sherry for braving this, well done.
Travelled to Tokyo just Dec last year w/my girlfriend who’s a first timer; and when I toured her in Shinjuku, Kabukicho specifically, I already informed her beforehand of what the vibe is. -After checking the streets for few minutes, she decided to check other spots/cities instead. Well, at least she enjoyed the cat from the big LCD right outside the station😅
Aside from the creepy encounters, this was a great video of the Shinjuku area. Props to Sherry for braving the wilds out there.
This was super informative, I knew of those who try to get you into seedy bars with the promise of free or cheap drinks and to avoid that, but the fact they'll just come straight up to you and even CHASE you... nah that's scary lmao.. I'd love to go there but I'd definitely go with other people, and as a foreign girl, I'd feel more scared alone and like I'm an easy target due to the language barrier. But, I guess it's no different to England in that sense, I'd never go out alone in England for drinks, so I'd stick to the same rule in Japan too 😊 thanks Norm and Sherry!
Quite an eye opening video given how Tokyo is generally pretty safe. I’ll be going back to Japan in 2 weeks, this time with my Mum ☺️ we’ll be having a couple beers now and again and I won’t be overly concerned if we’re in Kabukicho, but I’ll be on my guard just in case 😆
eye opening? What ever happened in this video that wasn't "safe" ?
@@Official-OpenAI my guy, did me and you just watch the same video?
@@SevenSteelHills Answer my question then?
@@Official-OpenAI I don’t know if you’re trolling with your answer or purposely acting dumb or….?
@ But you're avoiding my question. Why not just answer it?
Thanks for this video, very useful guide on where not to go at night! As a woman, the most creepy thing was definitely the guys chasing people by the station. Is that only a problem in shinjuku, or with last trains in general everywhere? Thankfully on my trip in Nov I won't be alone but I still worry about being targeted by creeps...definitely going to bring a whistle and stay away from some areas.
Oh wow! The first half of the video wasn't too surprising to see, given the establishments in those areas. But that last bit at the station was a bit shocking, it's done so blatantly too. I'm glad you thought this through and had a crew following Sherry at all times!
Thank you for this insight. Me and partner wanted to go out and explore separately while visiting but definitely will make sure we stay together!
I stayed in Shinjuku during my first trip to Japan by myself. Obviously a very different experience as a solo foreign male traveler but even i could tell it just wasn't a place for me late at night. It's tough because staying near Shinjuku station is SUPER convenient, but the vibes are just not my scene.
I've only been to Shinjuku once, and it was mostly during the day. We ate at a themed café and went to a pop concert in some obscure locale, and we pretty much just walked to the station when it was getting dark. But I don't doubt that it's seedy at night, there's a lot of... stuff. Shinjuku Park was nice for a day visit though.
This is good to know as a woman who likes to travel alone as well
Glad it could add some value~
just started watching your videos last night, Wont lie , watching them makes me want to go to tokyo some day. thank you for showing and giving information. from Pennsylvania
I can't imagine. I never had this issue when I lived for a year in Gifu. No one bothered me! But Tokyo seems to be less safe. I'm actually moving to Tokyo soon for work, so other than going home from work, I will try not to go out when it's dark. Long term, I want to live not in Kanto anyway, so it's just for a few years for work (my visa type is tied to my employer but good for 3 years so probably I will live in Tokyo area 3 years).
This was a very interesting watch. Both times my husband and I have gone to Japan, we’ve stayed in kabukicho , and have had great experiences. Yes, the guys that were “nice” were actually a bit more annoying to us, asking us to get into clubs or if we needed anything, but beyond that the bars were super cool and the vibe was lively. But that was with my husband, I feel like it would be scarier by myself 😬
I don't care how "safe" a country/city is I will never just casually walk at night around a bunch of drunk men. Even at quiet residential street I would be careful. I want to go to Japan but I would take any precaution I can. I would rather be too paranoid but keep myself safe.
In all the years of visiting Tokyo, I have never visited Kabuki-Cho or Golden Gai in the night. I have to say that Golden Gai is charming in the day when most shops are closed. I have been told by my family growing up to avoid those 2 neighbourhoods. But I suppose it has some good things during the evening...maybe 😀. And I have to say that Sherry is such a warrior for doing this. 💪
this was an extremely interesting and eye opening video! Thank you to both you and Sherry for doing this
While these things are usual in Shinjuku, I've still felt relatively safe even if people walk up to me to talk or visit their business compare to other big cities. They accept no and don't physically try to harass you, in my and my friend's case. I remember one foreigner trying to get me to visit their bar, when I wanted to visit a place that was right below it instead on a friend's invitation. The guy accompanied me to the underground club, bought me a drink and told me the whole story about the owner and the fun facts related to his friendship with them. Then he excused himself that he had to get back to his own bar and came to check up on me later how I was doing. As I was alone since my friend was working, and I'd heard horror stories of what could happen, I didn't dare to visit his bar. But the guy didn't pester me, was genuinely very nice, and conventional throughout the entire night. One of the safest places I've felt as a woman in metropolitan cities. The only thing I'm torn about Shinjuku is the humongous rats, feeding on street trash...
Its so interesting the different perspective. My wife (39F) and I (44M) always stay in Shinjuku when we stay in Tokyo for its central location and always on atmosphere. We have visited Golden Gai many times and loved it, hate the overpriced cover charges, but still a fun experience. My point is the difference of an experience had by a single female versus a couple/group is night to day, amazing.
Thank you for this great video Norm and Sherry, I now feel somewhat bad having maybe seen several women over our trips in situations like this and the innocent tourist we are not offer our assistance. Our eyes will be focused differently on our next visit.
Happy new year norm. Hope to get to watch this video in about 9 hours, darn work.
See you then!!
Oh, good information! I’m probably going to be making my eventual trip solo, so good to keep in mind.
Glad it was helpful!
Have to admit I avoid kabukichou and golden gai, I just don't need that sort of hassle .
If I'm out in Shinjuku it's normally south of the main road by Donki but north of the main road that passes the station south mezzanine entrance and runs down towards the national garden. Still east of the station but a lot more civilised. This area is the main shopping area and also has a lot of night life stuff there and tends to seem to be a lot safer than north of that main road.
In the past I've stayed in hotels in west Shinjuku and it's very quiet, as shown, once you get out into the hotels near the government building but it's more lively in the entertainment area just west of the station. The same as just east of the station but not as bad as kabukichou etc
Much of this video was expanded for Tim lol
I lived in Japan in 1991 so knew what to expect in Shinjuku/Kabuchiko. I was in Shinjuku with my husband in September October 2024 and he was just taken with the lights etc. It was shocking to see families walking around with kids completely oblivious. The extensive police presence was an obvious giveaway. This is a public service video for tourists.
AH! I was waiting for this one. Happy ans blessed new year, Like the no BS no filters POV & style of TL. way to go. I look forward to see the renovations and the experience and that great view ! I feel like that level of NANPA culture is too intense, weirdo mentality behavior, making asking out ladies challenging and most of the time imposible since,as we saw, they have to be on the defensive 24/7 if they are not in the relax/party/dating mode/mentality.. great one to start the yr
I traveled solo and stayed in NishiShinjuku but often wandered around Kabukicho late at night, and I felt 100% safe-safer than in my own country. I think it depends on how you carry yourself. But also, if they see you aren't local or Asian, most men don't even approach you because most of them don't speak other languages.
I always stay at the Hilton in Shinjuku west. Love that area so much. Its fun seeing all the crazy on the east side then coming back to the quiet side.
west of the rail lines is so different than kabukicho
even as a solo white nerdy dude walking around kabukicho i couldnt make it 2 minutes without something following me and asking if i wanted cheap drinks with euh.. extras. it seems like golden gai has like a barrier around it that keeps em out
I've walked these streets many many hours. I've had to fight countless people. I've met many odd people along the way. There was this one guy who kept following me everywhere. He had an eyepatch.
It looks like some areas of Shinjuku would be really fun if you are with a group of friends. Not so much solo, and I think you'd have to really pay attention to your surroundings.
Thanks for the video!
I've never been to Japan, but I've had something bad happen. I hate that this kind of stuff happens.
Stay safe everyone
Great video Norm. I stayed near the Tokyo metropolitan government building in Nov. Walked around as a solo female and felt safe. I went to Kabikucho and was not comfortable. It was also dense with tourist unlike my previous visits.
I lived for two years in the countryside in Japan, in Nara.
Before going back to my country I went to Tokyo and for the first time in my stay in Japan I felt unsafe.
There's a weird vibe at night in those areas. 😅
amazing content, keep it up!
Glad you had sherrys 6 . Just watched your Kamakura go pro walk great place . Love your content and relaxing adventures.Take care and Happy New Year 🎉
Though Japan is overall safer, no country is really safe for women.
Happy New Years bud! Interesting video as always. Just wanted to say its kinda sad/impressive that it took 30 seconds
I went to Tokyo for the first time from NYC to visit my girlfriend and i had her take me around Kabukicho, she had never been either because she never felt safe alone or even with a group of her girlfriends there. I would say Kabukicho lives up to its reputation, its everything you don't expect Tokyo to be. We were wandering and we wandered near the infamous Okubo park and jeez do you just feel sad about whats going on there. But as a guy i felt perfectly safe, i would describe Kabukicho as Tokyo's own little freezone where Japans strict tight respectful culture is unwound and people let loose. Totally different world.
You mean the tachinbo there?
East Shinjuku is probably the only “sketchy” part of the city in my experience. The rest of Tokyo is pretty safe.
Happy New Year to you Mr Norm! More exciting videos to come this year!
Thanks for the well wishes, let's make it a good one!
@@TokyoLens looking forward to it!
Fascinating experiment - Happy New Year Norm!
Happy New Year!
Very worthwhile video! Practical and useful information for your female viewers.
I went a lot of time through Kabukicho (even alone) and enjoyed it a lot - of course some guys tried to talk to me - but in my case luckily it was always polite enough and quite respectful and when I didn’t want to talk I just pretended to be proud and self confident with a straight back and they became shy 😅 … although I’m only 1,55m 😂 I think visual self confidence is a key - Even if it’s just fake. I’m definitely more scared in Germany or France although I love it, too.
Interesting video guys!
Norm I really like the opening/closing music for this one 🤙
Not surprising at all that Sherry's walk through Shinjuku is a lot different than the times I've walked around. I feel safe, as long as I don't follow or speak to the those touts in the area. Nobody ever walked up to me and asked me if I was lost.
I think the difference is guys are approached and offered let's just say services you wouldn't want to tell your mom about. The funnest thing that happened to me around Kabukicho was a walked by hostess club and this older lady was trying to get me to go in and i waved her off and I said, 'いええ、いええ’ and she got so mad me. She followed me for a little bit berating me.
Some people are aggressive😅happy to see you here!
@ lol yeah you walk by them and all of sudden they act like you're like their best.
Nearly spat my tea out during your sponsorship part "They took me up the back entrance" 😂 DUDE