Safety & PracticalitiesBy Clever Tourists · Published
Tokyo is one of the safest big cities in the world for tourists, and almost all of its scams are in one place: nightlife districts like Kabukicho in Shinjuku and Roppongi, where touts lead visitors into bars that charge extreme bills, and where drink spiking and card fraud have been reported. Away from those streets, the realistic risks are small. Shinjuku Police logged 91 complaints between January and June 2026 from people who said touts took them to venues that overcharged them, with reported losses of about 99 million yen, and many of the victims were overseas visitors, according to SoraNews24. We spent about 9 days in Tokyo in two visits in 2023: from 18 to 22 March and again from 15 to 20 April, either side of the loop through Hakone, the Alps, Kyoto and Hiroshima. This page explains the setup, the districts and what to do. See also our Japan safety guide.
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) says Tokyo's entertainment districts carry a higher risk of crime, especially at night around clubs and bars, and that foreign nationals have been targeted for extortion, robbery, assault and sexual assault. It reports increased drink spiking and credit card fraud, with victims waking with no memory and finding large sums billed to their cards, from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds. It says Japanese police list Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya and Ikebukuro as high-risk zones in Tokyo.
Outside nightlife, the FCDO says to take the same precautions you would at home. Rape and sexual assault are rare. Women on commuter trains have faced touching and upskirting, and police advise shouting at the perpetrator to attract attention. Drug offenses carry severe penalties; there is zero tolerance.
In Kabukicho, touts approach in English. The FCDO calls the practice 'kyakuhiki'. They offer a table, a free first drink, a hostess bar or a massage. The FCDO advises not to follow street touts into bars, and not to enter on the promise of a free drink, because you may face an entry charge and may not be free to leave.
A Tokyo police arrest in July 2026 shows the scale: a 53-year-old man was arrested for allegedly grabbing a passer-by's hand in Kabukicho in July 2026 (SoraNews24). The simple rule is to say no, keep walking and choose your own venue from a map or from a Japanese friend or guide. In a police box (koban), officers help foreigners with a complaint.
The bill arrives with an entry or seating fee, a 'table charge', charges for hostess company, and drinks priced at a multiple of the menu price. The FCDO advises seeing a menu with prices before you enter a bar or restaurant, keeping track of what you order and confirming the admission price on entry. British nationals have been arrested after disputes with staff and doormen over excessive bar bills, often in high-risk areas.
If you are presented with a huge bill, do not pay under pressure, and do not leave the venue in a manner that could be called running away. Ask for an itemized bill, say you want to call the police on 110, and take photos of the menu, the receipt and the venue name. A card payment can be disputed with your bank, but only if you act quickly.
The FCDO says drink spiking risk is higher in nightlife districts across Japan. Reduce it by not accepting drinks from strangers and not leaving drinks unattended. The credit card warning is the key detail: victims wake with no memory and find huge bills. Keep your card in your own pocket, use a card with a low limit or a phone wallet for a night out, and set up instant transaction alerts on your banking app.
If you think you have been drugged, go to a hospital or a koban at once, call 119 for an ambulance or 110 for the police, and contact your embassy. Tell your hotel. Travel insurance with a medical element helps; see our travel insurance guide.
Taxi scams are not a feature of Tokyo. Cabs are metered and drivers rarely haggle. Our Japan taxi guide covers apps and fares. A late-night surcharge applies, which is normal. For airport transfers, see Haneda vs Narita.
Shops are honest in general, but the rules for tax-free shopping have details that confuse visitors; our tax-free shopping guide covers them so a legitimate procedure is not mistaken for a scam. Pickpocketing is uncommon, though it can happen in crowds, and etiquette errors are more likely than crime; see Japan etiquette mistakes.
Shinjuku is convenient and safe by day. The risk starts after dark on the entertainment streets around Kabukicho, so if you stay in the area, pick a hotel on the west side of the station or in a quieter street. Our where to stay in Tokyo guide compares areas, and how many days in Tokyo helps with planning.
You can enjoy Roppongi and Shibuya nightlife safely by using venues you chose in advance, checking the price of drinks and entry, and going with a friend.
In Japan, 110 is the police and 119 is fire and ambulance. The FCDO page lists the Japan Visitor Hotline at +81 50 3816 2787, 24 hours a day, for emergency English-language assistance during natural disasters. For a stolen phone or wallet, go to the nearest koban; lost property is often returned in Japan, so check with the station and the police.
Keep a note of the venue name, time and any receipts, and report fraud to your card issuer straight away.
Touts in nightlife districts like Kabukicho who lead visitors to bars with extreme bills. The FCDO advises not to follow touts and to see a price menu before entering any bar.
By day yes. At night, the FCDO and Japanese police list Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya and Ikebukuro as high-risk zones. Shinjuku Police logged 91 touting complaints in the first half of 2026.
110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. The Japan Visitor Hotline is +81 50 3816 2787.
No. Taxis are metered and overcharging is rare. The scams are in nightlife venues.
The FCDO reports increased drink spiking and credit card fraud in nightlife districts across Japan. Do not accept drinks from strangers or leave a drink unattended.
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