Kabukicho Safety Guide 2026: Touts, Scams and Help Numbers

Kabukicho is about a five-minute walk from the east exit of JR Shinjuku Station, according to Japan's national tourism organization. It is also reachable from stations on the Fukutoshin, Marunouchi and Seibu-Shinjuku lines. The main entrance is on Yasukuni-dori, and the street past the large Don Quijote store leads to a cinema complex topped by a Godzilla figure. japan-guide.com notes that the district was named after a kabuki theatre that was planned but never built.

Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) describes it as one of the largest entertainment districts in Japan. It has izakaya, karaoke, hotels and cinemas, but also nightlife venues that are known for overcharging or operate illegally. Restaurants typically run from about 11:00 to midnight, and bars from around 19:00 or 20:00 until morning (japan-guide.com). Kabukicho Tower, which opened in April 2023, has a retro-style food hall with several restaurants open around the clock (GO TOKYO).

Street touts, called kyakuhiki in Japanese, approach people on the street and offer to take them to a bar, club or restaurant. The UK government's travel advice says most British victims of drink spiking and card fraud in Tokyo report being targeted in Kabukicho after touts approached them in English. The MPD says this kind of crime mostly happens at the places touts take people to.

Touting is restricted by law in Shinjuku. Shinjuku City has banned touting since 2013 in designated areas, including Kabukicho 1-chome and 2-chome, and has applied penalties, including fines, since June 2016. The Shinjuku Police Station states that street touting is prohibited in Shinjuku. Anyone touting openly is therefore already breaking the rules, which is a good reason not to follow them.

• Do not follow anyone who approaches you on the street offering a bar, club or cheap drinks
• Do not accept a free drink or a free look inside
• Be wary of someone you just met, including through a dating app, who insists on a particular bar (the MPD warns about this pattern)

Bottakuri is the Japanese word for rip-off pricing. The Shinjuku Police Station says overcharging linked to bar touts has been increasing around Kabukicho. Police describe customers being presented with inexplicably large bills, and the UK government warns that touts often misrepresent what a venue offers.

The police advise that if you use an all-you-can-drink plan, you should confirm which drinks it includes, because some may be excluded. They also suggest checking online reviews of a bar before going in. The UK government adds that visitors should see a menu with prices before entering, keep track of what they order, and confirm any entry charge. It also warns that British nationals have been arrested after disputes with staff over large bills.

The MPD describes a pattern in which a customer taken to a bar by a tout falls asleep after a very strong first drink. They wake up with an empty wallet, no memory of the night, and fraudulent charges on their credit card. It also reports cases in other Tokyo districts where bars intoxicated customers and then took them to an ATM to pay.

The UK government reports increased cases of drink spiking and credit card fraud, with losses ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds. It lists Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya and Ikebukuro as areas Japanese police have identified as high-risk.

• Do not accept drinks from strangers
• Do not leave a drink unattended
• Carry only the cash and cards you need, and leave spares at your accommodation
• Set up your bank or card alerts so unusual transactions are flagged quickly
• If you are with friends, ask one to watch your drink

A safe night in Kabukicho mostly comes down to two habits: choose places yourself, and treat any unsolicited approach on the street as a warning sign. Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho are nearby. Japan's national tourism organization notes they are not officially part of Kabukicho, but the walk to Golden Gai passes the district's edge, where touts may still approach you.

Watch how much you drink, too. The MPD notes that one drink too many can leave you in serious trouble in these districts.

The Shinjuku Police Station asks anyone caught up in trouble to call 110 or contact the station directly. If you cannot use a phone where you are, go to the nearest koban (police box). Stay calm and avoid physical confrontation, since the UK government notes that bill disputes have led to arrests. If you think your card was misused, contact your card issuer as soon as possible, and keep receipts and any other evidence.

• Police emergency: 110
• Fire and ambulance: 119
• Shinjuku Police Station: 03-3346-0110
• MPD General Advisory Center (non-emergency): #9110 or 03-3501-0110, with English, Chinese and Korean support
• General information line in English and other languages, listed by JNTO: 03-3503-8484
• Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 hours): 050-3816-2787, or +81-50-3816-2787 from overseas