There are few red light districts in the world that compare to the famous Amsterdam red light district. However, if there’s one just as interesting, I have to say it’s the Japanese red light district located in the Shinjuku neighborhood of Kabuki-Cho. Today I’ll share with you all of the dirty details of visiting this place. Whether you choose to go as a spectator, or to partake in the debauchery, is up to you!
I will advise you to be informed of all local laws in regards to drugs, prostitution, and sex in Japan. Your rights change in foreign countries and I suggest you read up on all local laws before you visit. This article is intended for adults 18+ only. If you are under the age of 18, please leave this page.
With my disclaimer out of the way, here’s what you should know about the glowing red light district in Tokyo, Japan.
Kabuk-Cho – What You Need to Know About This Red Light District in Tokyo
World War 2 destroyed this area in the north part of Tokyo and when it was rebuilt, it came back as a theater district. The name was supposed to promote local Kabuki actors in a theater, but that never happened for some reason.
This area is promoted as an entertainment district, and if you want to be entertained by a woman or man, that option is abundant here. You’ll find watering holes like Golden Gai and Piss Alley, plenty of options for food and shopping, but the highlight here for the deviancy seekers are the “business hotels.”
These crash pads are for the budget-friendly travelers and offer a place to sleep on the cheap. You can expect small rooms, almost no amenities, but a location that puts you in the middle of all the action.
As you stroll down the street in this area you’ll encounter bars and lounges commonly called “hostess bars” (or even host bars for those seeking men) where you can have a temporary date. You’ll see women showcased on signage dressed up in every type of fetish outfit you could imagine while you’ll see men who look like they are straight out of a 1990’s boy band being advertised.
Kabukicho (another way to say it – these words are used interchangeably for some reason) is actually one of the most well known red light districts in all of Asia. You’ll find more than the temptations here. I already covered the diverse dining, but there are also bowling alleys, karaoke bars, theaters, and comic shops.
Sex Workers and Companions in Japan and How This Works
While you’ll see plenty of advertising for this type of thing, you’ll most likely encounter one of the sex workers while you walk the streets.
You can opt to enter a “girls bar” which strangely allows you to pay for a woman’s company – and that’s where it ends. No services or privileges are offered, they just hang out with you. These look like normal bars but you pay around $50 for some time and drinks. The concept of paying to talk to a woman isn’t really up my alley, so I didn’t spend more than a few seconds here to check it out.
If you are the more direct type and want to get frisky, you’ll find massages and spa’s located pretty much everywhere. A lot of them offered one dollar per minute, but what you get is anyone’s guess. Some have signs that say “massage only,” but are they hiding a happy ending?
This area does have the highest crime rate in Shinjuku, so know that going in. But hey, it’s not a red light district without having a few purse snatchers, price gougers, and drug dealers, is it? In fact, the crime rate here (last reported to be 38.8%) is significantly higher than that of the country of Japan’s crime rate of 0.56%.
I say this because you’ll want to exercise safety in this area, just like you would in say the Miami Red light districts.
If you venture about a mile outside of Shinjuku you’ll find an area that’s known for transsexuals. 2-Chome is an area with over 300 night life venues and you’ll also find 1-Chome and 3-Chome to be lesbian areas with a lot of same sex bars and even gay sex shops.
Why is this called a Yakuza District?
You’ll often hear people refer to this area as a Yakuza district. This term is derived from the meaning of Yakuza, which refers to people who make money through illegal activities. These people are connected to a lot of the adult entertainment venues in the area including host clubs, and much like strip clubs in the United States, people associate them with drugs and other underground activity.
Is Prostitution Legal in Tokyo?
Prostitution is illegal in Japan as a whole dating back to 1956. However, just like in Costa Rica, (which does have legal prostitution) the sex industry is covered by businesses operating under names you’ll find in other parts of the world like brothels, soaplands, sex clubs, massage parlours, image clubs, and other names. Since intercourse for money is illegal here, the services you can obtain at these establishments operate in a very gray area.
The first thing to know when visiting Tokyo is that a lot of the aforementioned venues are NOT friendly or even open to tourists. Kabuk-Cho is really the exception here which is why it was the first spot mentioned in this guide. A lot of the reason for the lack of welcoming is that there is a huge language difference and expectation of intentions and I’m being honest, respect. Unlike Costa Rica and Amsterdam where the areas thrive off tourism, they like to keep it in house to locals. If you do stumble into a venue accepting tourists, expect to pay more than a local.
It’s been reported that women engaging in sexual services range from $150 to $1,000 per hour. (This is according to JapanHoliday.com).
Tokyo Street Prostitutes
While there is a famous red light district in Tokyo, you won’t find the lower priced street prostitutes outside of Roppongi. They are typically not from Japan and are said to be controlled by foreigners in these areas. You’ll have to get a hotel room if you do find a street walker and will be expected to pay for that plus whatever your fee is, of course.
Love Hotels in Tokyo
One of the things that thrive in the Japanese red light district are love hotels. Every major red light district has these, of course. These are typically where you bring a companion and you don’t need a reservation. You’ll simply find one of the hundreds of these love hotels in Shinjuku, the most prevalent area for these hotels, enter the lobby, and grab a key from the wall. You’ll pay the room fee at the lobby desk and off you go. Prices for lovel hotels in Tokyo range from $30-70. These rooms are typically larger than the actual hotel rooms and some will be themed in various freaky styles. Condoms are free in these hotels and you won’t just find people who secured escort services here, you’ll also find couples and lovers hooking up at these venues.
Blowjob Bars in Japan
What makes the Japan sex industry different is that they have a lot of individualized services. Blowjob bars exist to well, you can probably guess.
You’ll “only” get a blowjob here. No shower, amenities, or anything like that. You just sit down, separate yourself from the next person with a curtain, and enjoy the service. You can even get multiple girls for a higher fee. Not many of these places cater to foreigners, so know that going in advance. If you do find one that services foreigners, expect the women to be from countries outside of Asia. Expect to pay between $40 and $80.
Soaplands Club
Similar to a Thai bath, you can select your female when you arrive. Once you pay, you can meet your selection at the entrance. You’ll get a large bathtub and can expect oral sex in this venue as well as other pleasures. Since they don’t typically service foreigners, there isn’t much known about the Soaplands Club, but you may find alternative venues if you ask around.
Karaoke Bars in Toyko
These venues offer alcohol, karaoke, and women. They are intended for locals, so good luck finding one if you are a foreigner. If you do find one, please leave us a comment and we’ll update this guide.
Tokyo Erotic Massage
You can find erotic massages in Tokyo in the Red Light District but many do not service foreigners. This is really the theme here, with foreigners being locked out of most of the deviancy. An erotic massage is not your typical therapeutic massage, but rather more of an escort experience.
It is worth pointing out that a Tokyo Reddit thread suggested that women in Japan are now starting to cater to tourists, but of course, everyone’s experience will be different.
Robot Restaurant – Will It Re-Open?
One venue that sits outside the red light districts is the Robot Restaurant. This was a nice venue to experience robot shows and get away from the temptations, but sadly, it closed.
It gets rave reviews and it’s something I only read about here, but is worth noting because if you follow along and are planning your Japanese red light district tour, and it’s open, I’d urge you to go.
Adult Entertainment in Japan – Summary
There is clearly an abundance of sex workers in Japan, but what they don’t really advertise to everyone is that for starters, prostitution illegal here – which should scream “no go” from the start. Modern day Tokyo seems to cater to it’s people and skirt the anti prostitution law but keep a thriving nightlife scene going throughout the city. While the Kabuki theater never got going, the area became famous without the launch of the theater. Sex work is pretty much everywhere, but not really available to foreigners unless you want just that – a foreigner not native to Japan. This, to me, makes the Japanese red light district history something that is far different from any of the other red light districts in the world.
Would love to hear anyone’s comments, experiences, and suggestions in the comments below. Be safe!
About Peter C.
Peter is a digital nomad who largely writes from Asia, Europe, and South America. Always following the "vibe," he sets up shop in hostels and AirBNB's and continues to entertain us with wild stories from life abroad. Ask him anything in our community forum. Make sure to download the AllWorld Travel Hacks FREE ebook.
