Free tool
Is this aSCAM?in Japan
Pick a situation and see whether it is a known scam, a legitimate charge, or a law that catches visitors out. Japan is a low-crime country, so this is about the few patterns worth knowing.
What to know
The verdict
A known pattern, and the one the police warn about. Street touts, called kyakuhiki, approach visitors in English in Tokyo's nightlife districts, and most British victims of drink spiking and card fraud were targeted this way in Kabukicho.
Red flags
- Someone approaching you in fluent English on a nightlife street
- The promise of a free drink, or 'just have a look'
- A bar you did not choose yourself
How to handle it
Do not follow a tout anywhere. Choose your own bar, and do not go in on the promise of a free drink or a look: you may be charged to enter and may not be free to leave.
Japan is a low-crime country, and most of this is about a few night-time districts and a few laws. It is a guide to patterns worth recognising, not a reason to distrust everyone.
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Common questions
Is Japan safe for tourists?
Yes, crime is low. The FCDO says the risk concentrates in Tokyo's entertainment districts at night, and the police name Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya and Ikebukuro as high-risk zones for drink spiking and card fraud.
What is the Kabukicho tout scam?
A street tout, a kyakuhiki, approaches you in English and steers you to a bar. The FCDO reports drinks being spiked and victims waking with no memory and large sums charged to their card. Never follow a tout; pick your own bar and see the prices first.
What do I do if a bar bill is far too high?
Stay calm and ask for the police on 110 rather than arguing; the FCDO reports arrests after disputes over excessive bills. Prevention is simpler: see a menu with prices before you enter and confirm any admission charge at the door.
Which medicines are banned in Japan?
The FCDO names Vicks inhalers, medicines for allergies and sinus problems, cold and flu medication containing pseudoephedrine, and some over-the-counter painkillers containing codeine. Check anything you carry with the Japanese embassy before you fly.
What are the emergency numbers in Japan?
Police 110; ambulance and fire 119. For English-language help during a natural disaster, the JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline runs 24 hours on +81(5)0 3816 2787.