The Shinjuko district boasts one of the most curious and eclectic nightlife scenes in the county, taking in the renowned strip of gay bars on 2-Chrome Street and the Kabukicho Red Light District which can be reached from the east exit of the teeming Shinjuko Station aka the busiest train station in the world. Prostitution and sexual entertainment has been alive and kicking in the Land of the Rising Sun for hundreds of years, through such mediums as oiran and the exotic geishas.
Technically speaking, you can also pay to see a woman or man naked, touch a prostitute in other ways besides sexual intercourse or receive an erotic massage from a sex worker without worrying about criminality. But there are some rules of etiquette visitors must be mindful about , especially for non-Japanese speakers - for example, many bars in the district do not accept foreigners as customers due to the language barrier, and soliciting agents outside the adult clubs will usually avoid pitching to foreigners entirely.
The area has a plethora of bustling bars which are well known to be owned and run by the Yakuza the Japanese mafia , and many stories have emerged from aggrieved travellers who had their drinks spiked and credit cards skimmed. Making things all the more bizarre, the Yakuza and other mafia organisations are perfectly legal and are recognised as legitimate businesses in Japan, so be sure to keep your wits about you at all times inside Red Light territory just in case.
Being drunk and disorderly in public is particularly frowned upon in Japanese society, so be mindful of this when imbibing on holiday in Tokyo.
Most clubs have some form of dress code, so style yourself well and bring plenty of cash as credit cards are not widely accepted. Travel advisory site Japan Info recently reported a story from foreigners visiting the Kabukicho Red Light District which claimed they were charged 2. That said, the majority of online traveller reviews assured they were rarely approached by solicitors and when they were, the encounters were polite and courteous.
