Tokyo at night for couples: safety, scams and laws worth knowing

Tokyo is one of the safest big cities in the world to walk around at night, but that does not make every plan a good idea. This guide is informational travel education: it does not recommend venues and contains nothing explicit. It draws on the UK government's travel advice (FCDO) and on Japan's national tourism organisation, both consulted on 7 November 2026.

Where problems concentrate

The FCDO says Tokyo's entertainment districts carry a higher risk, especially at night around clubs and bars. It names Kabukicho (Shinjuku), Roppongi, Shibuya and Ikebukuro, and adds that most British victims were approached in Kabukicho. Foreign nationals have been targeted for extortion, robbery, assault and sexual assault.

Touts, inflated bills and drinks

Street touts, known as kyakuhiki, approach visitors in English. The advice is not to follow them into any venue. Before sitting down, check the menu prices, keep track of what you order and confirm any entry charge. Do not accept the promise of a free drink: the FCDO warns that there may be a charge and that you may not be free to leave. It also reports rising drink spiking and credit card fraud, with victims waking with no memory and finding charges of hundreds or thousands of pounds. Basic precautions: do not accept drinks from strangers, never leave your glass unattended, and keep cards and valuables at your accommodation.

Laws and customs

• Police can hold you for up to 23 days without charge, even for minor offences.
• You must always carry your passport or residence card.
• Smoking on the street is banned in Tokyo and some other cities outside designated areas.
• Japan has zero tolerance for drug crime with severe penalties, and you can be charged if a substance is found in your blood even if you did not know you had taken it.
• Visible tattoos can keep you out of some pools, hot springs, beaches and gyms; others ask you to cover them.
• Public displays of affection are less common than in the UK, and loud behaviour draws attention.
• Prostitution and street touting are illegal even when visible. Do not enter a venue on the promise of a gift.

If something goes wrong

Numbers published by the Japan National Tourism Organization: 110 (police), 119 (ambulance and fire), the JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline 050-3816-2787 (24 hours; English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police English helpline 03-3501-0110. For general tourist information there is 050-3416-0010, 9:00 to 17:00. As a couple, agree before going out on a meeting point, a word to ask to leave, and who keeps a charged phone.

Sources

• GOV.UK, Foreign Travel Advice Japan: Safety and security.
• Japan National Tourism Organization: japan.travel/en/plan/emergencies/.