I’ll be direct. If you don’t like being approached and harassed by strangers, Kabukicho is not a comfortable place to go. It was one of the worst solo travel experiences I’ve had.
I entered the area near the Prince Hotel and walked toward Golden Gai. Along the way, I was approached by multiple men, who were not Japanese, and they would not leave me alone.
I tried ignoring them, being polite, being friendly, and even being clearly irritated, but they kept pushing interaction. They seemed very persistent and would not respect boundaries after I made it clear I wasn’t interested.
Some of them followed me for a significant distance, and I even overheard them discussing me as I walked past.
From my experience, it felt less like normal nightlife interaction and more like targeted harassment. If you are solo and drinking, it can feel even more uncomfortable and unsafe quickly.
This may not represent every night there, but for me it went too far. If something feels off, it is probably best to leave. Tokyo has many other areas that feel much safer and more enjoyable.
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