Kabukicho

A short walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station, Kabukicho - the town that never sleeps - is your gateway to the weird and wonderful side of Japan’s nightlife.

[Kabukicho - image © Florentyna Leow]

Though Japanese locals often think of it as dodgy and dangerous, as far as entertainment and red light districts go, Kabukicho is much tamer than its counterparts in other cities worldwide. What red light district has Godzilla as its ambassador, anyway?

[Kabukicho - image © Florentyna Leow]

There are indeed host and hostess clubs, as well as seedy-looking massage parlors and love hotels dotting the back streets. But there are also pachinko parlors, super fun dive bars at the historic Golden Gai area, and awesome restaurants in the neighborhood, so that shouldn’t stop you from exploring the area. That being said, there are enough hustlers and touts in the late evenings around the girls bars to warrant a little caution, especially if you’re a male tourist. Just keep your wits about you. Hot tip: if you’re travelling with large groups to Kabukicho, a fiery Sichuanese communal hotpot at Hai Di Lao will hit all the right spots.

Additionally, Kabukicho is also home to the (in)famous [Robot Restaurant]. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but those looking for high-intensity “Weird Japan” should watch the show. Come for the bright flashing lights and colorful characters; stay for the late night ramen joints and drinks in Golden Gai.

English name:
Kabukicho (nightlife district/red light district)

Japanese name:
歌舞伎町

English address:
Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0021

Japanese address:
〒160-0021 新宿区歌舞伎町

Opening hours:
Varies by shop

Admission:
free

Nearest Transport:
Train: 4-minute walk from the east exit of Shinjuku Station.

Nearest Hotels:
Check availability and pricing for hotels near Kabukicho on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Telephone:
+81-3-3209-9291

Website: Official Website (English)

Near To Here:
Kabukicho is located in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. See our complete list of things to do in Shinjuku, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

Where Is This Place Located?

• Open the Tokyo map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

---