Bad areas in Tokyo?
 

The "dangerous men" thread had me thinking. Are there any known bad neighborhoods in Tokyo? More crime, higher chance of something bad happening to you, etc.

A lot of times when I visited, I stayed in Shinjuku and had to walk through Kabukicho to get to my hotel. Outside of the generally shadiness of the businesses and such, I never felt like it was dangerous in any way.

I honestly have never felt this way ever in Tokyo except for once... but I don't remember where I was haha. I think I remember being stuck in Ikebukuro late after the trains stopped running and I had to make my way back to Shinjuku so I decided to walk it. I remember getting weird vibes and stares on the way back, but I can't pinpoint where. You know, weirder stares than the usual.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone knows of any areas to stay out of. Especially if you're gaijin.

The only places in Japan where I ever felt an inkling that I might not be safe were Kabukicho and Roppongi.

Did anything specific happen or was it just a general vibe type thing?

A friend of mine was robbed in a bar in Kabukicho once. They stole money out of her purse while another distracted her. It was a bunch of gaijin visiting from England, though, so I don't think that is a good example.

Shinjuku
 

I was at the train station at night, and a lady there actually took me from the platform, paid for a cab and made sure I was at safe accommodation. Really, you shouldn't be at a train station at night anyway I know.

She said there's mafia (yakuza) around that area and it just wasn't safe for me to be there. During previous evenings, I noticed that there were mainly men on the streets, and they stared - much more than in other areas. When you first get Japan, you can easily mistake these stares for gaijin interest - but I got the vibe it was more than that.

A few times I saw the classic yakuza look - sunglasses and dark suits, one guy looked _very_ mafia and he kept staring at me. Quite unnerving. Tattoos also indicate mafia.

I had a cuban guy trying to get me back to his apartment after just meeting him on the street. I got the feeling that something was amiss.

Higashi-Shinjuku Station - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's all quite subtle, so pay attention to details. I'd also say read up about drink spiking, as that is pretty common in some areas.

Yeah the only place I have heard about with a bad rep is Roppongi. Overall though Japan is ridiculously safe. If you wanna mug me or something Japan would be the place to do it, since I have my guard down like 95% of the time.

side question.
is yakuza armed in japan? since guns are not allowed for citizens guns should be rather rare...so-they run around beating people up with wooden swords or whatever and only special cases have involvement of guns?

I would say... generally no.. but if anybody was to have them it would be the Kuuz. Gun incidents are quite rare. So really I think your average gangster is rarely always packing heat.

Totally vibe. I haven't been in either district for more than ten years, so I don't if things have changed.

Blackberry from Bag in Harajuku
 

Harajuku's awesome - one of my favorite poky, hippy, diverse funky places in Tokyo.

Once there I did have a Blackberry taken from my backpack though. I'm a little more cautious where I store my electricals now. Also, a money belt is essential - perhaps two - one for your passport, just in case.

It was probably just a freak mugging in Harajuku (who knows - maybe by a gaijin), as I always feel great there.

Do you know for sure it was a mugging and you didn't accidentally drop it or leave it somewhere? Did you notice any shady people around the time you lost it?

Kabukicho improved a lot, I mean, i am sure there are still some Yakuza that have bases in the area, but thy are not as visible, and as long as people mind their on thing its all good. Tourists are no longer unwelcome as long as they don't do anything stupid or crazy

Roppongi, the only thing that makes me worry are the number of illegal immigrants (without prejudice, but specifically the Nigerian) hanging around the area. As far as I am concern, Nigerian bouncer = bad news

How do you know they are illegals?

I don't... i just don't believe everyone there are staying there legally... especially the bouncers...

Hmmm now that you mention it, I do remember getting into two separate arguments in Shinjuku. One was right outside of kabukicho.

One was with a Nigerian who grabbed my arm trying to get me into a club. But they way he did it was forceful and totally caught me off guard. I was visibly upset but he didn't get mad, he just kind of shrugged it off. Definitely did not apologize.

The other was with a Filipino guy in his early 30's maybe? He was following and harassing a group of girls that were in my group. I did not know them well, but we were all kind of together and they were obviously annoyed. I said something to the guy and he got in my face aggressively. I don't remember what I did, I think I just stood there waiting for him to do something and he ended up not? I don't remember.

Those were BOTh in my first trip there weirdly enough.

At any rate, thanks guys for helping me remember blocked bad experiences! :P And answering my own question lol.

Although I do not see him there any more, there used to be this white American guy who used to tout alongside the Nigerians in Roppongi. He put out a weird defensive vibe and did not take rejection very well - I remember him yelling pathetically after a businessman who told him to get lost.

Pretty Sure..
 

I am pretty sure that I didn't drop it, but I can't be sure as I didn't see it dropped or taken. I do recall putting it into my bag on my back as I left Harajuku station and then go down the mall.

The zips on the back of my bag were made for easy access.

I checked with the local train station lost and found, and no one had seen it.

My question is a bit-related to the thread... where are the places where the yakuza are located? Say if I went to Tokyo, is there a probability that I will encounter the japanese mafia?

Your chances of interacting with the Japanese mafia are somewhere between slim and none. And if you were to interact with one chances are you wouldn't know he was yakuza.

I see, thanks.