KABUKICHO

Kabukicho Shinjuku is a major entertainment and red light district of Tokyo. The Kabukicho Shinjuku area has many hostess bars, cinemas, bars and love hotels.

Kabukicho (歌舞伎町) is a district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Kabukicho is a red-light district and location of many hostess bars, host bars, and love hotels. Kabukicho is also a major shopping, restaurant, and nightclub area as well.

Entrance to Kabukicho

The district's name comes from late-1940s plans to build a kabuki theatre: although the theatre was never built, the name stuck. The area has many movie theatres, and located near Shinjuku, Seibu Shinjuku, and several other major railway and subway stations, tickets to its top attractions can be scarce.

Sign for Hostess Club Kabukicho

Moreover, many of Japan’s (in)famous Yakuza and Chinese Mafia are to be found in this area, although they may be difficult to detect by foreigners and native Japanese alike. Although Kabukicho is often considered to be a dangerous or otherwise unseemly area, there is little reason for the visitor to be concerned for their physical safety. Women, especially non-Japanese, are advised to be aware of harassment or solicitation, particularly recruitment for employment in a host club. Food and dining in Kabukicho is noteworthy. Tonkatsu in particular, while expensive is worth exploring.

The offices of the city government of Shinjuku are in Kabukicho.