Shinjuku Nightlife
Kabukicho is a red-light district off Yasukuni-dori
Avenue, accessible from the Kabukicho or Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae (Shinjuku
Ward Office) intersections. Kabukicho is the setting for much of Natsuo
Kirino's novel Out - a dark tale of Tokyo despair. Kabukicho is renowned
for its thousands of hostess bars and its numerous love hotels.
Though yakuza are out and about here and (mostly African) touts can get
in your face, it is safe enough even at night, and plenty enough restaurants
and bars that cater to every taste to keep you from having to wander for
too long. However, it pays to be cautious. As with anywhere seedy, the
naive and unwary are easily ripped off. Watch a YouTube video of Kabukicho
to get some idea of your surroundings.