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Nightlife Scams in Japan: Touts, Bar-Bill Fraud, and Drink Spiking

Nightlife scams in Japan follow a recurring pattern: a street tout or a new acquaintance steers you to a bar, and the bill or your card statement ends up far larger than anything you agreed to.12 Police in Tokyo and Osaka and several foreign governments warn about bill fraud, card fraud, and drink spiking in a handful of entertainment districts, and knowing the pattern and the same-night response protects both your money and the rest of your trip.234 For crime and scams outside nightlife, see Crime and Scams in Japan: What's Genuinely Rare and What Tourists Actually Encounter.

Confirm current details with official sources

Fees, rules, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (Keishichō) English visitor page.2 This article is general information, not medical or legal advice; for your specific situation, see a licensed physician or a hospital if you suspect you were drugged, contact your own embassy or consulate if you face coerced payment, assault, or an unresolved police matter, and ask your card issuer about any disputed charge.

Overview​

Nightlife scams here means three linked problems: touting on the street, overcharging or card fraud inside a bar, and drink spiking that leaves a victim unable to refuse either.14 The MPD's English page for visitors states that "street touts and rip-offs targeting foreigners are on the rise" (as of 2026-05-22; confirm current warnings with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department).2

What "bottakuri" means​

ぼったくり (bottakuri) is the colloquial Japanese word for a rip-off or gross overcharging. Osaka Minami police use the nickname "bottakuri ordinance" (ぼったくり条例, bottakuri jōrei) for the rule that applies in Minami.3 Tokyo's anti-overcharging ordinance, called the bottakuri-prevention ordinance in this article for short, does not use the word in its text.5

The MPD describes the pattern in its English warning: touts or seducers lure people to a partner bar, where they are "charged exorbitant bar tabs" or their credit card is used for large purchases.1

客引き (kyakuhiki) is the street solicitation that local ordinances regulate. Shinjuku City defines it as approaching passers-by to invite them into bars, karaoke, or adult venues, and treats it as separate from recruiting staff and from loitering to tout.6

These terms appear throughout the article:

TermReadingMeaning
ぼったくりbottakuriRip-off, gross overcharging (colloquial)3
客引きkyakuhikiStreet touting: soliciting passers-by as customers67
客待ちkyakumachiLoitering in public to wait for someone to tout67
交番kōbanPolice box, the neighborhood base for beat officers8
警視庁KeishichōTokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)2
公安委員会Kōan IinkaiPublic Safety Commission, the body that designates ordinance zones910
過料karyōAdministrative fine, the penalty under the ward and city touting ordinances111213

Where it happens​

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) says Japanese police have identified Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro as higher-risk areas for drink spiking and card fraud, and that "most British victims have reported being targeted in Kabukicho" (as of 2026-10-09).4 The MPD's own list of Tokyo's main entertainment districts covers the same ground: the Kabukicho area, Ikebukuro, Roppongi and Nishi-Azabu, and Shibuya (as of 2018-11-23).14

Australia's Smartraveller names Shinjuku (Kabukicho), Shibuya, and Roppongi in Tokyo, and Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Dotonbori in Osaka, as entertainment areas with a risk of crime in bars and nightclubs (as of 2026-10-10).15 The Australian Embassy in Tokyo lists the same districts (as of 2026-10-10).16

None of this makes the districts off-limits. Shinjuku police's own safe-drinking leaflet tells visitors to "enjoy your exploration of Shinjuku" and recommends checking bar reviews online before going in.17 For district orientation, see Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Harajuku: Tokyo's Youth-Culture and Nightlife Core and Osaka Neighborhoods: Dotonbori, Umeda, and Shinsekai.

Who gets targeted​

The MPD describes the people doing the luring as street touts and "women seducing men", and adds that "some people use SNS or dating service websites to lure customers."1 According to Jiji Press, most of the people who consulted Shinjuku police about tout-linked overcharging in the first half of 2026 were tourists from abroad (as of 2026-07-10).18

The scam pattern does not depend on your nationality. The police response, the ordinances, and the medical route described below are the same for every visitor; only your own government's advisory wording and consular help differ.1194

How the tout approach works​

The street pitch​

The MPD's visitor page is direct: touts "lure you to their partner bars, and while you are drunk, charge excessive fees or use your credit card without your knowledge," and visitors should not follow street touts "under any circumstance" (as of 2026-05-22; confirm current wording with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department).2 The UK FCDO adds that street touts "often encourage people to enter an establishment by misrepresenting the services on offer" (as of 2026-10-09).4

The pitch itself varies. In a July 2026 Kabukicho touting case, police said the suspect used phrases such as "Why don't you?" and "Don't be scared. I love you" (as of 2026-07-10).18

The practical rule follows from the MPD's own wording: a stranger on the street inviting you to a bar is the warning sign, whatever the offer.12

Do not follow street touts into bars

The MPD's advice to visitors is "Don't go with the touts or anyone who tries to take you to somewhere."1 A friendly manner, a low quoted price, or a promise of a "friend's bar" does not change that advice.

The friendly-stranger and dating-app variants​

Not every lure starts on the street. The MPD names social media and dating-service websites as routes to the same partner bars.1

Osaka Minami Police Station describes a woman met through a matching app (マッチングアプリ, matchingu apuri) who suggested going to "a place I know". The customer was told all-you-can-drink cost ¥3,000, and the bill came to several hundred thousand yen (page undated, as of 2026-10-10).3

Smartraveller warns about accepting drinks or invitations to bars or clubs "from strangers or recent acquaintances" (as of 2026-10-10).15 Osaka Prefectural Police also advise against exchanging contact details with strangers who approach with pick-up lines.7

The common thread is that someone else chooses the venue. Specific warnings for LGBTQ+ visitors are covered in LGBTQ+ Travelers in Japan, and broader safety planning for women travelling alone in Solo Female Travel in Japan.

Touting is regulated in the main districts​

Touting is restricted in Tokyo and Osaka, but by several separate rules, each with its own area. A rule that applies in one ward does not carry over to the next.

Tokyo's anti-nuisance ordinance (迷惑防止条例, meiwaku bōshi jōrei) applies across Tokyo to touting for obscene shows, for prostitution-like acts, and for hosted drinking that involves obscene contact. Its broadest item covers any business: "persistently touting by seizing bodies or clothes of persons, taking away their belongings, standing in their way, or following them around."20

The same ordinance's ban on loitering in public to wait for targets applies only in zones designated by the Tokyo Public Safety Commission, which include Kabukicho, Akasaka, and Ikebukuro (as of 2016-03-31).1020 It does not ban all bar or izakaya touting everywhere in Tokyo.20

The ward and city ordinances go further, banning touting for any business inside their own areas. Each is that municipality's own rule, with its own zones (as of the dates shown in the table).

RuleWhere it appliesPenaltyAs of
Tokyo anti-nuisance ordinance, Article 7Tokyo-wide for the listed touting acts; the waiting-to-tout ban only in Public Safety Commission zonesNot summarized here2016-03-31 (zones)1020
Shinjuku City touting ordinance (in force 2013, revised 2016)Kabukicho 1–2 chome, Shinjuku 2–3 chome, Nishi-Shinjuku 1 chomeUp to ¥50,000 karyō, per the city's 2016 amendment bill summary2025-07-282111
Minato City touting ordinance (in force 2017-04-01; covers Roppongi)Public places across MinatoUp to ¥50,000 karyō, plus publication of names and businesses2026-05-2212
Osaka City touting ordinanceProhibition zones in Kita and MinamiUp to ¥50,000 karyō; names may be published2026-04-1413

Shinjuku's ordinance also bars operators from admitting customers brought in by independent ("free") touts, and its fines apply to both the tout and the employer.2111 Inside Shinjuku's designated blocks, a bar that takes you in on an independent tout's referral is breaking the ward's rule. Outside those blocks, that inference does not hold.

Minato's ordinance covers touting for all business types, waiting to tout, and recruiting for sex-industry or hostess work in public places across the ward.12 Osaka City bans touting, recruiting, loitering to tout, and blocking or following pedestrians inside its Kita and Minami prohibition zones, with an exception for calling out directly in front of one's own shop.13 The Kita and Minami zones were designated in 2019 (as of 2026-04-28).22

Osaka Prefectural Police also treat touting as a violation of the national Entertainment Business Act (風営適正化法, Fūei Tekiseika Hō) and of Osaka Prefecture's own nuisance ordinance, which a 2022-07-01 amendment extended to girls bars and late-night massage shops (as of 2026-10-10).7

The rules have not stopped the practice. Shinjuku police note that overcharging cases after following bar touts are increasing in Kabukicho, "although touting on the street is prohibited by the law in Shinjuku" (as of 2023-11-09).2317

Inside the bar: bill fraud and drink spiking​

Hidden and misrepresented charges​

A charge is not itself a sign of fraud. Cover, seat, set, and hourly pricing are set venue by venue; the normal versions are explained in Seat Charges and Otoshi: The Cover Charge Nobody Warned You About.

Shinjuku police warn that an all-you-can-drink plan (飲み放題, nomihōdai) "is applied only to the drinks served to customers." Drinks ordered for hosts or hostesses are charged separately, so check what is included before you order.17

Osaka Minami police describe a shot-glass drinking game in which the shots were charged extra, stated only in small print (page undated, as of 2026-10-10; confirm current guidance with Osaka Prefectural Police).3 The UK FCDO advises seeing a menu with prices before you enter and keeping track of what you order (as of 2026-10-09).4

The line between an expensive bar and a rip-off is disclosure. Inside its designated zones, Tokyo's ordinance targets prices you could not see and a low price quoted to get you inside that bears no relation to the bill.59

Card overcharging​

The MPD describes the usual sequence: "the victim becomes dazed after drinking hard liquor, and he/she is charged exorbitant bar tabs or his/her credit card is used for large purchases."1 Its visitor page says touts' partner bars "use your credit card without your knowledge" (as of 2026-05-22).2

Smartraveller lists overcharging, fraudulent credit card charges, and forced withdrawals of large amounts of cash at ATMs, and says some victims were taken to ATMs and forced to withdraw cash while under the effects of drink spiking (as of 2026-10-10).15 Osaka Minami police advise checking the amount carefully when paying by card; in one of their examples, the victim later found a charge from a venue they did not recognize (as of 2026-10-10).3

Smartraveller also suggests that turning off face or fingerprint unlock on your phone may help prevent unauthorized access to your bank accounts (as of 2026-10-10).15

Drink spiking​

The UK FCDO reports "increased reports of drink spiking and credit card fraud," with victims describing "waking up with no memory of what happened and discovering large amounts of money billed to their credit card," in amounts from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds (as of 2026-10-09).4 The Australian Embassy in Tokyo reports a similar rise, with victims "often enticed into bars by 'street touts'" and reporting memory loss (undated page, as of 2026-10-10).16

Smartraveller says some victims woke up in unknown places and required medical attention, and advises getting medical help if needed (as of 2026-10-10).15 Assessment and any testing belong with a hospital or physician.

The contacts below route you to care (as of the dates shown). #7119 and HIMAWARI serve Tokyo only; elsewhere, call 119 or the nationwide Japan Visitor Hotline.

NeedContactHours and languagesAs of
Emergency: collapse, unconsciousness, injury119 (ambulance)24/7Stable24
Unsure whether to go to hospital (Tokyo only)#7119, Tokyo Fire Department Emergency Consultation Center24 hours, 365 days; English on the web guide; phone-line languages not confirmed2026-10-1024
Find a hospital with foreign-language support (Tokyo only)HIMAWARI, 03-5285-81819:00–20:00 daily; English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Spanish; free, call charges apply2023-01-0125
Nationwide visitor help, including illness and accidentsJapan Visitor Hotline, 050-3816-2787 (+81-50-3816-2787 from overseas)24/7; English, Chinese, Korean2026-10-1026
Sexual assault#8891, free call to the nearest one-stop support centerHours vary by center, some 24/7; foreign-language support not confirmed2026-10-1027
US Embassy: drugging victims are not prosecuted

The U.S. Embassy in Japan notes that Japan has strict drug laws and that a victim may face further investigation if illegal substances are found in their system, "but prosecution is not pursued for those victims of drugging" (as of 2026-10-10).19 If concern about testing is holding you back, raise it with your own embassy or consulate.

What the law says about displayed prices​

Tokyo's bottakuri-prevention ordinance is formally 「性風俗営業等に係る不当な勧誘、料金の取立て等及び性関連禁止営業への場所の提供の規制に関する条例」, Tokyo Ordinance No. 196, enacted 2000-10-13. Its latest listed amendment took effect 2025-06-01.5

It covers two kinds of business: storefront sex-related venues and hosted-drinking venues, meaning bars or clubs where staff entertain customers while they drink. Its controls bind those businesses only inside zones designated by the Tokyo Public Safety Commission.5

  • Article 3 (price display): covered operators must display their charges and penalty terms inside the premises, where customers can easily see them.5
  • Article 4 (unfair solicitation and collection): no one may solicit customers by stating or showing prices that mislead them into thinking the charge is much lower than it is, and coercive collection of charges is prohibited.5
  • Article 5 (outsourced touting): operators that outsource solicitation must supervise the people soliciting for them.5

Violating Article 4 carries up to six months of imprisonment (拘禁刑, kōkinkei) or a fine of up to ¥500,000. Violating a Public Safety Commission order under the ordinance carries up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥1,000,000.5

The designated zones below are those in Public Safety Commission Notice No. 248, as of its 2021-04-30 amendment, which was still the latest one listed on 2026-10-10.9

WardDesignated areasAs of
ChiyodaUchi-Kanda 3, Soto-Kanda 3 (Akihabara)2021-04-309
ChūōGinza 5–8, Nihonbashi-Ningyōchō 22021-04-309
MinatoAkasaka 2–3, Azabu-Jūban 1–2, Shinbashi 2–4, Nishi-Azabu 1–4, Roppongi 3, 4, 5, 72021-04-309
ShinjukuArakichō, Kabukichō 1–2, Shinjuku 2–3, Takadanobaba 2, Nishi-Shinjuku 7, Hyakuninchō 1, Funamachi2021-04-309
ToshimaIkebukuro 2, Kita-Ōtsuka 2, Sugamo 2, Nishi-Ikebukuro 1 and 3, Higashi-Ikebukuro 12021-04-309
ShibuyaUdagawachō, Ebisu-Nishi 1, Dōgenzaka 1–22021-04-309
TaitōAsakusa 3, Ueno 2, 4, 6, Nishi-Asakusa 2, Negishi 12021-04-309

Outside these zones, or in a venue the ordinance does not cover, this protection does not apply.5 Osaka Minami police say Minami falls under the so-called bottakuri ordinance, which prohibits unfair solicitation and fee collection, but their warning page does not give the ordinance's formal name (as of 2026-10-10).3

Recent cases and official warnings​

Tokyo police figures and arrests​

The figures below come from Jiji Press reporting in July 2026, not from a published police release (as of 2026-07-10; confirm current figures with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). Kyodo's report of the same period gives a slightly different loss total.1828

FigureValuePeriodAs of
Consultations to Shinjuku police about tout-linked overcharging around Kabukicho91January–June 20262026-07-1018
Same, full year7720252026-07-1018
Combined lossesAbout ¥100 million per Jiji; about ¥99 million per KyodoJanuary–June 20262026-07-10182928
Largest single reported lossAbout ¥4 million, an Australian visitorJanuary–June 20262026-07-101829

In July 2026 the MPD arrested a man on suspicion of violating Tokyo's anti-nuisance ordinance by persistently touting in Kabukicho 1-chome in the early hours of 2026-07-09, including grasping a passer-by's hand (as of 2026-07-10).1828 Jiji reported that he admitted soliciting and said he received a share of what customers paid at the establishment (as of 2026-07-10).18

Osaka Minami​

Osaka Minami Police Station's rip-off warning page gives the two examples described above: the matching-app contact who led a customer to a ¥3,000 all-you-can-drink bar that billed several hundred thousand yen, and the shot-glass game charged extra in small print (as of 2026-10-10).3 It advises confirming the pricing system and checking the amount when paying by card.3

On 2026-01-29, Osaka City published five violations of its touting ordinance by three people, caught in Dotonbori 1-chome and Sōemon-chō, Chūō-ku (as of 2026-01-29).30 Osaka Prefectural Police advise not following touts and ignoring scouting.7

Embassy advisories​

Each government words its advice differently. The scam pattern and the police response do not change with your passport.1415

The UK FCDO's Japan page covers drink spiking, card fraud, and street touts, and advises not accepting drinks from strangers or leaving drinks unattended (still current as of 2026-10-09).431 Australia's Smartraveller covers the same risks for Tokyo and Osaka districts (as of 2026-10-10), and the Australian Embassy in Tokyo keeps a dedicated "Drink Spiking and Credit Card Fraud in Japan" page (undated, as of 2026-10-10).1516

If you are handed an inflated bill​

If a bill arrives that does not match what you were told, the sequence below keeps your options open. Medical care comes first if anyone in your group feels unwell.

Do not pay, sign, or hand over your card​

Police guidance does not tell you to settle a disputed bill; it tells you to call 110 when you get into trouble (as of 2023-11-09; confirm current guidance with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department).17 In Tokyo's designated zones, quoting a misleadingly low price to get you inside and collecting charges coercively are both offenses under the bottakuri-prevention ordinance.59

In practice, that means telling staff you are calling the police and then calling, rather than settling a bill you dispute. Keeping your card in your own hand avoids a charge you would later have to dispute.

Call 110 or go to a koban​

110 is the police emergency number. If you do not speak Japanese, "a police interpreter will be on the line to assist you."32

Shinjuku police list 110 as "available in English" and give the Shinjuku Police Station number, 03-3346-0110; if you cannot call, they direct you to the nearest police box (as of 2023-11-09).17 In Osaka, Minami Police Station's number is 06-6281-1234 (as of 2026-10-10).3

A 交番 (kōban, "police box") is the neighborhood base for beat officers, who respond to incidents, handle lost items, and give directions. Tokyo had 826 of them (as of 2019-05-01).8

For non-emergency consultation, call #9110 within Tokyo, where English is available (as of 2026-05-22).2 The same MPD General Advisory Center also takes calls at 03-3501-0110, in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean (as of 2017-03-30).33 Tactics for getting through on 110 without Japanese are covered in Emergency Numbers in Japan: 110 and 119, and the Language-Barrier Reality of Calling Them.

Record everything​

The U.S. Embassy in Japan explains that "Japanese police do not issue police reports as a general policy," and suggests keeping the police incident number they provide (as of 2026-10-10).19 Smartraveller warns that victims "may find it hard to get a police report for your bank and travel insurer," so the incident number may be the main document you leave with (as of 2026-10-10).15

Beyond that, note what no one can reconstruct later: the venue's name and address, photos of the menu, signage, and bill, the time, and who was involved. This is practical record-keeping rather than a police requirement, in line with the UK FCDO's advice to keep track of what you order (as of 2026-10-09).4

If you were already charged or drugged​

Medical care comes first. Smartraveller advises getting medical help if needed and staying with a friend who feels unwell, and the contacts in the drink-spiking section above route you to care (as of 2026-10-10).15

Then report in person. The Australian Embassy states that reports must be made "in person at the police station with jurisdiction over the area of the crime," that "local police boxes (koban) are not police stations," and that "police are often reluctant to commence a formal investigation if the victim cannot recall details and/or plans to depart Japan soon" (as of 2026-10-10).16

The U.S. Embassy likewise directs victims to the police station nearest the incident, or to call 110 and ask for an English-speaking officer or interpreter (as of 2026-10-10).19 After that, contact your card issuer, as described in the next section.

The MPD's Crime Victim Support Office (犯罪被害者支援室, Hanzai Higaisha Shien Shitsu) offers support including escorts to medical appointments and interviews to hear victims' concerns, and is reached through the MPD switchboard, 03-3581-4321 (as of 2026-02-27).34 The U.S. Embassy also lists the MPD Crime Victims Hotline, 03-3592-6840 (Monday to Friday, 8:30–17:15), and Tokyo English Life Line, 03-5774-0992 (9:00–23:00 daily) (as of 2026-10-10).35

Disputing card charges afterward​

Contact your card issuer the same day​

Card disputes run through the bank that issued your card, not through Japanese police or the venue. Visa's consumer support page says: "To dispute a charge, please contact your issuer or bank using the toll-free number located on the front or back of your Visa card" (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current procedure with your card issuer).36

Report the charges as fraudulent or made under coercion, and ask the issuer to block or replace the card if it may have been misused. Issuers typically ask for detailed transaction information, and the issuer's and card network's rules decide the time limits and the outcome.36

As one example, US cardholders have a federal billing-error process. Per the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, call the card company right away, then send a written notice within 60 calendar days after the charge appears on your statement; the company has 30 days to acknowledge it (as of 2024-04-15).37 That 60-day window is a US rule only; other countries' windows and protections differ, so check with your own issuer.

Evidence issuers typically ask for​

Keep the police incident number, the bill, any photos, and a written timeline of the night. The U.S. Embassy specifically suggests keeping the incident number (as of 2026-10-10), and the CFPB advises keeping copies and noting the dates of follow-up calls (as of 2024-04-15).1937

No outcome is guaranteed, and a dispute can take time. Smartraveller's warning that a police report can be hard to get for your bank and travel insurer makes the incident number and your own records more important (as of 2026-10-10).15 Insurance claims are covered in Why Travel Insurance Genuinely Matters in Japan.

Safer ways to enjoy nightlife​

Choose venues yourself​

The simplest protection is choosing the bar yourself rather than letting a stranger choose it. Shinjuku police recommend checking bar reviews online in advance and checking what an all-you-can-drink plan includes before ordering.17

The UK FCDO advises seeing a menu with prices before you go in (as of 2026-10-09; confirm current advice with the UK FCDO), and Osaka Minami police advise confirming the pricing system (as of 2026-10-10).34 Normal pricing systems are explained in Izakaya Etiquette: What First-Timers Get Wrong and Drinking Culture and Nomihodai Etiquette.

Ask how the bill works before ordering

Asking how the pricing system works, including any cover or seat charge, any time limit, and whether staff drinks are extra, costs nothing.173 A venue that will not answer clearly has already told you what you need to know.

Habits that block spiking and theft​

The UK FCDO advises not accepting drinks from strangers and never leaving a drink unattended (as of 2026-10-09).4 Smartraveller adds keeping an eye on your friends, not carrying large amounts of cash, taking sensible care with how you use and store your cards, and considering turning off face or fingerprint unlock on your phone (as of 2026-10-10).15

The MPD's own advice is short: "Keep an eye on your belongings."1

Good to know​

File the police report before you leave Japan​

Make the formal report while you are still in Japan, in person at the police station with jurisdiction over where it happened (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current procedure with your own embassy or consulate).16 A kōban is the place for immediate help, and police guidance sends people in trouble there first, but the Australian Embassy notes that a kōban is not a police station (as of 2026-10-10).21716

The Australian Embassy adds that police are often reluctant to open a formal investigation if the victim plans to leave Japan soon.16 The U.S. Embassy warns that if you leave Japan after reporting without appointing a legal representative, police may find it difficult to follow up, and it encourages giving police your contact information or designating a representative in Japan (as of 2026-10-10).19 Ask for the incident number before you leave the station.

Legitimate charges versus fraud​

Charges disclosed upfront are normal, venue-specific pricing. Drinks for hosts or hostesses, for example, fall outside an all-you-can-drink plan and are charged separately.17 Extras listed only in small print, such as separately charged shots, are the kind of detail Osaka Minami police warn about (as of 2026-10-10).3

In designated Tokyo zones, covered venues must display prices visibly inside, and quoting a misleadingly low price is an offense.59 Outside those zones, or for venues the ordinance does not cover, that protection does not apply.

Rules differ by district and city​

Tokyo's bottakuri-prevention ordinance applies only in the Public Safety Commission zones listed above.9 The touting ordinances each have their own coverage: five designated blocks in Shinjuku, public places across Minato, and the Kita and Minami prohibition zones in Osaka City (as of 2025-07-28, 2026-05-22, and 2026-04-14 respectively).211213

In Shinjuku and Osaka City, the fines under the touting ordinances can reach the employer or operator as well as the person touting, and Minato bars operators from admitting customers brought in by touts.21111213 Protections in one ward do not carry over to another ward or to Osaka.

See also​

References​

Footnotes​

  1. 警視庁 (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). "Crimes targeting foreigners in entertainment districts" (English, updated 2022-04-01). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/safe_society/victim_of_crime/hankagai.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  2. 警視庁 (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). "For Visitors to Tokyo (外国人観光客の皆さんへ)" (English, updated 2026-05-22). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/safe_society/victim_of_crime/ninpo.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  3. 大阪府警察 南警察署 (Osaka Prefectural Police, Minami Police Station). 「ぼったくり気を付けて！！」 (no date shown on page). https://www.police.pref.osaka.lg.jp/ochikakunokeisatsusho/keisatsushobetsujoho/8/1/16201.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13

  4. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. "Japan travel advice: Safety and security". GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan/safety-and-security ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  5. 東京都 (Tokyo Metropolitan Government). 「性風俗営業等に係る不当な勧誘、料金の取立て等及び性関連禁止営業への場所の提供の規制に関する条例」 (平成12年10月13日 条例第196号; latest amendment shown: 令和6年 条例第156号, effective 2025-06-01). 東京都例規集. https://www.reiki.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/reiki/reiki_honbun/g101RG00002219.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  6. 新宿区 (Shinjuku City). 「客引き行為等の防止に関する条例の施行・改正、禁止となる行為」 (updated 2021-10-29). https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/anzen/kikikanri01_000001_00057.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. 大阪府警察 (Osaka Prefectural Police). 「違法な客引き等について」. https://www.police.pref.osaka.lg.jp/seikatsu/anzen/8/02/14135.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  8. 警視庁 (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). "KOBAN (交番)" (English, updated 2019-06-26). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/about_us/activity/koban.html ↩ ↩2

  9. 東京都公安委員会 (Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission). 「性風俗営業等に係る不当な勧誘、料金の取立て等及び性関連禁止営業への場所の提供の規制に関する条例第2条第3項の規定に基づく指定区域」 (平成12年11月1日 公安委員会告示第248号; last amendment 令和3年 公委告示第132号, effective 2021-04-30). 東京都例規集. https://www.reiki.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/reiki/reiki_honbun/g101RG00002221.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13

  10. 警視庁 (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). 「客引き等の相手方となるべき者を待つ行為を規制する区域の指定について」 (updated 2016-03-31). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/about_mpd/keiyaku_horei_kohyo/horei_jorei/kyaku_ku.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  11. 新宿区 (Shinjuku City). 「新宿区公共の場所における客引き行為等の防止に関する条例の一部を改正する条例(案)の概要」 (資料2, amendment bill summary, undated). https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/content/000185401.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  12. 港区 (Minato City). 「港区客引き行為等の防止に関する条例」 (updated 2026-05-22). https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/seikatsuanzen/kyakuhikiboushi.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  13. 大阪市 (Osaka City). 「大阪市客引き行為等の適正化に関する条例の概要等について」 (updated 2026-04-14). https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/shimin/page/0000455432.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  14. 警視庁 (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). 盛り場総合対策 page (updated 2018-11-23). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kurashi/anzen/sakaribasogo/taisaku.html ↩

  15. Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "Japan Travel Advice & Safety". Smartraveller. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/japan ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  16. Australian Embassy Tokyo. "Drink Spiking and Credit Card Fraud in Japan" (undated). https://japan.embassy.gov.au/tkyo/drinkspiking.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  17. 警視庁 新宿警察署 (Shinjuku Police Station, MPD). "Tips for Safe Drinking in Shinjuku" (English leaflet PDF, undated, linked from 23). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/about_mpd/shokai/ichiran/kankatsu/shinjuku/about_ps/safe_drinking.files/English.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  18. Jiji Press, syndicated by Adnkronos. "Nigerian Arrested for Touting in Tokyo's Kabukicho District" (2026-07-10). https://english.adnkronos.com/2026/07/10/nigerian-arrested-for-touting-in-tokyos-kabukicho-district/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  19. U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan. "Victims of Crime". https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/victims-of-crime/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  20. 東京都 (Tokyo Metropolitan Government). 「公衆に著しく迷惑をかける暴力的不良行為等の防止に関する条例」 / "Tokyo Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Prevention of Violent Delinquent Behavior that Causes Considerable Public Nuisance" (bilingual text, amendments listed through Ordinance No. 99 of 2021-10-20). 東京都産業労働局. https://www.sangyo-rodo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/documents/d/sangyo-rodo/TokyoMetropolitanGovernmentOrdinanceonthePreventionofViolentDelinquentBehaviorthatCausesConsiderablePublicNuisance ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  21. 新宿区 (Shinjuku City). 「新宿区公共の場所における客引き行為等の防止に関する条例を改正しました。(平成28年4月1日施行 罰則規定については同年6月1日施行)」 (updated 2025-07-28). https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/anzen/kikikanri01_001047.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  22. 大阪市 (Osaka City). 「大阪市客引き行為等の適正化に関する条例の取組み状況について」 (updated 2026-04-28). https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/shimin/page/0000455906.html ↩

  23. 警視庁 新宿警察署 (Shinjuku Police Station, MPD). 「安心して新宿の繁華街を楽しむために」 (updated 2023-11-09). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/about_mpd/shokai/ichiran/kankatsu/shinjuku/about_ps/safe_drinking.html ↩ ↩2

  24. 東京消防庁 (Tokyo Fire Department). 「#7119」東京消防庁救急相談センター・東京版救急受診ガイド. https://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/ts/ems/page03.html ↩ ↩2

  25. 東京都保健医療局 (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Public Health). "Medical information service for foreign patients" (HIMAWARI, updated 2023-01-01). https://www.hokeniryo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/iryo/iryo_hoken/medical_info_eng/himawari ↩

  26. JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization). "Japan Visitor Hotline". https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/hotline/ ↩

  27. 内閣府 男女共同参画局 (Cabinet Office, Gender Equality Bureau). 性犯罪・性暴力に関する相談窓口 (#8891 one-stop support centers). https://www.gender.go.jp/policy/no_violence/seibouryoku/consult.html ↩

  28. SoraNews24 (citing Kyodo via Yahoo! News Japan). "Man arrested in Tokyo after allegedly luring foreign tourists into shady Kabukicho establishments" (2026-07-14). https://soranews24.com/2026/07/14/man-arrested-in-tokyo-after-allegedly-luring-foreign-tourists-into-shady-kabukicho-establishments/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  29. Jiji Press, via Nippon.com (French edition). "Un rabatteur nigérian arrêté à Tokyo après une explosion des arnaques visant les touristes étrangers" (2026-07-13). https://www.nippon.com/fr/news/yjj2026071000813/ ↩ ↩2

  30. 大阪市 (Osaka City). 報道発表資料「大阪市客引き行為等の適正化に関する条例違反者の氏名等の公表について」 (2026-01-29). https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/hodoshiryo/shimin/0000670706.html ↩

  31. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. "Japan travel advice" (summary page with "Still current at" and "Updated" dates). GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan ↩

  32. 警視庁 (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). "How do I contact the police? (警察への通報や届け出はどうすればいいの？)" (English, updated 2021-04-08). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/finding_services/living_guide/living_guide_e_1.html ↩

  33. 警視庁 (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). "Help hotline information" (English, updated 2017-03-30). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/finding_services/help_desk/hotline_info.html ↩

  34. 警視庁 (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). "If You Become a Victim (被害にあったら)" (English, updated 2026-02-27). https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/safe_society/become_a_victim/you_victim.html ↩

  35. U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan. "Resources in Tokyo for Victims of Crime". https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/resources-in-tokyo-for-victims-of-crime/ ↩

  36. Visa. "Visa Consumer Support". https://usa.visa.com/support.html ↩ ↩2

  37. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "How do I dispute a charge on my credit card bill?" (last reviewed 2024-04-15). https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-a-charge-on-my-credit-card-bill-en-61/ ↩ ↩2