Japan is widely seen as one of the safest countries in the world, but several Western governments are warning travelers about a disturbing pattern in Tokyo nightlife districts: tourists being lured into bars, losing memory or consciousness and later discovering large credit card charges or bank withdrawals.
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issued a fresh warning this week, citing “increased reports of drink spiking and credit card fraud” in Japan. It said victims have described waking up with no memory of what happened and finding large sums charged to their credit cards, ranging “from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds.”
Japanese police have identified several Tokyo entertainment districts as high-risk areas, including Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya and Ikebukuro. The British warning said many victims reported being approached in English by street touts, known in Japanese as kyakuhiki, who encouraged them to enter bars or nightclubs.
“Do not follow street touts into bars,” the FCDO warned, adding that risks are higher in nightlife districts across Japan.
One recent Reddit post from a traveler in Kabukicho described a night out that ended with suspected drink spiking, a memory blackout and hundreds of dollars missing. The user said he left Warp nightclub at 4 a.m. with a friend, remembered only “short scenes” afterward and later regained consciousness at about 10:30 a.m. in a small club, where he was allegedly pressured to pay a large bill.
“I check my account and I was missing 870 USD, but he was missing around 6000 USD from his checking account,” the traveler wrote, referring to his friend. He said the pair later saw transactions from multiple bars, including in the Golden Gai area, and alleged that their wallets had been accessed.
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Warnings point to a specific risk in nightlife areas
(Photo: WildSnap / Shutterstock)
The traveler said they went to the police with locations, bar names and transaction details, but found the process frustrating. “We told them we suspected they drugged us and we were willing to take a test,” he wrote, adding that they were not given a report they could use with their banks. “I'd like to spread the word to avoid anyone else to experience this situation.”
Other travelers have described similar incidents online. In one account, a tourist said he was offered champagne after being approached on the street, then remembered nothing until he found himself sitting on a subway train, unsure where he was or how he got there. He later discovered several credit card charges totaling about $6,000.
The FCDO said tourists should avoid accepting drinks from strangers, never leave drinks unattended, secure their finances against fraudulent transactions and carry only what they need. It also advised travelers to check menus and prices before entering bars or clubs, keep track of what they order and confirm admission prices in advance.
The warnings do not suggest that Japan has become broadly unsafe for tourists. But they point to a specific risk in nightlife areas where street touts may lure visitors into establishments that later impose inflated bills, fraudulent charges or forced ATM withdrawals.