Known as the “sleepless town,” Kabukicho serves as a major hub for Tokyo’s nightlife, attracting crowds for dining, drinking, and entertainment. Recently, however, the area has seen a troubling rise in street-based sex work, a shift that has sparked urgent debates over legal reform and the safety of vulnerable individuals. A few drinks and a karaoke session, the bustling centre of Tokyo’s night-time economy is a magnet for tourists and locals in search of a bite to eat. Triggering calls among MPs and campaigners to tighten the law and, for the first time, penalise men who buy sex on the street as well the women who sell it, the rise in tachinbo – Japanese slang for “standing around” – has heightened concern that Japan is becoming known as a destination for international sex tourism. “But this isn’t a foreigner problem – it’s a problem for Japanese society.”.
Japan has long maintained a regulated commercial sex industry, encompassing establishments like “soapland” bathhouses and various specialized salons.
However, since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions three years ago, a new trend of street-level solicitation has emerged. This shift is partially driven by a boom in international tourism, leaving those involved at increased risk of physical abuse and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Police activity has intensified in response to this trend. Last year, authorities arrested 112 women on suspicion of soliciting in the vicinity of a well-known Kabukicho park. Due to increased police patrols, many workers have shifted their operations into narrow alleyways near local love hotels, located just steps from Shinjuku station. Including nine teenagers, in Kabukicho – have forced sex workers to migrate to narrow alleyways outside the entrances to love hotels a stone’s throw, a more visible police presence – and the arrests last year of 75 women.
Under the existing 1956 prostitution prevention law, individuals offering vaginal intercourse in public spaces can face up to six months in prison or a fine of ¥20,000 ($128). Crucially, the current law does not penalize the customers who pay for these services. This regulatory gap has led activists and some politicians to argue that men face no consequences, thereby fueling the demand. But behind its famous neon entrance lies a darker side: backstreets populated by women offering sex in exchange for money. The 1956 prostitution prevention law punishes anyone offering vaginal intercourse – but tolerates other forms of sexual contact – in return for payment in a public place with up to six months in prison or a fine of ¥20,000 ($128). Men know that they won’t face any consequences, and that encourages some to use violence or film themselves having sex,” he says. “Penalties mi, sakamoto supports the introduction of penalties for men. “As the law stands.
The clientele now includes a growing number of foreign visitors who use mobile translation apps to negotiate services directly, bypassing the language barriers that previously limited access to traditional, regulated sex shops. Campaigners report that the average fee for an hour of service is ¥15,000 ($95), with additional payments often requested for younger workers or for unprotected encounters.
Arata Sakamoto, head of the nonprofit Rescue Hub, notes that many of the women involved, including a rising number of teenagers, come from difficult family backgrounds or suffer from mental health issues. He emphasizes that the issue is deeply rooted in domestic social challenges rather than being solely a result of tourism.
A justice ministry expert panel recently acknowledged that the current legal framework is “unbalanced” and suggested that buyers should be regulated similarly to providers. While specific penalties remain undecided, the ministry is currently reviewing the report. Opposition MP Kazunori Yamanoi has been a vocal proponent of reform, warning that global reports of “cheap sex with young girls” in Tokyo are damaging the nation’s international image.
Not all experts agree that increasing penalties is the best solution. In a recent commentary for Nikkei Asia, Human Rights Watch representatives Teppei Kasai and Stacey-Leigh Manuel cautioned that punishing clients could force the industry further underground, making conditions significantly more dangerous for women. They advocate for decriminalization paired with better access to labor protections, healthcare, and social support services.
As the government considers submitting a bill to parliament before the end of the year, residents and local associations continue to broadcast warning messages in Japanese and English throughout the district. Local officials maintain that current deterrents are insufficient and are pushing for stronger government action to effectively address the growing presence of street-based sex work in the neighborhood. According to but a local official, The measures had failed to deter sex workers and their clients. “We hope the government will respond in a way that has a greater deterrent effect … including penalising the buyers,” the unnamed.
