Staying Safe While In Tokyo

[John Dillinger]

Hey folks, despite constantly hearing how safe Japan is, and there's no need to worry, you guys know that's some cherry blossom scented nonsense. Where are some places in Tokyo I need to avoid or be extra careful in, and what tips do you have to avoid being pick-pocketed or scammed?

[Taro Toporific]

Where are some places in Tokyo I need to avoid or be extra careful in, and what tips do you have to avoid being pick-pocketed or scammed?

The four top scams on nama-gaijin newbie, are much the same as those scams at home.

1) In Ueno, Ginza, and sometimes Shibuya, there are fake monks (often fcuking Chinese) who thrust a geegaw in your hands and then demand payment. Ignore them. They're just like Hare Krishnas at home. For "fun," keep their prayer amulet out of spite without paying.

2) There is one particular asshole in Ueno (and sometimes Shibuya) who approaches nama-noobs pretending to be a cop and demands to see their passport. It just a wacko power trip. Always demand ID of cops or offer to walk over to police box confirm they're legit. You have to show ID to a real cop but this one fake cop is just bizarre since he not even looking for your money--just "power" over gaijin.

3) Just like back home, there are “disaster relief” scammers begging for money for nama-gaijin and tourists.

4) If a staggeringly beautiful college girl (or worse a high school girl) approaches you on the street or in a restaurant, it's a scam and not your handsome looks. Especially for high school girls, "rape" shakedowns are getting common.

[yanpa]

Kabukicho in Shinjuku is home to a large number of gentlemen of West African origin who want to be your best friend (often with a proffered handshake) and take you to a special bar and/or place containing females of negotiable access they happen to know, where they or the people who pay them can get to know your credit card and possibly your ATM card better.

Similar probably applies to Roppongi, though last time I went through there late in the evening it felt like a shadow of its former self.

Also the Chinese females offering "masaaji" with the hint of more will presumably be an expensive disappointment.

[John Dillinger]

Thanks for the info Taro and Yanpa!

[Taro Toporific]

what tips do you have to avoid being pick-pocketed or scammed?

Oh I forgot to mention that are several pick-pocket gangs that specially work the Narita Express and Skyliner from the airport targeting only Westerner's luggage. The pick-pocket gangs' reasoning (which is correct) is that the jet-lagged n00bs will not even notice money missing from their hand luggage until they wake up the next day after a lo-o-ong sleep and then won't know how to report their loss or even where/when it happened.

The best pick-pocket scam are the thieves who ride the Kyoto-to-Tokyo shinkansen and only target ALTs and JETs returning home at the end of their one year contract. Returning home with a year's worth of cash savings is a very temping (and baka) target.

[Russell]

Where are some places in Tokyo I need to avoid or be extra careful in, and what tips do you have to avoid being pick-pocketed or scammed?

2) There is one particular asshole in Ueno (and sometimes Shibuya) who approaches nama-noobs pretending to be a cop and demands to see their passport. It just a wacko power trip. Always demand ID of cops or offer to walk over to police box confirm they're legit. You have to show ID to a real cop but this one fake cop is just bizarre since he not even looking for your money--just "power" over gaijin.

Taro, this an almost 6-year old article from Debito. Is the fake cop still around, and are there some recent online sources / stories about him?

[Taro Toporific]

Taro, this an almost 6-year old article from Debito. Is the fake cop still around, and are there some recent online sources / stories about him?

Yes, I read about it happening to gaijin of Reddit from time to time. Interestingly, I have had the pleasure of fake Japanese cops encounters years ago.

_________

C.S.B.

I lived at least 25 years in Japan before I got stopped by real cops for being gaijin, a occasional problem other gaijin complain about. My first real police stop was very odd: I was already on the train platform leaving Narita (meaning I have just been checked by Immigration and Customs).

A few months later (2010-ish) I got stopped in Ueno coming off the Skyliner by what turned out to be a fake cop. Between 2011 and 2017, a couple of different fake cops tried stop to stop me in Ueno a half dozen times (and once in Shibuya)---Every time I was carrying luggage.

Now that live near Kamata, the largest train station nearest Hanada Airport, I get the hairy eyeballs from the cops wanting to do a shokumu shitsumon/stop-and-frisk several times a month, meh. I just give 'em my best Jedi mind trick: "Daijobu" (These aren't the gaijin you're looking for). Then, I roll past them without stopping.



Different kind of fake cop scam:

https://soranews24.com/2019/12/10/ibara ... he-police/

Old fake cop cases:

https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments ... ice_today/

https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments ... e/cfup87l/

https://japantoday.com/category/feature ... n-shinjuku

https://jp.usembassy.gov/security-messa ... t-tokyo-3/

[John Dillinger]

what tips do you have to avoid being pick-pocketed or scammed?

Oh I forgot to mention that are several pick-pocket gangs that specially work the Narita Express and Skyliner from the airport targeting only Westerner's luggage. The pick-pocket gangs' reasoning (which is correct) is that the jet-lagged n00bs will not even notice money missing from their hand luggage until they wake up the next day after a lo-o-ong sleep and then won't know how to report their loss or even where/when it happened.

The best pick-pocket scam are the thieves who ride the Kyoto-to-Tokyo shinkansen and only target ALTs and JETs returning home at the end of their one year contract. Returning home with a year's worth of cash savings is a very temping (and baka) target.

Thanks again for the info! I'll be arriving at Haneda Airport in mid-February. Anything in particular I need to be on the look out for there besides fake cops and pickpockets? Also, I've invested in a neck passport wallet to keep under my shirt.That a good idea or are there other better ideas to keep my valuables safer?

[Russell]

Taro, this an almost 6-year old article from Debito. Is the fake cop still around, and are there some recent online sources / stories about him?

Yes, I read about it happening to gaijin of Reddit from time to time. Interestingly, I have had the pleasure of fake Japanese cops encounters years ago.

_________

C.S.B.

I lived at least 25 years in Japan before I got stopped by real cops for being gaijin, a occasional problem other gaijin complain about. My first real police stop was very odd: I was already on the train platform leaving Narita (meaning I have just been checked by Immigration and Customs).

A few months later (2010-ish) I got stopped in Ueno coming off the Skyliner by what turned out to be a fake cop. Between 2011 and 2017, a couple of different fake cops tried to stop me in Ueno a half dozen times (and once in Shibuya)---Every time I was carrying luggage.

Now that live near Kamata, the largest train station nearest Hanada Airport, I get the hairy eyeballs from the cops wanting to do a shokumu shitsumon/stop-and-frisk several times a month, meh. I just give 'em my best Jedi mind trick: "Daijobu" (These aren't the gaijin you're looking for). Then, I roll past them without stopping.



Different kind of fake cop scam:

https://soranews24.com/2019/12/10/ibara ... he-police/

Old fake cop cases:

https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments ... ice_today/

https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments ... e/cfup87l/

https://japantoday.com/category/feature ... n-shinjuku

https://jp.usembassy.gov/security-messa ... t-tokyo-3/

I have never had this experience, fortunately. I do not look very suspicious, I guess.

[jingai]

Honestly, you don't need to do anything special in Japan if you are from a place like the US or Europe and familiar with basic safety precautions. The locals here have their wallets in the back pockets, leave smart phones on tables in cafes to reserve a seat, etc. Be somewhat cautious in crowded tourist areas that could be prime targets for pick pockets (Asakusa, etc.) but in general just enjoy your time here and the luxury of not having to live in fear.

[John Dillinger]

Thanks for the info Jingai! My main hotel will be in Asakusa, so I'll be a bit more wary there. Think I'm probably going to stick to keeping my passport in my neck wallet since I can be a bit of a scatterbrain, and just in case the J-Cops do ask to see my passport.

[jingai]

Enjoy your time. I stayed next to Sensoji the last time I was in Asakusa- loved it there. A friend got pickpocketed at Sensoji, so just be aware of crowded places with tourists that may be targeted. The rest of Asakusa is fine I think. Hiding the passport is a good idea- you won't be needing it anyway.

[yanpa]

Personally right now I'd stay away from anywhere likely to be infested with tourists from the Middle Kingdom.

(Nothing personal like, but a while back in pre-Corona days I ended up with The Spawn at a children's playpark close to a famous tourist attraction, and there was a delightful little boy from said locale with a massively runny nose and a doubtful looking snotrag which he happily threw in front of him while sliding down slides etc. and I decided early egress would be advisable).

[matsuki]

Personally right now I'd stay away from anywhere likely to be infested with tourists from the Middle Kingdom.

(Nothing personal like, but a while back in pre-Corona days I ended up with The Spawn at a children's playpark close to a famous tourist attraction, and there was a delightful little boy from said locale with a massively runny nose and a doubtful looking snotrag which he happily threw in front of him while sliding down slides etc. and I decided early egress would be advisable).

The whole victims of "racism" issue is being overplayed. Of course some SE Asians, many not even Chinese are being discriminated against and that is unfortunate and they have my sympathy...but the majority of the "that's racist!" cries I've seen are from Chinese tourists, fresh out of China. Nothing to do with race, you have citizens of an authoritarian regime who allowed this mess to happen, covered up until it couldn't be covered up, and now that it's too late and plenty of infected are out spreading this shit worldwide with some even bragging about it on social media, is making a bunch of face-saving gestures and blaming local politicians to deflect any criticism. Distrust of the CCP and their inadequate measures, implemented this late in the game doesn't make you racist...hell even the Chinese population doesn't trust what's being done....it make you reasonable. I'm not saying avoid your Chinese friends living here...but avoiding areas flooded with Chinese tourists would seem to be pretty damn sensible.