Free tour

Shinjuku Red Light District Tour

4.93

Excellent(45)

Tokyo

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Languages: English

Guru: Ryo

Registered on 26 October 2024

Konnichiwa ! I'm Ryo, your local guide. I was born and raised in Tokyo. I graduated from Shinjuku Public High School, just a 5-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. I then attended Waseda University, which is about a 30-minute walk from the same station. I used to live in Kabukicho town and worked for a movie production company located in the Shinjuku Nichome gay town. I have first-hand experience going to many of the establishments which we will discuss during the tour. Currently, I work as a cram school English teacher during the day, teaching both high school students and recent graduates.

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

Shinjuku Red Light District Tour

This guided walking tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the city’s most talked-about neighborhoods — focused on culture, history, and social context. The guide ensures a relaxed and secure atmosphere throughout the tour. This is an observation-only tour. You won’t be approached by promoters or invited into any venues. It’s perfect for curious travelers looking to learn, observe, and enjoy the area with peace of mind.

This tour is like having a friendly local guy sharing the real stories of Shinjuku with you. My goal is for you to fully enjoy the night, so please come with an open mind and a non-judgmental attitude. I will present the facts as they are—both the good and the bad—without sugarcoating. Please note that since we will be walking through red light districts, this tour will include a certain degree of adult content. This tour is for adults only and not suitable for children under 18 or for those who may be uncomfortable discussing different sexual orientations.

As a local, I’ll do my best to answer any questions you have honestly—whether they're about politics, religion, race, or sexuality. There are no taboos in our intercultural exchange, so feel free to ask any direct questions. I welcome open and honest dialogue.

There are many tours that cover Shinjuku, but if you’ve tried others and felt something was missing, I invite you to give this one a try. We may walk through some of the same streets, but the stories, insights, and perspectives are completely different — and go much deeper. Discover a side of Shinjuku that most visitors never see.

Maximum capacity is 4 people. If you exceed this number, please ask at the time of booking.

It’s interesting to note that, so far, more women than men have taken part in this walking tour. The number of younger and senior participants is approximately equal.

All foreign travelers are welcome! Unfortunately, this tour is not available to Japanese nationals.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the bus stop No.3 !

Departure place :
Yellow bus stop pole No.3 next to a bike parking on the Shinjuku Street ( = Shinjuku Dori Avenue) sidewalk.

Exit from the Shinjuku Station East Exit, and you will be facing Shinjuku Street ( AKA, Shinjuku Dori Avenue) . Turn left onto Shinjuku Street and walk for about 30 meters (100 feet) . The street will slope downward, and you will see a bike parking area on your left, with a yellow bus stop pole No.3 about 10 meters (30 feet) ahead.
Please keep scrolling the photos of Shinjuku neon lights to the right in order to see the directions in photographs.
Yellow bus stop Pole No.3 is roughly across the Shinjuku Dori Avenue from The Giant 3D Cat.

Departing place

Yellow Bus Stop ③
↓
Kabukicho Cine city Square
↓
Love hotel town
↓
Host club district
↓
Golden gai ( Golden town )
↓
Hanazono shrine
↓
Ni-chome LGBT district
↓
Dismissing place
Shinjuku Station

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3-chōme−23−２新宿サンビル地下1F

I will wait for you at yellow bus stop pole No. 3, next to the bicycle parking area on the sidewalk along Shinjuku Dori Avenue. This meeting spot is roughly across the street from the “Giant 3D Cat.” First, please exit from the Shinjuku Station East Exit, and you will be facing Shinjuku Street ( also Known as Shinjuku Dori Avenue ) . Then turn left onto Shinjuku Street and walk for about 30 meters (100 feet) . The street will slope downward, and you will see a bike parking area on your left and a yellow bus stop pole 3 on your right. I will be standing with a large i-pad hanging from my neck displaying a dog saying 'GURU. As a reminder, the location is about a 2 to 3-minute walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station. ------------------------ IMPORTANT -------------------- LOOK AT THE DIRECTION PHOTOS ON THIS TOUR'S FRONT PAGE ! Keep scrolling photos to the right.

Outside visit

Kabukicho Cine City Square

Outside visit

Love hotel town

Outside visit

Host club district

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end the amount they consider appropriate (amounts usually range from €15 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).