Japan is known for being a safe place to live in and visit. Crime rates are low enough and the vibes are relaxed enough that there is even an entire TV show about sending toddlers into the world alone to carry out some errands for their parents.
But that isn’t to say that crime is absent — or that things that aren’t criminal, but feel like they should be, don’t go on. This is most notable in areas like Kabukicho, where drinking, singing, and other revelries continue late into the night. Sadly, even our beloved gayborhood of Nichome isn’t immune to the kind of tactics that might find you poorer in pocket than you should be at the end of an evening.
For real security, the Japan Gay Guide has got your back with our JGG Tours, which guarantee a safe, affordable and enjoyable night in some of Nichome’s finest and funnest nightspots. But for anyone who dares to venture out alone — or if our tour left you hungry for more — be aware of the following scams to watch out for.
Omitted Fees
One of the easiest fiddles for unscrupulous pliers of booze can be the number of hidden fees added to the bill that you don’t get told about beforehand. Now, it’s not unusual for bars in Japan to have an entrance fee, or a seating fee. But it is unusual not to be told about it beforehand, and while not universal, you will often receive something in exchange for your entry fee: typically nothing much, such as an otoshi snack at an izakaya, or a drink or two for your entry at a bar or club like Dragon Men. However, there are places that will advertise their cheap drinks, or karaoke machines, without mentioning that you pay a premium.
YouTuber KoreKore has several videos on this subject, and one example shows the kind of things that some establishments try to — and often do — get away with. In the bill the customers received at one pub, they were given four charges before they even sat down, and without knowing it. A seating fee, an otoshi fee, a weekend fee, and a year-end fee, totalling almost ¥7,000, or $45, before they had even bought a single drink.
Expensive Tastes
This trick is usually only fallen for by those who are a few cups in already, but: be wary of host or hostess bars that are openly touting for business outside. Host/ess clubs are going to be pricier than your normal bar on a good day, but they are kind of a fun thing about Japanese “night culture” to try once, if you can afford it. But that’s a decision you should make before you start drinking.
If you’ve had a few drinks, that hot guy, the cute girl, or the lovely NB enticing you to enter their club for a drink with them might sound like a lot of fun. And hey, it’s a nomihodai, all you can drink, so why worry about the price?
Well, because what you’re getting in the nomihodai, is probably going to be cheap shochu or whiskey that you’ve paid at least 300% over the odds for, so you’re not going to love the taste so much, or the way you feel the next morning. But that’s just your decision, right? Well, your new drinking buddy isn’t likely to sully themselves with such swill. While you’re swallowing sour shochu, she’s sipping sumputous champagne, and you’re going to be picking up the bill. That’s how a fun little ¥4,000 two-hour hostess club fun experience can become a ¥12,000 learning experience.
Prices in the Fineprint
This is a little similar to hidden fees, but slightly different: rather than not telling you about prices, they are carefully worded so as to catch you out, without necessarily being dishonest.
One big example of this is not telling people about taxes. In many countries, taxes come included in the price, and in Japan this is often true in many shot bars: if it says your beer is ¥700, then it’s ¥700. If the tax isn’t included, then honest establishments will make that clear by saying “(plus tax) or, in Japanese, “税別” (just so you know, “tax included” is written “税込”).
Another is to have a liberal approach to the meaning of time. For example, many places will offer extensions for nomihodai, in case you’re still having fun. But some will tell you (or, for the very dishonest, they won’t) that your extension is automatic, meaning that they won’t tell you when your time is up, and will charge you for extra time (usually an hour) the instant that your time hits the limit. So, okay, but you can prepare for that, right? Not if the limit isn’t what you’d think it is: some bars will have a nomihodai of an hour, but a last order time well before that — in some places, up to 30 minutes. So if have an all-you-can-drink session of two hours, and order a drink at 1 hour and 31 minutes in, congratulations! You just agreed to an extra hour!
Should You Be Concerned?
As mentioned above, Japan is a very safe place, and thankfully such practices as these have been declining as local authorities have cracked down on establishments that are ripping people off and eating up police time with complaints. Nevertheless, there are still places that utilize these practices.
But for real safety of mind, JGG Tours are the way to go. We can offer fun experiences in honest, fun bars with tour guides we know, trust, and love. Click here to book your tour today!
Gay Night Tour
