Kabuki-cho ［歌舞伎町］

Kabuki-cho

Kabuki-cho is the name of the town located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is an entertainment district where many restaurants, amusement facilities, and movie theaters are gathered.

Along with the Shinjuku Koma Theater (venue where Enka [Japanese ballad] concerts are mainly held), there are also a great number of movie theaters, Manga cafes (comic book cafes), bars, and Izakaya (type of Japanese drinking establishment) standing next to each other. It is indeed one of the largest nighttime entertainment spots in the world. In recent years, many tourists from overseas have begun visiting this area and tour guides are often seen during the day leading their groups.

Voices soliciting customers can be heard from everywhere, creating a mood that is unique to Kabuki-cho. Meanwhile, it is also often the choice for businessmen working in the Nishi-Shinjuku commercial district and those on business trips to relax and have an enjoyable night here. Students, too, love to drink and party in Kabuki-cho as well. The streets are crowded with people even way after dark and neon signs never stop their continuous blazing glow all night long. Indeed, this area may well be considered as the heart of Shinjuku, the sleepless town.

However, it is also an area with many problems concerning safety, which is quite rare in this country and measures to strictly control organized crime are being enforced.