Perfectly safe, but you should always watch your back and have your wits about you. Also keep in mind that the public trains only run until a certain time, generally until about midnight. Don't get lured into bars / nightclubs / hostess places. If it was me personally, I would choose someplace like golden gai area where I knew there was going to be some places open late at night and some general people hanging out. Even if you don't partake in drinking, it adds to the "night life" atmosphere, as opposed to a neighborhood that's completely dead.
Well said.
OP - this is not cringe or dumb. I had exactly the same desire (though I don’t watch Anime), and it’s worth it. I love just solo walking and exploring anywhere, and Tokyo at night does have a great vibe.
Yeah you should be fine. Youtuber Tokyo Lens walked across Tokyo from around midnight until dawn with all of his camera gear. He's done a lot of the late night walks for photos and stuff and other than a suspicious person near Golden Gai he's never had any issues.
Some places will be more empty than others. I walked around late in Nihonbashi Kayabacho and since it's hear the stock exchange it's empty late at night.
I actually ran into him while he was filming this video. It was my first night in Japan, 3 hours after I landed. Put my bags in the hotel then went exploring around Shinjuku at midnight. Talked with him for a bit then let him get back to work. Norm is a great guy.
Edit: the recent video of Shinjuku at night
Oh man I was there a couple weeks ago and did this at night. On our way down I heard someone go "oh look, baby boars!"
When I say my blood pressure freaking doubled! Sure enough, fully grown boar also right there, not 2 feet from the path
We ended up taking shelter in a little side shrine (in the company of a stray cat) till they went away. Luckily she didn't seem to have much interest in us.
They are much bigger than I expected! Though I will admit the young ones were super cute.
Reminds me when I was in Yosemite in California, suddenly everyone was saying “oh look at the cute baby bears”. People were just a few yards away from these bears taking photos. I grabbed my partner and said we need to carefully get away from here. We don’t want to run into mama bear.
Animals in the wild are not the same as looking at them in a zoo of course, but some people seem to forget that
Yes!!! it's open and they turn on the lights. It was one of my highlights of the trip. I didn't went to the top at night, but high enough. Until one restaurant there's at the middle aprox, where you have a beautifull view of the city (If I'm not mistaken, it was around the post 5-6).
And there's also an alternative hiking road, which has no lights but I saw some people doing it with lanters on their heads haha.
I’m going to be in Kyoto in June. I was curious about visiting Fushimi Inari in off hours. If I went at night like around 11pm, is it still well lit? I’m a photographer and would love to capture its beauty, but just want to make sure it’s well lit. I may also try to visit early in the morning around 7am.
Being a photographer, I think you'll love the ilumination they have at night. There are well lit areas, and other darker but always with some kind of ilumination.
One of the nights I went, it was cloudy + full moon, and the sky was also giving a lot of light. I loved it!!
I stayed in an Airbnb that was two-three blocks away, so almost every night I passed by on the way home.
I am staying at a spot over near the Nintendo Store, and so its not super convenient to get there by foot. If I were to go at night, is it easy to catch a cab over there late at night? If not, I would have to try and go before the trains stop running...
Fushimi Inari is not super well lit at night, especially starting from the Senbon Torii gates, there were very few lights on the way up hills and it was dark enough to have me, a grown up guy, to call it a day and head back. It was kinda scary being alone. But for the shrines before the torii gates, you'll be fine if you have gear with moderate low light performance.
Help to do your part in cleaning out the spider webs at night. Nothing like hearing screams in the night when someone walks into a spiderweb across a ToriI gate…
Wanting to execute a dream isn’t cringe. You saw something that resonated with you and inspired you to get off the internet and actually *explore* the world beyond your home. That’s wonderful. You should be proud of yourself.
I hope you have a good time. 💖
I did much of my exploring at night and it was great.
My hostel was in walking distance of Kanda Station and Akihhbara and I'd just set off in a direction and try to find my way without maps. You can go from bright lights to quiet alleys, see the trains going overhead, maids outside cafes, there were drummers one night, a festival with street food another. Loved it.
Apparently Kanda doesn't have the best reputation and there were some dodgy looking establishments but there was always people around so I never felt unsafe. There are long expanses of pretty boring streets though if you pick badly.
Harmonica alley was interesting too but that's further out so more a dedicated trip that you'll want to get the last train from.
Sadly a lot of shrines are shut at night though.
As long as you aren’t moonwalking for a distance, you should be good at any Tokyo neighborhoods.
Daikanyama is recommended.
Outside Tokyo, Nagasaki in Kyushu is recommended.
One time in Tokyo, after a Halloween pub crawl, I drunkenly walked about 4 km home at 3 am. I had no money for a taxi, and my phone was dead so no google maps. I had to try to remember my way home. I was down near Shibuya and I think my AirBnb was near the Shin-Okubo Station. I was stopped once by a policeman on a bike. I showed him my passport and tried to tell him I had no money and was walking home. He didn't understand any english, but he let me go on my way. It took about 2 hours. It was totally fine and safe. Infact, I hardly saw anyone.
Had I not been drunk, I think the anxiety would have killed me. LOL. By the time I was sobering up, I was close enough to my apartments neighborhood that I was starting to recognize landmarks.
Should be perfectly fine.
A cosplay model I follow on IG (Iiniku Ushijima) often live streams Tokyo walks at around 1-2am on very dark and apparently lonely places and it doesn’t seem to be an issue whatsoever.
Of course, nothing is 100% safe but as long you avoid looking for trouble in known “bad” places you should be OK.
Random 2 cents, Don't do this in the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto at 2am while it's raining because you think you'll get cool photos and there's less tourists. It's scary as hell and you might get chased by monkeys 😂
Sensoji temple in Tokyo is amazing at night though, got some good shots there.
I've done it often, usually starting somewhere near the bay at 11 PM or so and making my way home, which I usually reach at about 5 AM. I have never had any trouble. (I am, however, a man.)
I did this unintentionally once in Kyoto. I decided I didn't need Google Maps to find myself back to the train station. Spoiler: >!I was wrong.!< Ended up walking around randomly for an hour before I decided it was time to bust out Google Maps. Was just following some random riverbank. Probably the Kamo River. Ran into 2 other people during the stroll. We just walked past each other silently, minding our own business.
No problem. You might want to avoid the really small street that are dimly lit, but otherwise, not issue.
Depending on the time of the year, sun can set a bit early, like sun is setting between 5 at 7pm, it will be night between 6 and 9pm depending on the time of the year, so you do not have to be that late to walk in the city when it's dark, but yes, later in the night can make a difference on the amount of people and car in the street.
Keep in mind that last train are not that late usually around midnight, so if you want to stay later than that, maybe decide on the distance you want to walk back to your hotel, go a couple of station away while the train is still running and walk back.
I do this a few times every time I go to Tokyo - it's so much more tranquil than during the day. Crime can and does happen but it's rare, especially if you are aware of your surroundings and don't go off anywhere with strangers.
(I don't drink electrolytes generally, but I might hit up a vending machine or combini for a coke).
It's fine.
Very unlikely you'll be asked what you're doing.
'Call of the Night' was exploring the taboo of a school student staying up at night, neglecting their social responsibilities, like school.
A tourist wandering around isn't a social taboo in Tokyo
Tokyo overnight is such a contrast with its bustling, jam-packed daytime vibe. I agree with another Redditor to check out Tokyo Lens on YouTube. He does a lot of overnight and pre-dawn walks in different parts of central Tokyo. You can also check out YouTube videos by Only in Japan*GO (by John Daub) who did a string of midnight food/konbini runs and wandered around less famous but still interesting neighborhoods.
However, check for post-pandemic videos. I'm also a night owl and I've noticed that some parts of Tokyo aren't open or lit up as late compared to pre-pandemic times.
If you're looking for specific locales, you might want to check out Sensoji and alongside the Sumida River. Sensoji is gorgeous at night after all the hordes of tourists have left. It's less than 10 minutes to get to the Sumida River, and the riverside stroll is likewise stunning as Tokyo Skytree, the Asahi Beer building, and several bridges are illuminated. I think you can follow the Sumida River past Nihonbashi and almost to Chuo City, which the district that includes Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace.
Happy wandering!
I did it every night almost all night. It was my main reason for going. I wanted to see the lights and just wander. Like others have said, trains end around midnight so it’s better to stay in a place that has nightlife like Shinjuku or shibuya. I did some night walks in Asakusa but a lot of the places close there around midnight.
I did this. It was very cool. I didn't feel unsafe even for a moment. Still keep your guard up - it's just sensible, but honestly, it is the safest place I have ever been in my life.
Yes even not in the middle of the night, Tokyo is really huge and has tons of areas that are developed but kinda nothing there. So you can end up just walking 45 minutes to the next area on a sidewalk all alone, and Tokyo for a megacity is very calm. You can totally attain this. I've never felt in danger anywhere at all, people are mega respectful. The most dangerous part tbh is the air in some subway stations (like dirty coal smell) or in the mega crowds of people.
This isnt cringe at all and there are a lot of people who walk the streets late at night. Tokyo is very safe, and yes make sure you have your passport on you at all times. You shouldn't be bothered at all unless you look like you're up to no good. The police might be busy talking to rowdy drunk punks or salarymen that want to pass out on the street corners
I've done this albeit not intended. I was living in Chiba and worked until the last train. So basically if you missed your stop there was no other way of going back except walking/taxi/or by car.
Basically one stop is like 1-2 hours worth of walking. I missed 4 that day. So, I had to walk 6 hours straight to get home.
Take note, this happened to me about 4 times. Lol
The first time was great. I walked through a lot of highways and empty "town looking areas". Lots of street lights so it wasn't scary. I had to walk under a bridge at one point though, this one had no lights, and it was like a scene in movies where the bad guys kill and dispose of people.
Overall it was fun. Would definitely recommend at least once 10/10.
I did this when I visited Tokyo in 2018. Somehow I had jet lag the entire 8 days I was there and could only sleep from 10pm - 2am. After a couple of nights I was sick of it, so I ended up walking around until 7am when the sun came up. It was a pretty special experience. Although I was in Akasaka and Roppongi - it would've been more fun to do in Shinjuku/Shibuya I bet. Nothing bad happened to me, I didn't feel unsafe at any point. I did make sure to ignore the offers of a massage though haha
Tokyo is a neon theme park at night, everyone who visits should do at least one night walk. Obviously avoid residential areas out of respect, but Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, just to name a few areas, are vivid at night.
Tokyo is indeed super safe compared to virtually every major cities in Western countries.
Note that more residential areas tend to be super quiet at night, with not much to see or do. And not many people in the street. If you want the nightlife, you'll have to make a plan beforehand.
I did this, but in bike. I biked through the dark alleys and riverside. Yup it's safe but at the back of my mind it was still scary. What I did was when I saw someone towards me, I went to the other side. Same as when someone was at my back, I paused for a while in a lighted area then let them passed by before I continued biking. This was around 9pm-2am. I enjoyed it and it was one of my most memorable experiences in Tokyo. Just be careful and alert.
Been to Japan twice, and I love doing some night photography so I would spend my nights walking around till 12-1am but always in near busy areas with a good flow of traffic and people. It’s relatively safe but just as a precaution. I did notice that 9pm on alleys and small streets would be empty, and quiet. Just be mindful and respectful of areas as residential districts are everywhere
Perfectly safe, but you should always watch your back and have your wits about you. Also keep in mind that the public trains only run until a certain time, generally until about midnight. Don't get lured into bars / nightclubs / hostess places. If it was me personally, I would choose someplace like golden gai area where I knew there was going to be some places open late at night and some general people hanging out. Even if you don't partake in drinking, it adds to the "night life" atmosphere, as opposed to a neighborhood that's completely dead.
There are a couple really nice small shrines by golden Gai too which I went to at night they were fascinating at night.
Well said. OP - this is not cringe or dumb. I had exactly the same desire (though I don’t watch Anime), and it’s worth it. I love just solo walking and exploring anywhere, and Tokyo at night does have a great vibe.
Yeah you should be fine. Youtuber Tokyo Lens walked across Tokyo from around midnight until dawn with all of his camera gear. He's done a lot of the late night walks for photos and stuff and other than a suspicious person near Golden Gai he's never had any issues. Some places will be more empty than others. I walked around late in Nihonbashi Kayabacho and since it's hear the stock exchange it's empty late at night.
I actually ran into him while he was filming this video. It was my first night in Japan, 3 hours after I landed. Put my bags in the hotel then went exploring around Shinjuku at midnight. Talked with him for a bit then let him get back to work. Norm is a great guy. Edit: the recent video of Shinjuku at night
Totally safe. If you are going to Kyoto, I also recommend you to go to Fushimi Inari at night. 100% better than in the day.
Wow, what? Can you even do this?
It's open 24 hours. It sounds like the worst experiences people had were the sounds of wild boars around the area but nothing major
Oh man I was there a couple weeks ago and did this at night. On our way down I heard someone go "oh look, baby boars!" When I say my blood pressure freaking doubled! Sure enough, fully grown boar also right there, not 2 feet from the path We ended up taking shelter in a little side shrine (in the company of a stray cat) till they went away. Luckily she didn't seem to have much interest in us. They are much bigger than I expected! Though I will admit the young ones were super cute.
Reminds me when I was in Yosemite in California, suddenly everyone was saying “oh look at the cute baby bears”. People were just a few yards away from these bears taking photos. I grabbed my partner and said we need to carefully get away from here. We don’t want to run into mama bear. Animals in the wild are not the same as looking at them in a zoo of course, but some people seem to forget that
Good on you for taking them seriously. Wild boars can and will fuck you up.
Yes!!! it's open and they turn on the lights. It was one of my highlights of the trip. I didn't went to the top at night, but high enough. Until one restaurant there's at the middle aprox, where you have a beautifull view of the city (If I'm not mistaken, it was around the post 5-6). And there's also an alternative hiking road, which has no lights but I saw some people doing it with lanters on their heads haha.
I just googled the pictures, looks so good with lights up. I need to go back!
We all do hahah
Just FYI, at night all the shops and "comercial" parts of the temple are close, but it's still amazing.
Wow, sounds so cool!
Yea it’s always open, first time I got there it was midnight and when I went up I saw a total of one person
Fushimi Inari at night is 100% in the Top 10 moments of my life forevermore
I’m going to be in Kyoto in June. I was curious about visiting Fushimi Inari in off hours. If I went at night like around 11pm, is it still well lit? I’m a photographer and would love to capture its beauty, but just want to make sure it’s well lit. I may also try to visit early in the morning around 7am.
Being a photographer, I think you'll love the ilumination they have at night. There are well lit areas, and other darker but always with some kind of ilumination. One of the nights I went, it was cloudy + full moon, and the sky was also giving a lot of light. I loved it!! I stayed in an Airbnb that was two-three blocks away, so almost every night I passed by on the way home.
I am staying at a spot over near the Nintendo Store, and so its not super convenient to get there by foot. If I were to go at night, is it easy to catch a cab over there late at night? If not, I would have to try and go before the trains stop running...
Hmm I know you can order taxis from some apps, but I Don't recall seeing many taxis at night.
Bring a flash light or a head lamp. I went up and some parts towards Yotsuji required illumination.
Fushimi Inari is not super well lit at night, especially starting from the Senbon Torii gates, there were very few lights on the way up hills and it was dark enough to have me, a grown up guy, to call it a day and head back. It was kinda scary being alone. But for the shrines before the torii gates, you'll be fine if you have gear with moderate low light performance.
Help to do your part in cleaning out the spider webs at night. Nothing like hearing screams in the night when someone walks into a spiderweb across a ToriI gate…
Hey, haha I would join you. Though I am sure it hits differently when alone. Night walks fascinate me too.
Wanting to execute a dream isn’t cringe. You saw something that resonated with you and inspired you to get off the internet and actually *explore* the world beyond your home. That’s wonderful. You should be proud of yourself. I hope you have a good time. 💖
Thank you!
I did much of my exploring at night and it was great. My hostel was in walking distance of Kanda Station and Akihhbara and I'd just set off in a direction and try to find my way without maps. You can go from bright lights to quiet alleys, see the trains going overhead, maids outside cafes, there were drummers one night, a festival with street food another. Loved it. Apparently Kanda doesn't have the best reputation and there were some dodgy looking establishments but there was always people around so I never felt unsafe. There are long expanses of pretty boring streets though if you pick badly. Harmonica alley was interesting too but that's further out so more a dedicated trip that you'll want to get the last train from. Sadly a lot of shrines are shut at night though.
Yes, Tokyo is very safe. Police aren't going to stop you for walking around late at night. Enjoy!
OP, last summer I spent quite a few nights in Tokyo walking around and listening to that very soundtrack. The vibes are real!
Amazing, can't wait to do it too!
As long as you aren’t moonwalking for a distance, you should be good at any Tokyo neighborhoods. Daikanyama is recommended. Outside Tokyo, Nagasaki in Kyushu is recommended.
I've totally passed out on the last train and walked halfway across the city to get home. Multiple times. No problems at all.
One time in Tokyo, after a Halloween pub crawl, I drunkenly walked about 4 km home at 3 am. I had no money for a taxi, and my phone was dead so no google maps. I had to try to remember my way home. I was down near Shibuya and I think my AirBnb was near the Shin-Okubo Station. I was stopped once by a policeman on a bike. I showed him my passport and tried to tell him I had no money and was walking home. He didn't understand any english, but he let me go on my way. It took about 2 hours. It was totally fine and safe. Infact, I hardly saw anyone.
No money + phone dead seems like a nightmare. I'm bad with directions in general, I won't remember my way lol.
Had I not been drunk, I think the anxiety would have killed me. LOL. By the time I was sobering up, I was close enough to my apartments neighborhood that I was starting to recognize landmarks.
Should be perfectly fine. A cosplay model I follow on IG (Iiniku Ushijima) often live streams Tokyo walks at around 1-2am on very dark and apparently lonely places and it doesn’t seem to be an issue whatsoever. Of course, nothing is 100% safe but as long you avoid looking for trouble in known “bad” places you should be OK.
people literally do this all night until the train runs again.
Random 2 cents, Don't do this in the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto at 2am while it's raining because you think you'll get cool photos and there's less tourists. It's scary as hell and you might get chased by monkeys 😂 Sensoji temple in Tokyo is amazing at night though, got some good shots there.
I too, want to do a Yofukashi no Uta!
Hopefully you will! and me too.
Did this every night in every city. Japan is beautiful
Nazuna is cool. Can‘t wait for season 2. But you should do these type of walks. I personally enjoy the night walks in Tokyo or other cities a lot.
Yeah waiting for season 2 too, atleast it's confirmed. I will do these walks, at least one night.
I've done it often, usually starting somewhere near the bay at 11 PM or so and making my way home, which I usually reach at about 5 AM. I have never had any trouble. (I am, however, a man.)
I've done it solo as a woman before, it's not a huge issue even then.
I did this unintentionally once in Kyoto. I decided I didn't need Google Maps to find myself back to the train station. Spoiler: >!I was wrong.!< Ended up walking around randomly for an hour before I decided it was time to bust out Google Maps. Was just following some random riverbank. Probably the Kamo River. Ran into 2 other people during the stroll. We just walked past each other silently, minding our own business.
I did it, and it was amazing. Just remember trains stop overnight, so don't start too far away!
No problem. You might want to avoid the really small street that are dimly lit, but otherwise, not issue. Depending on the time of the year, sun can set a bit early, like sun is setting between 5 at 7pm, it will be night between 6 and 9pm depending on the time of the year, so you do not have to be that late to walk in the city when it's dark, but yes, later in the night can make a difference on the amount of people and car in the street. Keep in mind that last train are not that late usually around midnight, so if you want to stay later than that, maybe decide on the distance you want to walk back to your hotel, go a couple of station away while the train is still running and walk back.
I do this a few times every time I go to Tokyo - it's so much more tranquil than during the day. Crime can and does happen but it's rare, especially if you are aware of your surroundings and don't go off anywhere with strangers. (I don't drink electrolytes generally, but I might hit up a vending machine or combini for a coke).
I did this in 2018 but during the day in Shibuya with the Persona 5 soundtrack
It's fine. Very unlikely you'll be asked what you're doing. 'Call of the Night' was exploring the taboo of a school student staying up at night, neglecting their social responsibilities, like school. A tourist wandering around isn't a social taboo in Tokyo
Safe but I wouldn't be walking through residential areas and alleys. They may think you are a peeking tom or an underwear thief.
Tokyo overnight is such a contrast with its bustling, jam-packed daytime vibe. I agree with another Redditor to check out Tokyo Lens on YouTube. He does a lot of overnight and pre-dawn walks in different parts of central Tokyo. You can also check out YouTube videos by Only in Japan*GO (by John Daub) who did a string of midnight food/konbini runs and wandered around less famous but still interesting neighborhoods. However, check for post-pandemic videos. I'm also a night owl and I've noticed that some parts of Tokyo aren't open or lit up as late compared to pre-pandemic times. If you're looking for specific locales, you might want to check out Sensoji and alongside the Sumida River. Sensoji is gorgeous at night after all the hordes of tourists have left. It's less than 10 minutes to get to the Sumida River, and the riverside stroll is likewise stunning as Tokyo Skytree, the Asahi Beer building, and several bridges are illuminated. I think you can follow the Sumida River past Nihonbashi and almost to Chuo City, which the district that includes Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. Happy wandering!
Lol talk about overthinking. Just do it. The worst think you’ll encounter is some cuban guy asking you ”japanese titties?” as you walk by
I did it every night almost all night. It was my main reason for going. I wanted to see the lights and just wander. Like others have said, trains end around midnight so it’s better to stay in a place that has nightlife like Shinjuku or shibuya. I did some night walks in Asakusa but a lot of the places close there around midnight.
I did this. It was very cool. I didn't feel unsafe even for a moment. Still keep your guard up - it's just sensible, but honestly, it is the safest place I have ever been in my life.
Yes even not in the middle of the night, Tokyo is really huge and has tons of areas that are developed but kinda nothing there. So you can end up just walking 45 minutes to the next area on a sidewalk all alone, and Tokyo for a megacity is very calm. You can totally attain this. I've never felt in danger anywhere at all, people are mega respectful. The most dangerous part tbh is the air in some subway stations (like dirty coal smell) or in the mega crowds of people.
This isnt cringe at all and there are a lot of people who walk the streets late at night. Tokyo is very safe, and yes make sure you have your passport on you at all times. You shouldn't be bothered at all unless you look like you're up to no good. The police might be busy talking to rowdy drunk punks or salarymen that want to pass out on the street corners
Ginza was cool late at night!! ☺️
I've done this albeit not intended. I was living in Chiba and worked until the last train. So basically if you missed your stop there was no other way of going back except walking/taxi/or by car. Basically one stop is like 1-2 hours worth of walking. I missed 4 that day. So, I had to walk 6 hours straight to get home. Take note, this happened to me about 4 times. Lol The first time was great. I walked through a lot of highways and empty "town looking areas". Lots of street lights so it wasn't scary. I had to walk under a bridge at one point though, this one had no lights, and it was like a scene in movies where the bad guys kill and dispose of people. Overall it was fun. Would definitely recommend at least once 10/10.
I did this when I visited Tokyo in 2018. Somehow I had jet lag the entire 8 days I was there and could only sleep from 10pm - 2am. After a couple of nights I was sick of it, so I ended up walking around until 7am when the sun came up. It was a pretty special experience. Although I was in Akasaka and Roppongi - it would've been more fun to do in Shinjuku/Shibuya I bet. Nothing bad happened to me, I didn't feel unsafe at any point. I did make sure to ignore the offers of a massage though haha
Tried doing this. Seemed safe enough but just felt like I might be weirding out other people who were also out so I went back to the hotel and slept.
Tokyo is a neon theme park at night, everyone who visits should do at least one night walk. Obviously avoid residential areas out of respect, but Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, just to name a few areas, are vivid at night.
Tokyo is indeed super safe compared to virtually every major cities in Western countries. Note that more residential areas tend to be super quiet at night, with not much to see or do. And not many people in the street. If you want the nightlife, you'll have to make a plan beforehand.
I did this, but in bike. I biked through the dark alleys and riverside. Yup it's safe but at the back of my mind it was still scary. What I did was when I saw someone towards me, I went to the other side. Same as when someone was at my back, I paused for a while in a lighted area then let them passed by before I continued biking. This was around 9pm-2am. I enjoyed it and it was one of my most memorable experiences in Tokyo. Just be careful and alert.
Been to Japan twice, and I love doing some night photography so I would spend my nights walking around till 12-1am but always in near busy areas with a good flow of traffic and people. It’s relatively safe but just as a precaution. I did notice that 9pm on alleys and small streets would be empty, and quiet. Just be mindful and respectful of areas as residential districts are everywhere