7 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Japan

Japan is a safe country. Its crime rates are generally low. Nevertheless, Japan does have a few
bad neighborhoods.
Japan's dangerous neighborhoods fall into two categories: red-light districts and slums. Slums
are rare but do exist. Red-light districts are common. However, it's only the largest, most
notorious red-light districts that are considered dangerous.
These 7 neighborhoods have a bad reputation.

1. Kabukicho, Tokyo

Kabukicho is the largest red light district in the world. It's home to thousands of restaurants,
karaoke, clubs and bars. It's also home to a wide variety of underworld establishments that
attract weirdos and gangsters en masse.
It's the type of neighborhood where it's not surprising to see riot police walking casually
down the street.

Most Tokyoites don't hesitate to go to restaurants or izakaya in the area. However, they
certainly wouldn't want to live anywhere near Kabukicho.

2. Kamagasaki, Osaka
Kamagasaki (also known as Airinchiku) is Japan's largest slum. It's home to a large number
of homeless and day labors who have no permanent address but live in flophouses in the area.
In recent years, Kamagasaki is popular with young foreign tourists attracted by the area's
cheap accommodations.
Osaka locals avoid the place and swear it's dangerous. Kamagasaki has a history of large riots
(protests against mistreatment by the police). Several well known organized crime groups
maintain offices in the area.
Kamagasaki is the type of neighborhood where the police don't seem to bother giving parking
tickets or enforcing minor crimes.
3. Roppongi, Tokyo
Roppongi is an upscale residential and office district of Tokyo that's also home to an
infamous nightlife area. Roppongi night clubs have a dangerous, unfriendly edge that's
unusual in Japan.
Roppongi is safe enough in the afternoon. Some clubs run until noon — mornings can be
sketchy. Several years ago the United States government issued a travel warning for
Roppongi.
Locals don't avoid the area. It has many popular attractions such as Roppongi Hills. However,
it's not a good place to go wild. Most people who get in trouble in Roppongi are intoxicated
when it happens.
In the evenings there are touts everywhere that harass tourists to follow them to bars. Never
follow a tout in Roppongi.

4. Shinsekai, Osaka
In 1912, Shinsekai was the most modern, cosmopolitan neighborhood in Japan. It was
modeled after the streets of Paris and included a large ultra-modern amusement park (Luna
Park).
Luna Park suffered a series of suspicious fires soon after it was built. It closed way back in
1923.
The area still has a carnival-like atmosphere today. It's one of Osaka's most popular
attractions. It's filled with charming and inexpensive restaurants, souvenir shops and
pachinko parlors.
Despite its popularity with tourists, some Osaka residents swear it's a dangerous area.

5. Susukino, Sapporo
Susukino in Sapporo was constructed as a red-light district in 1871 to help attract pioneers to
northern Japan. Today, it's the 2nd largest red-light district in the country.
Like any red-light district it attracts gangsters and strange people of every description.
However, Susukino is also home to a large number of restaurants and regular businesses. It's
also the site of many of Sapporo's festivals including the Sapporo Snow Festival.
There's no reason to avoid the area (in fact it's considered one of Sapporo's main tourist
attractions). Just be aware that it's not the safest place in Japan.
6. Nakasu, Fukuoka
Nakasu is one of the largest entertainment districts in Japan. Like Susukino, it's a major
tourist attraction but it does have a slightly rough edge.

7. Ueno, Tokyo
Ueno is home to many of Tokyo's best attractions including dozens of museums, a large
pleasant park and a zoo.
The park is home to much of Tokyo's homeless population and the surrounding area is a little
seedy. There's certainly a gangster element in Ueno. Tokyoites wouldn't hesitate to visit Ueno
in the day but they wouldn't recommend walking around Ueno at night.
8 Best Kyoto Spots for Photographers
posted by John Spacey, March 09, 2012

Kyoto is a photographer's dream. With 2200 temples and shrines, magical Japanese gardens,
ornate imperial palaces, ancient forests, vibrant festivals and exotic geisha walking around —
it's hard to go wrong.
These 8 spots are amongst Kyoto's most photogenic.

1. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is a magical little pathway through a bamboo forest behind
Tenryuji Temple. It's immaculate.

2. Fushimi Inari Shrine

There's something about thousands of vermillion gates stacked together.
3. Mount Koya (Koya-san)
Mount Koya isn't in Kyoto. It's about 90 minutes away by train. It's a 800 meter high valley
deep in a forest surrounded by 8 mountain peaks. It's a temple town (there are 120 temples in
this little community and not much else). It's a bewitching place.

4. Pontocho
The narrow streets of a ancient entertainment district are bound to produce some interesting
results. Pontocho has been serving up nightlife for almost 1300 years.
5. Philosopher's Path
The Philosopher's Path is a 2 kilometer stone path along a sakura (cherry tree) lined canal. It's
the most popular spot (amongst photographers) during hanami (cherry blossom viewing)
season. It's very photogenic any time of year and is surrounded with interesting shops.

6. Kinkaku-ji Temple
Kinkaku-ji Temple is designed to look like heaven and earth reaching out to touch each other.
Try to catch a perfect reflection in the garden pond.
7. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu-dera's 13 meter high stage is constructed without nails. In the Edo-era 234 people
jumped from the stage in hopes of being granted a wish. The stage is a photographic gem. It's
also a good place to get photos of other tourists.

8. Gion
Gion is the best hanamachi (geisha district) to get photographs of maiko and geisha. If you're
in Kyoto in July be sure to check out the Gion festival.
9 Principles of Japanese Art and Culture
posted by John Spacey, October 19, 2009 updated on March 15, 2014

There are 9 basic principles that underlie Japanese art and culture.
They're called aesthetics — concepts that answer the question: what is art? There are 9
Japanese aesthetics. They are the basis for Japanese art, fashion, pop culture, music and
movies.

1. Wabi-sabi (imperfect)
Can you imagine if all the characters in movies were perfect? It's imperfection that makes life
interesting. The concept of wabi-sabi is often extended to include impermanent. For example,
sakura (cherry blossoms) are more beautiful because they don't last forever.
2. Miyabi (elegance)
Miyabi is often translated "heartbreaker". It's all about eliminating anything that's vulgar.
Does swearing make a movie better? According to Miyabi — it doesn't.

3. Shibui (subtle)
Shibui means simple, subtle or unobtrusive. It means that things are more beautiful when they
speak for themselves — when they aren't loud and in your face.

4. Iki (originality)
Iki is uniqueness. In many ways, Japanese culture doesn't celebrate uniqueness. As the
Japanese proverb goes — the nail that sticks up is pounded down. Therefore, a better
translation of Iki is "refined uniqueness".
Iki is the movie character who's a bad-ass with style and grace.

5. Jo-ha-kyu (slow, accelerate, end)

Jo-ha-kyu is a tempo that can be translated as — start slowly, accelerate and end suddenly.
This aesthetic is used by Japanese traditional arts such as tea ceremony. It's also used widely
by Japanese martial arts.
Modern uses include movies, music and advertising.

6. Yugen (mysterious)
Yugen states that life is boring when all the facts are known. Something should be held back
— the mystery. Every watch a movie that doesn't explain everything? That's yugen.
Where does the smoke come from?
7.Geido (discipline and ethics)
Have you ever noticed that Japanese martial arts (and traditional arts) are all about discipline?
Ethics and discipline make things more attractive.

8. Ensou (the void)

Ensou is a zen concept. It is often represented by a circle. It can mean infinity or nothingness.
It's a little hard to explain. You need to spend a lot of time meditating to really get it.
9. Kawaii (cute)
Kawaii is cute. Some argue it's a new Japanese aesthetic. Others say kawaii has always been
part of Japanese culture. Either way, it has certainly become the most popular Japanese
aesthetic in recent years.