A 600,000 JPY Scare at a "Rip-off" Kyabakura in Kabukicho

Life has its ups, downs, and "what the heck" moments.

Even now, just thinking back on that day sends shivers down my spine. It was a close call, one that made my heart stop.

A good reminder: Never underestimate the importance of staying vigilant.

Never trust those street promoters, the "catchers," who call out to you. They're notorious for luring people into trouble.

This is especially true on "Hanamido Dori" in Shinjuku, Tokyo, a street known for its abundance of bars and, unfortunately, shady characters.

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Image Source: Google Map

This area, stretching from "Seibu Shinjuku Ekimae Dori" to the "Shinjuku KuYakusho Dori Intersection," is known for its prevalence of rip-offs and aggressive solicitations. Stay alert!

It doesn't matter how drunk you are or how enticing the price sounds. Always be on guard.

It could've been a different story

Around a year ago, I met two tourists on a tour and hit it off with them. We went out for dinner and karaoke after the tour ended.

They expressed a strong desire to experience a Japanese Kyabakura, so I offered to show them. We visited a free guidance agency, which explained the systems and pricing of different clubs before introducing us to various options.

In the end, we chose a club that seemed to have pretty girls.

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Of course, I discussed the budget with them, aiming for a place where one round would be roughly 10,000 JPY per person.

A staff member from the club came to pick us up. And it turned out to be a great decision!

There were many beautiful and friendly girls, and we had a lot of fun. Of course, my translation skills were put to the test since neither of them spoke much Japanese.

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After an hour, one round, we paid the bill and left. It came to 54,600 JPY, which seemed reasonable considering the price of a shared bottle of whisky we drank with three girls, with each girl getting two drinks. There was also a 30% service charge and tax on top of that.

However, the problems began right after that.

The two girls were quite tipsy. They said they wanted to go home and sleep. So we said our goodbyes.

But I don't know why, but I felt like having more drinks. I ended up wandering around the streets. It was already past midnight.

Suddenly, a young man with brown hair approached me.

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Shinjuku Kabukicho is known for its frequent rip-offs orchestrated by catchers. This practice is technically illegal due to local ordinances, but many individuals continue to approach unsuspecting victims, flouting police authority. It’s essentially a free-for-all.

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"Hey, how about a one-hour all-you-can-drink for 3,000 JPY? We have really cute girls here."

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I was heavily intoxicated and unable to think clearly, leading me to these ridiculous conclusions.

Perhaps I was thinking, “I'll drink wherever as long as I get my fill," a feeling that consumed my senses.

In the end, I followed him to his club.

Thinking about it now, it was pure suicidal behaviour. If only I’d ignored that catcher and went home, I wouldn't have gone through such a terrifying experience.

The me on that day had completely lost it.

Entering the Cozy-Yet-Grim Kyabakura

It was a five minute walk away, tucked away in an alleyway.

The establishment was on the third floor of a run-down, dirty, multi-purpose building with no elevator.

Upon entering, I noticed two Filipina women and three Japanese women seated at a booth in the front.

I was led to a sofa seating in the back. The whole place seemed deserted; I was the only customer.

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The dim, pink lighting felt oddly creepy.

I sat down, and a bottle of all-you-can-drink whisky was placed before me. A girl sat next to me.

Her face was long and horse-like, her physique, plump, and not even aesthetically pleasing, let alone attractive. Her age was also unreadable.

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“How old are you?” I asked.

She said, “Sir, asking a woman's age is considered rude,” but based on my estimates, I thought she must be over 40.

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Well, I intended on leaving after one round. I kept downing drinks from the shared bottle, letting the girl sip a few herself.

"I'll be leaving after an hour, so please tell me when the time comes," I instructed the girl.

Yet, somehow, between the alcohol and the charm of her eloquence, two hours passed by before I realized it. Looking at my watch, I saw that it was past 2 a.m I asked for the bill, and that's when I was met with a chilling shock.

They wanted 600,000 JPY including tax!

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I knew it. A blatant rip-off. But it was too late.

They’d only served me the all-you-can-drink whisky, a few drinks for the girls, and some complimentary snacks, and I wasn’t planning to order any food, just those three things!

Why was it 600,000 JPY?

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"Surely, this isn’t 600,000 JPY, right?” I said to the staff member, not wanting to believe the number I saw.

“No sir, you’re correct,” was the response I received.

"I see..."

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Apparently, there was no mistake.

My panicked mind urged me to scan my surroundings.

One person at the counter, one at the hallway, one at the front desk, and two imposing-looking guys standing by the entrance, totaling five people.

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There was no escape. There’s no way I’m getting out of here.

I had roughly 30,000 JPY in cash. Paying 600,000 JPY was out of the question. I couldn't do it. I wouldn't.

Using a credit card was also undesirable, as I didn't want them to copy down my details and use them for fraud.

Calling the police would be useless; they would refuse to get involved in a civil matter.

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Aha!

I decided to make a desperate gamble.

My escape from a 600,000 JPY Kyabakura

Firstly, I handed over the 30,000 JPY in cash to the manager-like figure and explained that “This is all the cash I have, so I’ll go to the convenience store and withdraw the rest.”

Their priority as a Kyabakura was to avoid inciting any criminal charges, so they likely didn't want to detain me or resort to violence.

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I’d planned this all out. My plan for a desperate escape from this crisis.

We walked outside to a nearby convenience store.

It was close to 3 am, and the street was barely bustling with a few people around.

The two imposing men stuck close behind me.

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As we continued, one of the guys arrogantly commanded me to "Turn right."

"Yes, sir," I politely responded.I turned a corner, where the brightly lit convenience store beckoned.The moment I approached the entrance, I let out a scream as loud as I could, 

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"Help! Please help me!!"

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The two men were taken aback, eyes widening in surprise at the unexpected outburst.

With the element of surprise on my side, I sprinted as fast as I could, taking off for a mad dash.

My sprint that night must’ve surpassed my speed during stolen bases in my high school baseball team. This was truly a matter of life and death.

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“Hold it right there! You! You little bastard!”

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I could hear their shouts behind me, but of course, they were in hot pursuit.

I knew, however, that I could outrun those men. As someone who regularly jogged every morning, I was miles ahead of their average lifestyles of inaction.

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With all my might, I pressed on, pushing through back alleys, twisting and turning through corners until I reached the main street. I crossed an intersection, hailed a taxi, jumped in, and commanded the driver, “Shinjuku Washington Hotel, please!"

It was only upon entering the cab that I glanced behind. The two imposing men were gone!

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It was a nail-biting experience, a narrow escape!

With sheer luck, I limited my damages to just 30,000 JPY. Thank goodness!

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I might have been intoxicated, but I managed to run without tripping, a blessing in disguise.

Safely reaching the hotel, I realized I had gotten extremely lucky.

It would be no "no-pay for service" since I’d paid the initial 30,000 JPY, which would hopefully, be enough to prevent me from facing any criminal charges.

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Okay, 30,000 JPY may seem a hefty sum to most, but compared to the initial 600,000 JPY bill, I considered myself fortunate.

“Never again! I’ll never trust those catchers!" I firmly promised myself.

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Later, a friend of mine who’s from Shinjuku, grew up in Shinjuku and is well-versed in the nighttime scene warned me, "Stay away from that part of town; they have some really dangerous places there. You could have easily ended up dead."

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The reality of how grave my situation had sunk in after this revelation. It was one close call that could have turned into an incredibly tragic situation.

Always exercise caution. It doesn’t matter if you’re drunk or lured by the allure of “cheap” offers. Such behaviors are a serious risk.

In summary

Therefore, here are some precautions to consider:

1. Never approach a "catcher," regardless of how drunk you are.
2. Never underestimate the value of offers - no matter how tempting or enticing they might seem.
3. Avoid Kyabakuras solo.
4. If you decide to drink in Kabukicho, seek assistance from free guidance agencies.
5. Maintain strong running skills to aid in quick escapes (just kidding).

Stay safe out there, everyone.