Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district is well known as a popular entertainment area. Although when I say entertainment, I don’t mean bingo halls and bowling alleys. No, it’s very much adult (and male) orientated. I always remember my first visit, as in the middle of the street was a man holding up a placard with an arrow pointing down — for want of a better description — a dark passageway. And on his advertising board in bold letters were the words ‘Anal Sex’. In English too. As a wide-eyed and naïve gaijin fresh off the boat, I was surprised to say the least.
Anyway, arriving in Shinjuku on Friday to meet a friend and finding myself a little early, I thought I’d take a little detour through this colourful part of town. But with it only being 4 pm, I wasn’t expecting to see much activity. I was wrong.
Within 3 minutes I’d seen a rat out on an early evening stroll, and been very kindly invited by numerous dodgy looking men in suits to watch a live show, have a sexy massage, or alternatively indulge in rigorous and fulfilling sex. Oh, and also the offer of a look around a shop that was selling all manner of unusual and exotic items. Many of which I couldn’t even begin to fathom their purpose.
Although if those (apparent) sex aids were mind boggling, they weren’t quite as baffling as this sign above a nearby pachinko parlour.
But considering the area it is situated in, and the various services on offer, the gambling emporium’s name is rather appropriate.
Scott says
Interesting story. I will be staying up in Shinjuku for 10 days starting this week so I might take a stroll through that section of town just to see what it is like.
Steph says
Maaan, that’s crazy, that’s the only pachinko parlour I’ve been in in my life! Not living in Tokyo that’s more of an impressive thing to me than it seems 🙂