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Where is the largest red-light district in Japan?

At present, the 36 ha (89 acres; 0.14 sq mi) Kabukicho district has transformed from a residential area to a world-famous red-light district housing over three thousand bars, nightclubs, love hotels, massage parlours, hostess clubs and the like.



The largest and most famous red-light district in Japan is Kabukicho, located in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo. Spanning just a few blocks, it is home to thousands of bars, nightclubs, "host" and "hostess" clubs, love hotels, and "pink salons." It is easily identifiable by the iconic red neon gate (Kamoerabi) at its entrance. While the district is safe for tourists to walk through during the day and early evening—and is even home to the famous "Godzilla head" and the "Golden Gai" bar area—it becomes much more intense after midnight. Historically, Kabukicho was developed as a center for theater (hence the name "Kabuki"), but it evolved into an entertainment "red-light" zone after WWII. It is important for visitors to be aware of "touts" or "street barkers" who may try to lure people into clubs with promises of cheap drinks, which often lead to "bottling" scams or exorbitant "seating fees." While prostitution is technically illegal in Japan under the 1956 Prostitution Prevention Law, Kabukicho operates in a "gray area" of the law where various adult services are provided under the guise of "entertainment," making it a complex and fascinating, if gritty, part of Tokyo's nightlife.

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