Mangas, Zen gardens, Mount Fuji, or Sumo… while Japan is seeing a rise in tourism, it seems that culture is no longer the main attraction for foreigners. In Tokyo, a parallel industry is growing: sexual tourism.
A shadow economy benefiting from the tourism boom
In Kabukicho, a bustling district in the west of Tokyo, tourists flock to the area. Many gather to snap photos of Godzilla, perched atop a cinema, roaring and spitting smoke. But just a few steps away, an entirely different scene is unfolding: a parallel sex economy is expanding, almost in plain sight. In Okubo Park, dozens of young women stand still, waiting for clients. Under the bluish glow of smartphones, this corner becomes the nerve center of street prostitution. Arata Sakamoto, director of the “Rescue Hub” organization, explains that this practice was marginal ten years ago, but it has exploded since the Covid-19 pandemic. “Many young women are offering low-cost sexual services, which attracts more foreign tourists,” he observes.
Japan set records with 36.8 million tourists last year, drawn particularly by the weak yen. On social media, the phenomenon is amplifying: videos of sex workers, filmed without their knowledge in the park, are circulating on TikTok or Bilibili (a Chinese video platform), garnering hundreds of thousands of views. Ria, a 28-year-old sex worker, notes a sharp increase in foreign clients. Many use their phones to write “how much?” with automatic translations. The services are negotiated between 15,000 and 30,000 yen, roughly 92 to 184 euros, though these amounts are decreasing due to the drop in purchasing power, she says.
The danger of a legal void
In the cozy offices of the “Rescue Hub” organization, a dozen young women find some respite. They can eat, charge their phones, and talk to volunteers. Azu, 19, says she earns about 20,000 yen per client, sometimes more. But behind this income lie dark realities: violence, sexual assault, non-payment, and unauthorized video recordings. Mr. Sakamoto warns about the physical and mental risks: the spread of STDs, unwanted pregnancies, abortions. He also highlights that these workers are often left to fend for themselves in a society that, although it has legalized certain forms of sexual services, abandons them in a legal grey area.
Since December, the police have increased patrols in Kabukicho, forcing prostitutes to disperse. The authorities acknowledge a rise in activity but remain vague about concrete measures. A striking fact: sex workers face six months in prison and a fine of up to 300,000 yen for repeat offenses, but clients are not penalized. Ria now prefers foreign clients: “We know they aren’t undercover police officers.” This impunity for clients raises questions. For Sakamoto, legal sanctions against clients would reduce demand. He also advocates for multilingual awareness campaigns in airports, hotels, and tourist districts.
In February, the police arrested seven people, including the manager of a “sexual massage” parlor in Kabukicho, accused of running a brothel for tourists. For Mr. Sakamoto, this case illustrates the growing normalization of an illegal practice driven by the tourism boom.