Japan: 5 cities in 20 days.
Flight: Direct flight from Rome to Tokyo with ITA Airways, priced just over €1,000.
Tip: To get a general idea of flights to a specific destination, I often use Trip.com, while the platform is entirely reliable, I usually prefer to book directly on the airline’s website for convenience. This way, I avoid multiple intermediaries and can easily access options like baggage allowances or seat selection, which are sometimes not readily available through third-party portals. For accommodations, as usual, I used AGODA, now a trusty travel companion and extremely useful, especially in Asia.
Tokyo:
Haneda Airport is the main airport of the capital and of Japan, as well as the sixth largest and busiest in the world (Dubai is fifth and Los Angeles seventh, to give you an idea of what we’re talking about). It should not be confused with Narita International Airport, which, although it handles a large number of intercontinental and international flights, is smaller and located about 70 km from central Tokyo.
There were no issues at security, though there was a bit of a queue to purchase the Japan Rail Pass, an essential pass for the high-speed trains that is valid throughout Japan, which cost me the equivalent of €350 for two weeks (since I’ll spend the first week in the capital). There are also various passes for the subway and other public transport lines, but there are so many different options that they deserve a separate discussion — we’ll cover them in a dedicated article later.
Not having booked accommodation in advance, I ended up staying at a hostel in Kagurazaka for nearly 9,000 Yen (about €55) per night, with shared bathrooms but in a very charming, not overly touristy area. There are, however, several Korean and other Asian tourists around.
The first interesting destination is Kabukichō, considered Tokyo’s red-light district, where you can find various types of venues: from classic massage parlors with happy endings to so-called Oppai Bars or Seku-kyabakura, where you can spend time with attractive girls who are willing to accept drinks and interact with clients while some physical contact may occur, but without going further.
Then there are hostess clubs, called “kyabakura,” which, unlike the Seku-kyabakura mentioned earlier, offer no physical contact; the hostesses’ only role is to serve drinks, provide company, and chat with clients while appearing interested in what they have to say. (Be careful not to confuse these with Host Clubs, which are the same concept but catered to women.)
For more explicit experiences, there are Pink Salons, or “Pinsaro” (the English term humorously adapted by the Japanese), very particular venues where you choose one of the available girls from a book at the reception. If all are occupied, you can wait in the lounge with a drink or something to read. Once you select an attendant, you pay at the counter and she takes you to your private room, where she cleans and washes intimate areas and hands (often with the classic Japanese wet towel, as there are no showers in these venues). She then performs oral services for the time purchased — pure relaxation.
Another type of adult venue, entirely Japanese, is SoapLand or “Sōpurando,” where you officially go to be washed in a bath by a girl, but of course during and after the washing, all other services for men seeking more than affection are provided.
In general, beyond these examples, you can find pretty much anything related to sex and fetishes — in this, the Japanese are masters. The only issue is that if you don’t have some knowledge of Japanese culture, and especially if you don’t speak at least basic Japanese, gaining access to these venues can be very difficult, even in some of the “foreign-friendly” places. Dakara benkyou shite kudasai!
The Kabukichō district, however, offers entertainment of all kinds. There are, of course, bars of every type, restaurants, shops, karaoke venues, the ever-present bowling alley, and Donki (the Japanese abbreviation for Don Quijote, a very popular discount chain in Japan). There’s even a giant Godzilla overlooking the buildings, just to give you an idea. In general, especially at night, everything is quite chaotic and out of the ordinary, particularly for a Westerner visiting the country for the first time.
Another colorful spot is Hoppy Street, a street lined with many “old-style” bars and restaurants that create a great atmosphere. The area is also famous for cheap drinks, making it perfect to relax and take a break from the chaos.
The nightlife in Shibuya is also worth experiencing, somewhat akin to the busiest districts in London or New York. There are various clubs for those not too old; one of them is Harlem, similar to a US-style hip-hop club but filled with young locals partying all night. For about 30 euros, you get entry and a couple of drinks, and the atmosphere is unique — definitely worth it. Another, more tourist-oriented and less eccentric club is Camelot: a classic disco with entry around 20 euros, including one drink — nothing spectacular, but good enough for a night out.
Of course, Tokyo has countless things to do, and describing them all is practically impossible. Each district is like a small city within a massive city of 14 million residents. If we include the so-called Tokyo metropolitan area, which also covers the prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama, now merged into one urban agglomeration with the capital, we’re talking about roughly 40 million people in an area the size of New Zealand — just to give an idea of how enormous it really is.
Kyoto: Small compared to Tokyo, but still the imperial city, with a slower pace of life and plenty of charm. Osaka is often talked about for its food culture, but Kyoto is no slouch either. They are especially skilled with ramen. The nightlife can’t compare to that of the capital, but Kyoto is more of a daytime city, and being very touristy, there’s no shortage of opportunities to enjoy yourself.
Osaka: If I had to compare Tokyo and Osaka using Italian cities as examples, I’d say Tokyo is Milan and Osaka is Rome. With all the obvious differences, of course. It’s just to give you an idea of the different atmospheres of the two cities. Unlike many other Japanese cities, here you’ll find very open-minded people who enjoy meeting new people and aren’t afraid of physical contact. The food is excellent, prices are generally reasonable, and everything feels a little more authentic. Osaka also has its own “red-light district” less colorful than the one in the capital, but you’ll find girls accompanied by elderly madams who invite passersby to spend some time with their ladies. The average price for a session ranges from 12,000 yen for 15 minutes to 35,000 yen for an hour. There are plenty of beautiful girls if you’re willing to spend amounts that might seem a little excessive to the average European punter. But what can I say? We’re in Japan, and it’s worth it… As for nightlife, Osaka isn’t that far behind Tokyo. Younger visitors can check out clubs such as Pure or Ghost, where plenty of local girls go looking for adventures, even with foreigners (provided you speak at least a little Japanese, since English isn’t particularly widespread in Japan, although globalization is gradually breaking down language barriers). In any case, it’s easy to meet fellow travelers and other foreigners, so these places are definitely worth checking out. Besides, the right opportunity might always be just around the corner. You never know!
Fukuoka: Here’s a city you wouldn’t expect. Accommodation is around €50 per night at an APA Hotel (a hotel chain found throughout Japan). In Fukuoka, the food is excellent — the local specialty is a ramen made from a typical pork shank broth, a truly unique dish, but in general, the cuisine is outstanding.
The nightlife is very interesting, especially considering that this is a city of about 2 million people with one of the youngest average ages in the country. However, if you’re looking for the easy company of local ladies, the simplest and safest way is to contact an agency in the field, or if possible, establish contacts before arriving — which is actually true in most places.
As a final stop before returning to Tokyo, Fukuoka is not bad at all. It’s worth visiting the city’s temples and the scenic Hakata Bay, where dozens of cruise ships, fishing boats, and ferries depart and arrive every day — yet everything remains calm and peaceful.
In the last few days before returning home, I stayed in Tokyo at another APA Hotel for €50 per night. This time, I thoroughly explored the Akihabara (Akiba) district — a must-visit for anyone who loves electronics, manga, and anime, as well as Maid Cafés, moe culture, and the entire otaku/nerd subculture. It’s also a great place to enjoy the countless cosplayers wandering around or appearing in various venues. Overall, it’s a district full of opportunities — just remember, this is Japan, and the locals aren’t always comfortable with English. In general, even though Japan isn’t a country suited for everyone and isn’t among the most popular destinations for “Gentleman Travelers” it’s worth visiting at least once in your life if you’re interested in Japanese culture, and if, like me, you grew up on anime and the Japanese women are the erotic dream tucked away in your imagination.
