Are there any dangerous places in Japan?

Are there any dangerous places in Japan?

There are some volcanically active areas where people should not enter, otherwise they could be poisoned.

Some of Japan's mountains, valleys and coasts come with dangerous terrain.

Some pedestrian walkways in the cities come with reckless cyclists.

Japan's cities have no districts that I would call dangerous in terms of crime.

there was an incident in a street in osaka last monday where a nepalese man was beaten to death by 2 japanese men and 2 japanese women...I dont think anywhere is categorically "safe" and even though Japan is comparitavely safe, crimes do happen. stories like this especially where the victim is not japanese hardly make front page news because they dont fit with the image of "safe" japan, but I think people should always stay cautious...not walking in dark empty streets at night if possible etc.

That was a very very unfortunate and irrational incident in Osaka. One of the women (earlier) fell on the street and thought that she got tripped by a "non-Japanese looking person," and somehow out of frustration beat that guy who happened to be around...

I disagree with gilesdesign, stories like this where the victim is not Japanese DO make front page news (or proportionate coverage in newspaper, though may not be front page) because it is relatively unusual.

As the earlier poster mentioned, there is no particular districts in any city of Japan that should simply be avoided, as with East Chicago in Chicago (you'd better not get off the freeway), and downtown area in Berlin (better avoided at night), etc.

If you use "common sense" caution, that would be fine.

Reckless cyclists are indeed a danger in larger cities. I have never had any problems in Tokyo per se; however, Kyoto is a nightmare. I have come close a few times to being run over by cyclists speeding along on the sidewalks. It really can be quite un-nerving!

Kabukichou is a dangerous area of Tokyo. Some parts of Ueno are a bit creepy as well.

AK I have to agree with the other poster - events involving the harm or death of foreigners in Japan due to actions of Japanese are almost always swept under the rug by the Japanese media.

I bet that if you were to properly research the matter, you would find that crimes involving foreign victims are more likely to find it into the media than crimes involving a Japanese victim, especially if the foreigner was a Westerner. But most of all, it depends on the type of incident. If it is sensational, it makes it into the media. Otherwise, it doesn't. The mentioned murder was a horrible, rare incident. The crime rate in Japan is very low and is constantly on the decrease. Of course, if you follow sensationalist media, you are made to believe the opposite.

I found in my latest visit (march 2011), that Roppongi could be kind of a dangerous place, (I saw 2 fights in 2 nights, outside of the clubs), the two of them involving at least one western foreigner -like myself-.

At Kabukicho I saw nothing dangerous, the only thing dangerous there are the superhigh fares if you enter one of those establishments, well maybe is dangerous if you are from the Yamaguchi-gumi...

My point was just to say even though Japan is comparatively "safe" and has low crime statistics, we should be aware crimes can happen anywhere and perpetrators could also be anyone..just taking appropriate precautions seems to be sensible. I think Uji is right that perhaps crimes against westerners (or whites?) are taken more seriously than crimes against other foreigners...that is sad and I hope it changes where the lives of all our citizens living in japan are treated with the same value. Just thinking of that apparently murdered korean american "Scott Kang" in kabukicho where police claim it was just an accident and denied the families requests to see autopsy etc. This seems to be one of those "swept under the rug" cases that only through kicking up a fuss in foreign media etc will the resulting international pressure require Japan to take the crime seriously. Of course it is hard to know which crimes are undereported or not as we may only know of the ones reported :)

Rokku in Asakusa has some porno theatres and pervy old guys... Not the nicest place in Japan, but I wouldn't call it dangerous.

Most Japanese shrivel in fear at the thought of walking through Nishinari in Osaka late at night... and even during the day for that matter.
You also wouldn't be too safe if you were using a camera walking around Tobita during the day or night.

It has another reason that bringing camera into Tobita is dangerous.
Tobita is a red-light district overlooked by police. There are some same places in some city though prostitution is illegal in Japan.
If someone needs such information post question. I will give you informations.