There’s a lot of money to be made off of Japan’s tourist boom. And not everyone is scrupulous about the methods they use to make it. As Japan sees a record number of inbound visitors, more travelers say that some businesses are fleecing them. Here are the most common scams to watch out for.
Table of Contents
ToggleJapan scam-land

Japan has a reputation for low crime and relative safety. However, “low crime” doesn’t mean “no crime.” While violent crime is more rare, financial crimes and scams abound.
The most common scams target the elderly. The so-called “ore-ore” fraud involves criminal organizations hiring (or coercing) young people to pretend to be someone’s son and asking for money to fend off a financial emergency.
Scams are also common in Japan’s red-light districts. Tokyo’s Kabukicho is notorious for “bars” that are criminal fronts. Loudspeakers in the area particularly warn customers about people who invite them out to bars via dating apps. In many cases, these are scammers who stick unsuspecting visitors with an outsized bill of up to thousands of US dollars.
How much to charge tourists?

In March 2024, Japan saw a record three million tourists enter the country from abroad. The number of inbound travelers hasn’t let up since then.
The influx has had an impact on Japan’s economy – and it’s not entirely positive. To be sure, many businesses are booming thanks to the influx of visitors. It’s likely this year, say experts, that tourism will account for over 1% of Japan’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
With Japan’s weak yen, many are spending more than ever. Indeed, a recent report from Asahi Shimbun spotlighted how tourists from other countries in Asia are flocking to Japan to buy high-end goods they would pay twice as much for back home.
However, in many cases, restaurants and other stores are jacking up prices to reap additional yen from tourists. That’s not as much a concern at known tourist traps like Niseko, where visitors can pay 3,000 yen or more for a bowl of ramen. However, in areas where people live and work, it means locals earning yen also have to pay the jacked-up prices.
Planning a trip to Japan? Get an authentic, interpreted experience from Unseen Japan Tours and see a side of the country others miss!

"Noah [at Unseen Japan] put together an itinerary that didn’t lock us in and we could travel at our own pace. In Tokyo, he guided us personally on a walking tour. Overall, he made our Japan trip an experience not to forget." - Kate and Simon S., Australia


We hate paywalls. Our content remains both free and fiercely independent. If you love the values we stand for and want to help us expand our coverage of Japan, consider a recurring or one-time donation to the Unseen Japan Journalism Fund today.
The issue has prompted some experts to call for a two-tier pricing system in which restaurants charge non-residents more for the same price. While there hasn’t been a mass movement towards such a system, a few shops are experimenting with either a two-tier pricing system or so-called “locals nights” that cater exclusively to residents.
(Other businesses that don’t want the hassle are outright refusing to serve tourists – specifically, anyone who can’t speak Japanese.)
The scams to look out for
Of course, there are people who have no qualms about taking money from tourists – by hook or by crook. We’ve written before about a few tourist scams. These range from the mostly harmless – such as picture-takers in Kyoto – to the wallet-busting – people walking out of izakaya with bills totaling hundreds of dollars.
It seems such incidents may be on the rise. While there’s no hard data to back it up, Nikkan SPA! did street interviews and examined social media postings to find tourist’s most common complaints. They had no trouble finding people who’ve been victimized by unscrupulous stores or scammers operating illegally.
The most common complaints include:
Service charges. Some restaurants – particularly izakaya – will advertise cheap prices for beer and food, but then stiff customers with mysterious “service charges.” A small service charge (a few hundred yen per person) is common at many izakaya, which charge a base fee for occupying a table and also usually require a minimum drink order. However, less scrupulous charges will assess fees in the thousands of yen – or more.
Taxis. Due to the influx of tourists, taxis in major cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto are operating at max capacity. That’s led to the explosion of so-called “white taxis,” unlicensed private drivers operating illegally. Tourists complained to SPA! that they don’t know how to call a legitimate taxi in Japan, as there is no single app available to help guide them.
Planning a trip to Japan? Get an authentic, interpreted experience from Unseen Japan Tours and see a side of the country others miss!

"Noah [at Unseen Japan] put together an itinerary that didn’t lock us in and we could travel at our own pace. In Tokyo, he guided us personally on a walking tour. Overall, he made our Japan trip an experience not to forget." - Kate and Simon S., Australia


We hate paywalls. Our content remains both free and fiercely independent. If you love the values we stand for and want to help us expand our coverage of Japan, consider a recurring or one-time donation to the Unseen Japan Journalism Fund today.
Overcharges. Several people complained that they’ve even been stiffed at places like drug stores while buying souvenirs. More than one person said they’ve ended up paying up to an extra 6000 yen (USD $38.11) for stuff they never bought.
How to avoid scams

When it comes to eating out, it’s tempting – and fun – to walk around and pop into a place just because it “looks good.” However, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Whenever possible, check a restaurant’s ratings in Google Maps or on Tabelog, Japan’s answer to Yelp. You can also use Tabelog as well as sites such as Tablecheck and ByFood to find reputable restaurants and make reservations.
As for calling a taxi, Uber in Japan is limited to licensed taxi drivers. (The country is experimenting with opening rideshare apps up to private drivers during congested times in certain areas.) You can also use the Go! app, which rolled out changes recently to enable foreign tourists to register and use the service.
Finally, my own personal piece of advice: Avoid AirBnBs and other such private lodging services. Book with a reputable hotel or a ryokan instead. (We can help you with booking a traditional ryokan experience if you need help planning your Japan trip.) As elsewhere around the world, unscrupulous AirBnB owners can charge “cleaning fees” that unexpectedly jack up the total cost of your stay.
Support independent media
UJ depends on the support of our readers to keep our content 100% free for everyone. Help us in our mission to create content about the Japan you don’t learn about in anime with a recurring or one-time donation to the UJ Journalism Fund.
What to read next

“Nothing But a Castle”: Nagoya Left Behind in Japan’s Tourism Rush
While some locals may not mind, businesses and city leaders are disappointed tourists are sleeping on one of Japan’s most populous cities.

Why Aren’t Japanese Restaurants Happy to Have Chinese Tourists?
Are Chinese tourists to Japan ill-mannered? Why users on a popular Chinese social media app are lambasting their fellow citizens’ behavior.

Japan’s Suica Transit Card to Add Subscriptions in 2028
Would you buy a subscription to ride the train? JR East is hoping you will – and hoping the plan helps save its Suica card from extinction.
Sources
外国人観光客が日本で“ぼったくり”被害に。SNSで「避けるべき観光地」と悪名高いのは. Nikkan SPA!
値上がりiPhoneも訪日客にはお買い得?「安い国」になった日本. Asahi Shimbun