Dangerous Places in Japan

Japan is known for its stability and safety. Tokyo, its capital, was ranked as the safest city in the world, according to the criteria of the newspaper “The Economist“. But every country has its dangerous places.

Due to its geography, a volcanic island located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with high geological instability, and also because of its innovative yet traditional culture, Japan has its dangers, both natural and man-made.

Therefore, it is easy to find some dangerous places in the country. Some of them are very famous worldwide. And it is exactly about them that we want to talk. For this, we made this list of some dangerous places in Japan.

Also, check out a video talking about the 7 most dangerous neighborhoods in Japan:

Table of Contents

Eshima Ohashi Bridge

Starting with the Eshima Ohashi Bridge, a bridge 44 meters high with a 3.5º incline. Those who look at the bridge are scared, and those who drive on it are even more so. With a roller coaster-like feeling, the bridge’s incline challenges even the most experienced drivers.

The height of the bridge is to allow ships to pass underneath it. Ohashi [大橋] means big bridge, and it should be avoided by those who have vertigo. The bridge is so eccentric that it has become a tourist attraction, but many people walk up to enjoy the view and also to avoid the risk of driving on this immense incline.

The Eshima Ohashi Bridge is a human construction, a landmark of architecture. But Japan is famous for its natural dangers. One of them is volcanoes; Japan has many, some of which are still active. It is about one of these that we will talk next.

Miyake-jima Mountain

The Izu Islands, part of a national park in the country, are an example of a dangerous place that you should visit with caution. Formed by more than 20 islands, this archipelago is home to Miyake-jima, an active volcano that can expel toxic gases at any moment.

In 1953, Miyake-jima became active and killed 31 people who were on a research vessel off its coast. The residents of nearby islands had to abandon their homes due to the atmosphere of gases from the volcano.

In the 2000s, the volcano again released harmful gases, forcing residents to abandon their homes once more. In 2005, the government allowed the population to return to the island, provided that each person carried a gas mask with them 24 hours a day.

Many tourists are attracted by the natural beauty of the islands and also by the curiosity of getting close to the volcano, which can release gases at any moment. It is a constant danger.

Tokyo – The Safest or Most Dangerous City?

Although the “The Economist” survey chose Tokyo as the safest city, believe it or not, it is also the most dangerous city in the world. This is because a Swiss insurance company evaluated more than 600 cities worldwide to analyze which had the highest risk of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, storm surges, river floods, and tsunamis, and Tokyo ranked first.

Although Japanese cities are prepared to handle these disasters, relying on technology to predict and mitigate the risks and consequences, depending on the magnitude of the event, it is not enough to protect.

The 2011 earthquake that devastated northeastern Japan shows how resilience and recovery from very strong events is not so effective or quick. Japan, due to its location, is exposed to these types of events all the time, with Tokyo’s location being one of the most susceptible to being a victim of a disaster.

Not to mention that Tokyo receives a huge number of foreigners from all over the world. There, you may also encounter shady Japanese or foreigners with bad intentions.

Kabukicho – Tokyo

But Tokyo also has other dangers, such as the inherent danger of large cities and their inequalities: urban violence. The area known as Kabukicho is the most dangerous place in Tokyo and also in Japan.

Kabukicho is a red-light district, near the largest and busiest subway station in Japan, and has a vibrant nightlife, with many bars, motels, nightclubs, and escort services.

The area, 100 years ago, was a school only for girls, which was destroyed during World War II. Its redevelopment plan never got off the ground, and in the following decades, it ended up being occupied by nighttime entertainment.

The nightlife and a bit outside of Japanese organization attract the practice of prostitution, which is prohibited in Japan, and members of the yakuza, the famous Japanese mafia, who run businesses in Kabukicho.

That is why the place became famous for its dangers; some establishments apparently scammed customers, charging different prices than those informed upon entry, and even putting substances in drinks to make people drunk faster, spending more money.

Aokigahara Forest

But we cannot talk about the dangers of Japan without mentioning the Aokigahara Forest, known as the suicide forest.

Located near Mount Fuji, this is the most bizarre and frightening place in all of Japan. The forest gained fame for people entering it to commit suicide, as it is a dense forest where it is difficult to find someone, often taking a long time to locate, many times without success.

Without an official number of deaths in the forest, it is speculated that it exceeds a thousand. The number is indeed so significant that Japanese authorities placed signs with messages of encouragement and anti-suicide messages throughout the forest, and it has already been the setting for several horror films, including the most recent one from 2018, called Cursed Forest.

The energy surrounding the forest is so strong that local residents do not let children get near it, especially since, in addition to the suicides, many people have also gotten lost in the area, and the legends and stories that frighten make rescues even more painful and difficult.

The forest is a sinister walk that involves danger and a climate of terror that only Japan can offer, but for the unsuspecting or those more inclined to fear spiritual events, it is better to avoid.