During my stay in Tokyo
I spent most of my time exploring the usual neighborhoods—Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ueno… the ones everyone talks about. But one night, out of curiosity, I decided to check out Okubo Park near Shin-Okubo Station. I had heard that the area had an unusual nightlife scene, and I wanted to see it for myself.
By day, Okubo Park looks completely ordinary. It’s a small park with a few benches, a public toilet, and some trees. Nothing out of place. There’s a mix of locals, foreign residents, and students walking by, especially since the area is known for its Korean shops and restaurants.
But once the sun goes down, the atmosphere quietly changes.
Around 8 or 9 PM, you start to notice women gathering at the edges of the park and along the narrow streets nearby. They’re not loud or flashy, but they stand out. Most are not Japanese—many look to be from Southeast Asia, China, or somewhere else. They wear short skirts or tight clothes, and while nothing is openly said, it’s pretty obvious what they’re there for.
They don’t approach you directly, but if you make eye contact or slow down, some may quietly say something like “massage?” or just give you a look. A few stand alone and wait silently. Others are in pairs, chatting while keeping an eye on the street. Some look tired, while others seem relaxed, even cheerful. It’s all low-key, not aggressive.
There’s a strange calmness to the whole scene. This isn’t Kabukicho with its bright lights and noisy clubs. Okubo feels quiet—almost too quiet. But under that silence, there’s clearly a different kind of business going on. Men walk by, some ignoring the women completely, others stopping for a short conversation before heading off together. Nearby love hotels are just a few minutes away, and the flow is steady.
I stayed for about 30 minutes, walking in circles and just observing. It wasn’t threatening or dangerous, but there was a sense that this world existed in the shadows of everyday Tokyo. No police in sight, no drama, just an unspoken system that seemed to run itself.
I didn’t go there to participate—just to observe, and honestly, it left me thinking. These women are here every night, often in the cold, working quietly in a city that tries to pretend they don’t exist. Some might judge them, but the reality is more complicated than that.
If you’re the kind of traveler who’s curious about what lies beyond the tourist brochures, Okubo Park at night offers a rare and raw glimpse into Tokyo’s hidden layers. It’s not glamorous or exciting, but it’s real—and that, in its own way, makes it worth seeing.
If you’d like to know more, contact me.
