Surge in Tokyo Sex Tourism Attributed to Social Media Influence

A surge in sex tourism has emerged in Tokyo’s Kabukicho nightlife district, with Okubo Park attracting increasing numbers of foreign men, driven largely by viral videos on social media platforms such as TikTok and Bilibili. Anecdotal evidence suggests that around half the clients in the area are now foreigners, primarily from Asia, North America, and Europe. Communication barriers are often bridged by translation apps, and most women working in the area claim to be self-employed, taking customers to nearby 'love hotels.' The average price per encounter ranges from 15,000 to 30,000 yen, though economic pressures are pushing prices down for Japanese clients, while foreigners typically pay more without haggling. Videos promoting the area are frequently posted without consent, sometimes streaming live, and have garnered significant online attention. Non-profit organizations note that financial hardship, especially post-pandemic, is causing more young Japanese women to turn to street-based sex work.