Watch Out! 8 Worst Scams in Japan for 2024

[@Howzit_japan]

Howzit! Thank you for watching the video! If you want to have fun with us in Tokyo, click the link below! Website: www.howzit-jp.com Instagram: instagram.com/howzit_japan?igsh=eWdrd25jMXU1Mmc%3D&

[@dongshengdi773]

These are all normal prices in Japan 😂 They are not scams 😁

[@unknownplayer3980]

I spent 3 weeks in Tokyo last month and did quite a bit of research. One thing I didn't know when I arrived was the fake taxis. Luckily tho I arrived at Haneda airport where they had clear warnings about this even showing pictures of the plates and what they should look like. Japan is such a trustful country so I would never even think about this if I hadn't seen the warning at the airport.

[@Howzit_japan]

That is great information about the warning signs with pictures. Yeah! We think Japan is a safe country in general but we still want to do our part to help visitors.

[@gubzillla]

Thank you for making time to create this video! I have a trip coming up, and understand even some of the safest countries have their sketchy folks waiting around for tourists - appreciate the video!

[@Howzit_japan]

Thank you or the comment, and yes... unfortunately it can happen anywhere

[@jairlopez2124]

Scam: they give you the menu with an pricing you order and your final bill is huge, when you ask they will give you a new menu with a different price. Tip take pics of the menu

[@kaikaikikit]

ask for Japanese menu prices are often different not marked up

[@ponta65]

it feels like a good friend telling me things to be careful. thank you for making this video, i love it!

[@crazygamerz9880]

This video along with a lot of other videos saved me a lot of money and time when I visit this year. Definitely worth a full watch. Thank you

[@clairesamia7079]

Thanks for the tips..🤙

[@Howzit_japan]

You are welcome! thanks!

[@AtmoHours]

Thank you for helping tourists stay safe, I can’t wait to go to Japan 🇯🇵🎉

[@Howzit_japan]

Thank you for the comment!

[@Jaded21121]

Thank you for posting this video.

[@Howzit_japan]

Thank you or the comment ;)

[@アレックスの部屋-s9h]

in harajuku the nigerian scam shops that scam locals are pretty sketch

[@JoshMadakor]

I'm half Nigerian!!! :D

[@demonking24]

Thank you for this video. Very informative. 👍👍😁

[@Howzit_japan]

Thank you for the comment!

[@zorano360]

1:07 SO AGREE with YOU!! I quite shocked when went there, saw meats & seafood's price, around 9.000 / 10.000 Yen or above.. TOO EXPENSIVE 😂😂

[@bigdaddyrichard75]

Heading there to check out the arcades and trading card shops

[@lebbeatty9127]

Your English is very good I will be there in a week with my cousin so very helpful good video 👍🏼👍🏼

[@bigg7505]

Lol as an American I can say, we have people at kiosks in our malls that always almost chase after you to buy their cheap crap. I have no issue telling them no, or getting them into a headlock.

[@manonthemoon23]

Or when you don’t buy that mixtape they been workin on 💀

[@PalloneWafer]

I don't know if it was just luck, but I never got scammed during my visit in Japan. My only rule was "never follow touts" and probably that was enough. In every bar we went (picking randomly, as often they are on upper floors and you can't just have a peek from outside), the first thing the staff did was telling us about the cover charge. In Kyoto we found one that had ¥ 3000 of cover charge, expensive of course but we had the best time partying and having fun with the staff and other customers all night long. PS: the cover price is shown on their Instagram page as well, so definitely not scam

[@Howzit_japan]

That rule is probably enough to always keep you safe in Japan. never follow touts works almost always.

[@ragsdale710]

It's not luck, Japan is not really full of scams, I think your probably really naive to get scammed

[@ragsdale710]

But for 3k you did get scammed

[@PalloneWafer]

@@ragsdale710 It wasn't scam. As I said, the first thing they did as we entered was informing us about the cover charge price. We were free to leave if we didn't agree with that. And they have the price shown on their Instagram page. Furthermore the place had japanese customers as well, so I don't think they are so prone to get scammed...

[@victorlau17]

Hey! What was the name of the bar? Would love to check it out in some months when we visit!!

[@trishh1734]

Great video. Thank you

[@Howzit_japan]

Thank you for the comments!

[@tophermontes6778]

Very informative ❤❤

[@Howzit_japan]

Thank you!

[@MV-sy4id]

Nice tils for my trip just now. Arigato

[@Howzit_japan]

Absolutely let us know if you need anything

[@MissiBoo]

Thank you 🙏

[@Howzit_japan]

you are welcome

[@JoshMadakor]

I want one of those girls to scam me badly. God I wish I were there.

[@niueanlaho]

Going to Japan and watching all the Japanese vids.....Arigato Gozaimasu

[@TheLatias380]

oh great now I'm worried after watching the romance scam section... I met a girl from a dating app and I feel like everything is going great with her. but now I'm worried omg >

[@anarchyforlive]

Let us know how it ended 😅 I married my Japanese girl I met online (but outside Japan) I wish anyone the same happiness.

[@canoderi1297]

Monks do not ask for donations on the streets. Not only in Japan but everywhere else as well. I see this fake monk scam coming up a lot these days.

[@LargeHadronAnusCollider]

Didn't know about the taxi scam that's very helpful. The other scams are all very common in the western world, if you wouldn't pay attention to them in your home country don't pay attention to them in another country.

[@Howzit_japan]

Yeah, Taxis here are usually very regulated as well so its always shocking for us too.

[@reincarnate3440]

Integrity is the virtue I would expect from Japanese haha, I appreciate what you did.

[@dragontalontsiawd]

Kota I left you a small short email on your website. Lord willing I am going to Japan for 15 days. I would enjoy that time spent with some locals as well.

[@MrStark-up6fi]

I like your accent dude!

[@Howzit_japan]

haha thank you! still studying English improving as much as I can

[@jmw-qt2ih]

We spent 2 weeks in Japan and found it to be as safe as anywhere in the world we have ever been. We were aware of the Nigerians scamming punters before we went so just ignored them but found everyone else in Japan to be adsolutely fine

[@15751Chris]

Beef intestine gyudon bowls at Tsukiji! 950 and 1050 yen depend on if you get beef or intestine, the intestine was amazing soft and tender like no other. That's a good price in my book. But yeah I also bought some macadamia nuts for 1400 yen not the best compared to how amazing the gyudon was.

[@Howzit_japan]

Oh nice that is a decent price we think. Thanks for the tip! There are so many things that we also want to introduce as we discover them as well.

[@tlowe9796]

First rule of thumb, avoid all tourist destinations. 90% of the overpriced problem solved. BTW, I dont see that as a scam, considering the rental difference between tourist and non-tourist locations.

[@yarredthomsson3945]

Tourist places are cool also, just be carefull.

[@Labyrinth6000]

So essentially don’t travel at all, nice try bub, we’re not letting you have all the fun.

[@sekaiomiruhitokaminoyume5426]

Instructions unclear, I’m lost in some random forest now

[@ragsdale710]

​@@yarredthomsson3945yeah, Japan is also very much built for tourist places for Japanese people to visit. The idea that you won't go to a hot springs town or famous shrine as other people go there is crazy

[@krissydiggs]

I’m only ever been almost scammed once in Ueno. Thankfully I know enough Japanese to call them on their bs (they were adidas that were supposed to be ¥2,000 and they tried to charge me ¥8,000 for them. Maybe because I said how much in Japanese they backed off)

[@TheMabiNerd]

I fell for the scammer scam :( the WORST one

[@jarvalheru]

also, please watch out for youtube scamming videos. those crafty youtubers promoting they are the only "safe way not to be scammed" are out of control.

[@TcGroenestege]

Those bars in Kabukicho seem like a bit of a coin flip whether you get scammed or not, still worth visiting these?

[@Howzit_japan]

There are many that are not scams, just dont follow the touts is a good rule.

[@johnz7167]

Still better than scams in PH.

[@iampetulant]

Fake monks😂😂😂 killed me

[@kenshiro7960]

I’ve been to Japan about seven times and when I saw your video name I thought I don’t think there’s nothing you can teach me that will apply to me as I don’t drink alcohol or eat beef but I was shocked with a taxi scam so I’m glad I saw this video I will visit next year and even I rarely use taxis in Japan I will be aware of that So can you get a white taxi but still have a green numberplate with white writing or if the taxi is simply white it will be a scam ?

[@Howzit_japan]

That case it will not be a scam that should be a private taxi. As long as the number plate is green everything should be okay! It seems like you are already a pro in Tokyo, however for these little things we of course always answer questions through our homepage as well. With our whatsapp for example.

[@southcoastinventors6583]

How can you call yourself 北斗の拳 and not drink beer or eat beef sounds more like false advertising

[@kenshiro7960]

@@southcoastinventors6583 🫤 this is gonna be really hard to believe for your brain but you ready This is a username, I like the character for example he stands for and what he does Do you see Kenshiro as an alcoholic or needing to eat beef in the anime or manga like it’s his favourite food ? Is a tip why don’t you focus on what’s actually important and stop trying to look for something that isn’t there?

[@southcoastinventors6583]

@@kenshiro7960 With muscles like that and all the people he has done in its hard to imagine him not needing a lot of protein and at least some some booze. Unfortunately the message of the manga is might makes right and the more flamboyant a person is the more dangerous the person is.

[@kenshiro7960]

@@southcoastinventors6583 no you are right because I can not get protein from eggs, chicken or pork which I eat And where does the no alcohol garbage come from that makes you a real man There are people like me who do not wish to have their cognitive ability to think impaired or their motor skills Also, I don’t think you know the meaning of a flamboyant because you might want to explain how it’s been expressed in my posts ?

[@arasseo_wakarimashita3904]

Scammers are in every country. Taxi scam is the most common.

[@therealdrecu]

Just came back and i got through without having any prroblems at all, but though there were lots of touts, especially kabukicho trying to get you somewhere, just simply kindly decline all sorts of that thing. Also what was weird was when i returned from a bar and exited it, thailandic looking women asked me if im doing ok and later another one asked me second later if i wanna drink with her... i just kept going simply declining without giving much attention. And that was at osaka dotonbori, that was sus as hell xD

[@Howzit_japan]

Yeah usually if you decline them they will go away. That is a good comment.

[@leviflaman9759]

Despite being very specifically warned by a friend not to fall victim to the many touts trying to bring people in to their cabaret clubs, my friend was convinced to go to one. I couldn't convince him not to, but I also didn't want to let him go by himself.

[@TylerForan]

And then? Heard there's alot of people getting drugged and robbed this way.

[@leviflaman9759]

@@TylerForan We spent too much money then went back to the hotel. Nothing nefarious happened other than having our wallets emptied.

[@TcGroenestege]

@@leviflaman9759 Like absurd amounts or you chose to spend a lot?

[@leviflaman9759]

@@TcGroenestege I guess you could say we "chose" to, in the sense that we were too polite to say no when they kept asking us to buy more and more drinks since it was our first night in the country.

[@JAG4646]

The black touts in Kabukicho are the most annoying and if you tell them to fuck off they get aggressive. I did get into a couple of fights on 2 separate occasions with these annoying fuckers. You can be nice and say no thanks but they follow you and keep talking rather than just move on to the next.

[@billionaire.academy]

Amen, they make Japan look bad. I’m sure the police will do something soon.

[@baeber]

wow that's wild

[@demetriusmorgenroth2835]

That's why the best strategy is to completely ignore them and keep on walking. I never give them a second of my attention and that strategy has worked for the last five years. They will try to call your attention with one or two sentences but quickly move on.

[@ragsdale710]

​@@demetriusmorgenroth2835yeah I avoid them and they leave you alone. Weirdly I have had more trouble with Japanese ones trying to me into sex places and been grabbed once, another time had a Japanese guy follow and shout at me when I was just going to see the spy family movie

[@Lelouch12195]

Golden Gai was probably the most overrated, overpriced, tourist trap we went to. Not only is it only 95% foreigners in the bars, the drinks there are complete scams. What do I mean by that? My friends and I went to a bar just to check it out and we ordered a highball. That shit was literally water. I kid you not, I have not had an alcoholic drink taste like pure water ever and for 500 yen LMFAO. Shout out to all the foreigners (myself included) for ruining golden gai. Go to any other local bar or pub is my advice. Take your ig pic of the Golden Gai alleyways and peace out.

[@ragsdale710]

The cover change for those places are super high as well as people go there to bar hop. It's disappointing. One thing is there are so many places where you can eat alot and drink a ton for not that much money

[@QuackDragon]

Who needs Tsukiji fish bowls when I can have 磯丸水産 anywhere for so cheap

[@Howzit_japan]

Great chain store haha we love that store as well.

[@o.c.g.m9426]

Heres a tip not to get scammed in NYC as a foreigner....dont be a foreigner 😂. With our serious migrant problem those vendors can't wait to overcharge you. No 1 from NYC shops on 42nd st

[@guymarkman5468]

We're thinking of skipping Kabukicho because of all the scammers, do you think it's still worth visiting it?

[@ragsdale710]

It's super safe if you are not dumb, especially in the day. That Japanese families have Thier kids with them there shows this

[@Howzit_japan]

Unless you like nightlife things I think it is better to skip it, there are many places to see in Tokyo anyway.

[@macchitosh]

If you go to Ushinokura yakiniku in Hiroo area yiu can have wagyu course from 5,000 yen or a la carte you can order Kagoshima black wagyu! so delicious with drinks means wine beers and beef cost you 5,000-8,000 yen por person are all private rooms in dollars 30~70 bucks por person

[@djespo69]

What do you call scams we call tourist traps. Just avoid them.

[@NewsViewsAndTruth]

Do you have any referral for a budget tour in Kyoto. I'm not looking for the mainstream experience, but it is just me alone. I fear that it will be expensive and out of my price range, but I thought perhaps you know someone who would enjoy my help to create content in exchange for their tour. i do quite a bit of videography.

[@Howzit_japan]

We would really love to help, we actually get a lot of asks for Tours in the Kyoto area but right now all of our guides are located in Tokyo. We are trying our hardest to expand to Kyoto/Osaka. Soon enough

[@NewsViewsAndTruth]

@@Howzit_japan which is EXACTLY why you could have a referral for another company. It is difficult to trust some companies, because most are just in it for the money. It would be nice if there were some other companies that also reflected your values.

[@micky2be]

Many of this overpriced shops are forced to do so because the rent is way higher. I wouldn't call it scam or tourist traps just for that

[@lobodraco]

Just curious 😅 how are y’all related to Hawai’i? the “howzit” is obvious where it’s from LOL 😆 do y’all operate in Hawai’i too? Aloha from Oahu 🤙🏽

[@Howzit_japan]

It is actually something we say in South Africa! Kota from Howzit studied there! Something interesting that they both share.

[@miltan08]

I got scam when i eat inside of the airport from Narita, Japanese food hall . I ate in one restaurant, they offer me a rice and they said the price from the sirloin steak inclusieve rice, but when i check the receive, they charge me for small white rice bowl for 500 or 600 yen. So becareful when you eat in the japanese food hall Narita airport. The employee is not nice and i think they are not japanese people.

[@Howzit_japan]

I see! In these cases our recommendation is to usually go with restaurants that have "set meals" you will always have an easy to understand meal.

[@miltan08]

@@Howzit_japan i had a set meals (Sirloin steak with rice and miso) but they charge me again for the rice .

[@seanj5602]

What awkward things happened when you accidentally boarded the women only cars?

[@Howzit_japan]

For Tourists usually people will just stare at you, and you wont get in too much trouble, we dont recommend doing that though.

[@twinrixone5295]

I've seen that in a "movie" before. Made we wanna try it 😏

[@rowbearly6128]

@@twinrixone5295 So you just want to make Japanese people uncomfortable? Stay away you clown.

[@AWF1000]

Converted that 5000 yen to Aud.. that's like $49 for that kebab.. i mean meat is not cheap here these days anyway but that is like a turkey price these days. 😂😂.. they are most likely taking advantage of tourists because they know we dont know how the japanese currency works. Unless we convert it ourselves before we jake s purchase

[@thepontiff7505]

someone scammed me in kabukicho in 2004 they took me from koma theatre square to a pinsaro and some lady stole my milk haha

[@takagi2340]

its insane that out of the 8 scams only the 2nd one is actual scam, the rest isnt scam :/

[@Mac-kanal]

what is police doing in Japan.... sens they can scam so much..

[@christopherwaggoner7125]

My friend, just clip the mic to your shirt

[@user-oe7gc5py4c]

Do you have internet scam? phone scam? bank scam?

[@Howzit_japan]

Yes! There are those as well, especially through 3rd party market websites. Usually tourists wouldnt really see those so we havent made a video on it but its no a bad idea to make one in the future.

[@Thekowaikaiju]

Audio could use some work. I'll sub out of curiosity of future content 💯

[@Howzit_japan]

Thanks we are trying to work on that as well, equipment, settings etc. We love the feedback though.

[@bailey309]

News flash! Tourist spots have higher prices 😮Who would have guessed!!!???

[@macchitosh]

Bottaguri😂😂😂

[@samirkazah302]

So are the maid cafe touts scams or not? Since it's in the video thumbnail but I guess it's just click bait for views

[@zbillster]

How do you like $80 pancakes?

[@samirkazah302]

@@zbillster haha, fair point

[@Howzit_japan]

The maid cafes or their touts might not be scams in Akihabara, however we dont recommend going with touts in general. You can probably still find a decent maid cafe or something in Akihabara though

[@therealdrecu]

just do some research before going, i just arrived back at home after a 2 week trip and went two days ago to a maid cafe to try, and only paid 3000yen and got a drink+dessert+ photo. was a fun time but i dont think i need something like that again. Thats socially draining lol. PS i went to at home cafe in osaka DenDen town, some of the maids can even speak some basic english, which helped lots!

[@josheli3749]

I played connect 4 with a girl, had a drink, bought her a drink for $18. Wasn't too bad

[@SuperFlanders123]

That's all well and good,but"dignity" doesn't pay your mortgage,etc...

[@Andrewjenkin-kt7jq]

How come you show pictures of pretty girls holding signs as your thumbnail but you don't mention it in the entire video?

[@Madara-j9v]

You need to overwork youre site as europe it looks untrustful for me

[@hertzvanrental2024]

Biggest price gougers are chinese in Japan, just saying.

[@brianculham1180]

Yup

[@hertzvanrental2024]

I just say f#$k off , direct but fair. 99% of time i never have the slightest issue in Japan anyway. Some old timer got a bit grumpy with my kids on a train once. lucky for him my Japan family saved him 😂

[@rowbearly6128]

Lucky for YOU you did'n;t do something stupid. You would have been easily identified, arrested, and locked up for a long time , probaly about 3 months, while they investigated then you would have waited for a court appearance. All the while in a Japanese lock up where only Japanese is allowed to be spoken, no visitors, including lawyers for a long time, the lights stay n 24.7 and the food is minimal. Your vulgar foreign ways may make you feel tough, but you would be very unhappy in a koban cell.

[@calikalbocalikalbo6082]

I have lived in Japan now for 8 years. Only been to Tokyo once. Nothing to see there. It's just another big city and the same crap to see. Only thing worth seeing is the tower and that's only good for maybe an hour. I live in Osaka and when I ask tourist which they like better they always say Osaka/Kobe.

[@Howzit_japan]

Oh wow! 8 years is a long time. We think there is actually a lot to see in Tokyo you can find some of what we like in our videos, and we love showing people local areas that not many tourists will know in the Tokyo area. However, we are currently trying to branch out but we have a lot of love for the Kansai area.

[@calikalbocalikalbo6082]

@@Howzit_japan ....there's really nothing there but concrete and buildings.

[@aetherwise2159]

Ironically…I live in Tokyo province and have only gone to Osaka once. It was nice, but I easily prefer parts of Tokyo. So turns out people just have different tastes, and it’s fine.

[@-_Andreas_-]

@@calikalbocalikalbo6082 I live in Kobe, and I easily prefer it over Tokyo or Osaka. :D I would pick Osaka over Tokyo due to the friendlier people in Osaka. Except that, they are both overcrowded concrete jungles. And for the record, I agree with aetherwise, whichever you prefer is just fine. Either way, comparing Osaka and Tokyo is like comparing two different apples, not that much difference. *Shots fired*

[@calikalbocalikalbo6082]

@@-_Andreas_- ....Yeah me to.

[@foddyfoddy]

PLEASE PLEASE improve your English pronunciation. You're speaking katakana English. Listen to native speakers.

[@mr_mr]

8:04 that black taxi has a white plate. Is it illegal?

[@-_Andreas_-]

it has a normal private license plate, so it's not a real taxi. stay away Edit: To clarify, white and yellow(kei car) are private cars. Green and black is commercial cars. Difference between green and black is mainly the engine size/strength.

[@mr_mr]

@@-_Andreas_- oh I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip

[@Howzit_japan]

As the other comment correctly identified yes! not a real taxi

[@SemNomeMorreYoutube]

With all due respect, but what you said is absolutely normal in every country in the world. I would say that in Japan it is much better than here where I live, if you take a fake taxi you end up without a kidney. If you are lucky.

[@shilpishukla122]

Totally echo with your thoughts, to me this is not scam...prices can be high depending on which location they are from...there are places where transparency is missing and that is an issue..as customers and users we also need to be mindful.