Kabukicho Macabre Tour The Real Tokyo Vice

Vivian's tour was so interesting and informative, and her experience living and working in Kabukicho is really illustrated through all her knowledge and storytelling. Highly recommended to do this tour if you're into the macabre!

I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the Yakuza, Ryu Ga Gotoku, Tokyo Vice, or true crime in general. Despite the dark subject matter, the tour never felt too gloomy or heavy, thanks in large part to Viv’s lighthearted moments and great sense of humor.

Vivian’s tour was fascinating, to say the least! She took us through several spots in Shinjuku where we learned about serial killers, crimes of passion, the yakuza, Japan’s death penalty, and some of the darker stories hidden behind places you might otherwise walk right past. Vivian was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, and I learned so much about a side of Tokyo I never would have discovered on my own. Such an interesting and memorable way to spend an evening in Shinjuku!

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Vivian! She served as a guide to all of the key sites in Kabukicho, but also an interpreter to allow guests to understand what they were seeing (but not necessarily understanding). One of the guests in our group is a big fan of the Yakuza video game series and Vivian pointed out buildings and locations that have been integrated into the game. Her stories behind the buildings and locations allowed the group to understand aspects of Japanese culture better. For example, she described how certain bars were hangouts for workers in particular industries. I highly recommend the tour.

Vivian really knows her stuff! She has studied true crime, written a thesis and worked with the police department as a translator. She is originally from Australia so her English is perfect. She has a lot of good energy and a passion for her macabre subject. I’d definitely recommend this tour for anyone who likes more macabre subject matter. Yes, some of the content is sad, but crime tours are probably going to be sad. Definitely give this tour a shot and thank you Vivian for an entertaining and excellent evening in Shinjuku ☺️

It wasn’t just another Shinjuku night tour; it gave me a glimpse into the darker side of Tokyo. Our guide, Vivian, shared some fascinating stories and kept things light-hearted with her humour, which made it a real pleasure. I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for a tour in Tokyo that’s a bit different from the rest!

Vivian was an excellent tour guide and provided an extensive and engaging experience! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Macabre tour was incredible and delivered in such an interesting way. During the stops, Vivian would provide such detailed information that had me hanging on every word! Several times I'd been taken by surprise by the victims stories (I will not give any spoilers here). Vivian was also very respectful towards not only the victims in the stories but also the people around us, ensuring that no passerby would inadvertently overhear the darker parts of the stories. She was very easy to talk to and very funny, which made the entire experience a pleasant balance between true-crime macabre and holiday-fun!

Vivian was an awesome guide. We learnt alot that we otherwise wouldn't have, and her guidance made exploring the area easy. I normally wouldn't opt for a tour guide, but this looked interesting, and now I'm inclined to book more tours in hopes of more good experiences Thank you!

I highly recommend this tour! I was curious to explore Kabukicho but intimidated to go on my own as a solo female traveler. Luckily, I found Vivian's tour! She is highly knowledgeable and made it easy to learn about the darker side of Tokyo, from its historical roots to recent unsolved crimes. She even customized our route based on the group's interests and patiently answered our many questions, ranging from Japan's legal system to "what is that sign?" This experience helped me get to know the area in a deeper way and discover places I wouldn't have found on my own.

As an adult, I think this tour should be almost mandatory for tourists, since we tend to idealize the places where we spend our vacations and ignore their dark side. Of course, what you learn on this tour is as interesting as it is macabre, but thanks to Vivian's narration, it is very engaging. Vivian is undoubtedly an incredible guide: smart, a good communicator, and with a genuine interest in real knowledge. In addition, the respect with which she talks about the events that took place in Kabukicho is admirable, as is her insistence that we take advantage of the opportunity to ask all the questions we want. We can only speak highly of her work. By the way, if you're a fan of the Tokyo Vice series, you'll love this tour. And Vivian made us want to play the Yakuza video games, too.

Vivian was an excellent guide for an unusual tour. I made a mistake at the end of a long day, but she accommodated my memory lapse and met me for what turned out to be a private tour. The subjects of organized crime, sex work, and the underworld in general are of utmost interest to me and I was not disa

I joined the Kabukicho Macabre Tour and had an amazing experience thanks to our guide Vivian. She was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and I learned so much about the real history behind Kabukicho’s darker side. We even went to the actual locations where the incidents happened, which made the stories feel even more real and impactful. She also had illustrations she brought to explain the true crime cases. You could tell she put in a lot of effort and did her own research instead of relying on second hand sources, which made everything feel authentic and accurate. Vivian’s storytelling, dedication, and expertise made the tour truly memorable. I highly recommend it.

I dont know how I feel about this experience. Guide was nice but it felt underwhelming? Walked around Kabukicho and discuss the various crime scenes of people committing suicide, homicide, and other illegal activities. I think it is underwhelming because I'm from Los Angeles where crime is common but it also felt lacking as in I wish there were more in-depth discussion on certain topics such as the various groups/factions of the gangs that control certain areas that are under their control or how they operate vs each other. Also, I wish we could have went more in-depth on how host/hostesses made their money like how much they get to keep and how much the clubs keep when selling a bottle or whatever. that would have made the tour more interesting and informative. Also, the guide could have mention where the Toyoko kids hang out now since the city or police basically pushed the kids out to another place. It's the various bits of info that can add to a more illuminating tour

This tour was incredibly engaging and offered a fascinating, informative look into the local nightlife scene — and the real stories behind some of the cases you may have read about when researching the area. When you wander around on your own, you see people holding signs or dressed up in ways that make you wonder what exactly is going on, and it’s hard to understand without a local to explain it. This tour finally answered all those questions. The guide also handled the darker aspects of the stories with a great deal of respect for the people involved, which I really appreciated.

This was excellent! Viv was an engaging and knowledgeable guide. She gave a great insight into the darker side of Tokyo and it was a fascinating tour from start to finish. Thoroughly recommended!

We had a fun time walking around and learning dark facts about the area! A really cool and unique tour with a very knowledgeable guide.

A very interesting (and sad) look at some of the unfortunate events that have occured in the red light district in Tokyo. Our host (Viv) was very knowledgeable on the area and it's history.

This tour was very different from the usual tours experienced in Japan. The tour guide was also extremely knowledgeable regarding the subject material. Their enthusiasm and experience in this area had us greatly invested and interested. When the tour was finished, we all wished we we could spend more time learning about Kabukicho.

I'm not a true crime enthusiast, but Viv did an excellent job guiding me through the area. Her professionalism and experience made me feel safe as we walked around. Not merely a fan, Viv thoroughly researched everything on the tour and was able to answer all of my questions. She provided unique insight and helped frame much of the information I had found online.

We had such an amazing time on this tour with Vivian. She’s incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and full of fascinating stories. We learned so much, laughed a lot, and ended the night feeling like we’d seen a side of Tokyo most people completely miss. We absolutely recommend this tour and especially Vivian to anyone visiting the city!

Picked this tour because I am interested in true crime. Vivian did a wonderful job of sharing some of the darker sides of Tokyo that are not often talked above. I loved that she went the extra mile and supplemented the talk with actual pictures / videos of the crimes spoken about. Would recommend.

It is a very informative tour that will open your eyes on how some things work in Japan that you had no idea of. Vivian did a great job explaining to our work all the INS and outs of Japanese legal system and how it affects some of the murders that took place and the people behind it. It is a must do.

This tour was great! It was interesting and covered lots of things that as a tourist you wouldn't notice or understand without the context and details pointed out. Our guide did a great job building a well-rounded tour with the right amount of context for each story along the way!

Can't say enough about how fun it was hanging out with Vivian! I was super nervous about my visit to Japan, but Vivian made thing better. It might be weird to say, but it was like hanging out with a friend, but she was knowledgeable! ( My friend are cool, but I would not ask them about any history or culture😅) The only thing bad thing about our trip was it ended to soon. I plan on going back and I am definitely going to hit up Vivian again!

This was a very unique and cool experience! The tour guide is extremely knowledgeable and fun to talk to. My husband and I were the only people on the tour (Vivian, the tour guide, explained that she doesn’t host groups larger than 4) so we were able to ask lots of questions. We definitely got explanations for a lot of things in the area that were confusing to us and came away with a better understanding of the neighborhood and of Japanese culture.

Look no further, you have found the best tour guide in all of Tokyo absolutely knows more about Tokyo and its intricacies than anyone we’ve met. We cannot recommend her enough as she’s a walking encyclopedia of the dark side of Tokyo. And if you’re a Tokyo vice fan, you’ll actually feel like you’re in the movie.

An absolutely unforgettable experience - this tour covers the district's fascinating history with equal parts intrigue and empathy. The guide has an extensive history researching the culture, and many lived experiences that add a level of insight similar tours don't have. Can't recommend this enough!!

I had a blast. Viv was super knowledgeable and honestly brave. Our tour had me feeling like a PI. Kabukicho is chock full of unique characters (living and dead) and stories that legendary in their own right. I can't recommend this tour enough.

I really enjoyed learning more about the "darker" side of Tokyo. The subject matter was handled respectfully and acknowledged the larger social constructs involved (which is all a very fancy way of saying the same thing). Stories ran from historic true crime to smaller and more modern personal tragedies. If you want to understand Tokyo a little bit better, this is a great way to do that,

Vivian’s tour is a must do in Tokyo. Her expertise in the area, culture and underworld of Shibuya really shines through giving a gritty and raw perspective. A sometimes harrowing but always heartfelt account of the stories and people of the area will live long in the memory!

The tour is amazing and very unique. Vivian is a super engaging and passionate tour guide. She uses her academic research background in crime in Japan to tell compelling true crime stories in a compassionate manner. I strongly reccomend this tour for any fans of true crime!

The tour was great, learned alot about every block and ally. Viv, the tour guide, is very knowledgeable about the district's darker stuff (no seriously, she has studied it for crying out loud), and also very friendly. Would recommend it to anyone who calls themselves a "Shinjuku Lover" (whatever that is, cause I am one).

The tour was great, learned alot about every block and ally. Viv, the tour guide, is very knowledgeable about the district's darker stuff (no seriously, she has studied it for crying out loud), and also very friendly. Would recommend it to anyone who calls themselves a "Shinjuku Lover" (whatever that is, cause I am one).

Shinjuku has some dark, seedy, and intriguing history. Our tour guide Viv was able to show us quite a bit and happily answered any questions my daughter and I had. Would highly recommend! Bonus: Busy area with an active nightlife.

The tour was amazing! Viv is super knowledgeable knows so many interesting stories about the neighborhood you won’t hear anywhere else. This tour is a must see for anyone interested in the darker side of Tokyo.

super nice and knowledgeable guide and an amazing tour. I need this for other cities, too! With the small group size you can also ask questions to your hearts content. You don't need to have played the Yakuza/Ryu ga gotoku games to have fun here but if you have you get to absolutely nerd out about the games which is also great. I will come back.

Fabulous! Nastassia is informative, engaging and has an incredible insight into the darker side of Shinjuku. 10/10 recommend if true crime is your interest.

I would highly recommend this trip. It is not often that a tour guide is so knowledgeable and the fact that the tour group was small was a bonus. The whole experience felt really genuine and well researched. A big thank you to Viv, we thoroughly enjoyed the tour!

My guide was super knowledgeable and engaging. The tour itself was creepy and entertaining, and so fun. Hugely recommended if you're into true crime, unsolved crime and the positives and negatives of the sex industry. Five stars, double thumbs up.

Great experience except for the end, the guide left us in a dark shrine, just said goodbye and walked away we had no idea where we were, where the train station was or anything.

Such an amazing tour! A great way to learn new things about Tokyo if you've already seen the main attractions. The host was really knowledgeable since she has thoroughly researched the topic for her thesis. If you are ready to look at Japan from a non-standard point of view, this tour is a must