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A
question often heard from those traveling to Japan for the first time - Is it really as safe as I've heard? Japan has a long
held reputation for being a safe country, low in crime compared to most.
Maybe you've been told stories of riding the Tokyo subway late at night
without worries or forgetting a camera in the park only to find it right
where it was left hours later.
Maybe you've also seen current events in
the Japanese media, stories of crimes previously unheard of and shocking to
most Japanese. Reports of organized crime, drugs and murder make the
headlines of Japanese newspapers and websites, shocking readers who mumble
under their breath that something has to be done. There is some truth to a changing and more violent Japanese
society influenced by internal and external forces. A rising population of
foreigners have gained footholds in organized crime while Japan's own youth
have committed unprecedented violent crimes in recent years. Disregarding
hype and headlines for a moment, refer to the chart below for some facts:
The number of murders per 100,000 persons in Japan is lower than
France, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and at only 0.62 pales in comparison to the United States at 6.80.
While these stories of horrific crimes make the national headlines in Japan,
similar stories in the US often stay at the local level failing to be deemed
newsworthy for the national spotlight, and how could they be? With a
significantly higher homicide rate and population, the US national media
could not possibly report them all.
To answer the question - How safe is Japan? Very safe, but this does not mean throwing
caution to the wind or disregarding common sense. While violent crimes take the headlines, property crime and petty
theft, while infrequent, are where your focus should be while in Japan. Stay sharp, be
aware and enjoy your travels in one of the safest and friendliest countries
you'll visit.
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