Is Nagoya safe?
Very safe, day and night. Typical big-city risks only: bar touts in Sakae, bicycle theft and typhoon weather.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Nagoya at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Minor: bicycle theft, occasional pickpocketing on crowded trains and bar touts overcharging in Sakae's Nishiki district. |
| At night | Sakae is busy late and feels safe; elsewhere quieter. Subway ends around midnight; taxis are easy. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women at night. Avoid following touts into bars in Nishiki. |
| Other risks | Typhoons and heavy rain Jun–Oct; Summer heat above 37°C in Jul–Aug; Nankai Trough earthquake risk; know evacuation routes |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Nishiki and Sakae touts leading visitors to overpriced bars
Take care
- Nishiki 3-chome after midnight: touts and drunk crowds
- Rush-hour trains: groping reports; women-only cars exist
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Nagoya compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Nagoya safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women at night. Avoid following touts into bars in Nishiki.
Is Nagoya safe at night?
Sakae is busy late and feels safe; elsewhere quieter. Subway ends around midnight; taxis are easy.
What is the crime rate in Nagoya?
Minor: bicycle theft, occasional pickpocketing on crowded trains and bar touts overcharging in Sakae's Nishiki district. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Nagoya?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Nagoya
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Chubu Centrair International Airport
- Meitetsu
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.