I was fortunate enough to recently participate in a business vacation to Taiwan. You know, the genuine homework when I’m not living out my fantasy as a real video game journalist. But it was during the planning stages of this holiday that it occurred to me I may not have a better chance of stopping over in Japan as it would charge me less than flying from the UK. As a location, it has been among the most sensible destinations on my list of dream stopover destinations. This was before I even realized it. about the Yakuza/Like a Dragon games.
Then, as I’ve told the story countless times, Yakuza 0 came along, replaced my overall vision of the game, and made Tokyo and Japan an even more dream destination.
I went ahead and booked a five day extension to the business trip to visit Tokyo and the real-life Kabukichō, the location that Kamurocho and many of the early games are based on. Even going as far as booking a hotel right in the centre of the red-light district.
My hotel also serves as the Millennium Tower in Kamurocho. However, it manages to be accompanied by a cinema, a Gindaco and many other similar places. The real-life equivalent also has a life-size Godzilla head protruding from the hotel’s outdoor terrace. This is because the fictional Namamichi Street is known as Godzilla Street in the real world. It might seem that the original edition has a less common name, but hey, Japan.
The vast majority of Kamurocho and Kabukicho line up perfectly if you take a look at a map of them, so the next street would be Tenkaichi Street and Ichiban-gai Street respectively. It is here that one of the most iconic top structures is located.
The Red Gate is synonymous with the area, so its inclusion in the early Yakuza games made sense.
Also along this street is a side street. It may not be as iconic as the red gate, but to long-time fans it marks the very beginning of the series. Next to Bar Serena, the very first moments of the franchise can be witnessed.
Back on Nakamichi Street, there are a few activities that the Like a Dragon series is well known for: grocery shopping and karaoke.
These karaoke spots are right around the same corner, either in real life or if you stick to the Kamuro map. I think that’s when I knew how much attention to detail had been put into the recreation of Kabukicho.
Similar to the nearby Don Quixote store.
And if you’re interested, yes, they played the issue over and over again.
I still had a few more stops to make my stopover in Kabukicho. After spending hours wandering those streets in the game, I knew which way to go without needing to use a map. Let me tell you, it’s a very surreal experience, like literally walking into your TV to explore a domain you’ve spent many hours virtually stopovering in. But no Kabukicho vacation would be complete without a stop at Theatre Square.
Unfortunately, Club SEGA no longer exists in the real world. It’s hard to think of the most recent game in the series featuring Kamurocho in such detail, which is why most of those images are from Yakuza Kiwami 2.
My final stop was a place called the Golden Gai, known in the games as the Champion District. It is a tiny area with around 300 bars in it. Many of these bars can fit less than ten people in before they reach capacity and as such it is more associated with locals frequenting rather than tourists. The small nature of the bars help create a real sense of community and many patrons will be on friendly terms with the staff that work there. But, in a bar that small, it sounds like you have no option but to strike up conversation.
Again, Golden Gai is in exactly the same place as in the Like a Dragon games, to the northeast.
On the way back to my hotel, I took one last photo that, at first, I thought was a bit ironic in the overall of Like a Dragon. But it didn’t!
Choose your favourite host from these massive billboards. I didn’t want to stay around here too long though, there were plenty of barkers trying to get me into their establishments to meet some of their girls. Suppose I should have anticipated that, staying in the red-light district.
I may have spent little time in Tokyo, but I also ventured out of Kabukicho and plan to return soon. I’m keeping my hands crossed for some other business in Asia in the future.
If all of this has whetted your appetite to still jump into this weird and glorious franchise, then you should. Can I recommend Yakuza 0 on Xbox, a prequel to the main series but also perhaps the most powerful entry?Really, because they’re all on Xbox Game Pass, so you can sign up at any time.
Good article!
Perfect for my first time in the series and my next trip!
I’ll be looking for the spots!