Machiya/Minami-Senju

Machiya and Minami-Senju are areas that retain a strong downtown Tokyo atmosphere. Close to the Arakawa and Sumida rivers, they feature old-fashioned shopping streets and residential neighborhoods. At night, the drinking spots near the stations get moderately busy, but the vibe is more local and quiet than a full-blown entertainment district.

Geographically, the area centers on Machiya Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line and Keisei Main Line) and Minami-Senju Station (JR Joban Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line). Both stations are within walking distance, and the entire area is compact.

The adult entertainment scene here is dominated by delivery health (deliheru) and hotel health (hoteheru). Around Machiya Station, there are over a dozen delivery health shops; around Minami-Senju Station, a handful of hotel health shops. There are no pink salons or soaplands, and SM clubs are almost nonexistent. Prices are slightly cheaper than central Tokyo: delivery health around ¥10,000 for 60 minutes, hotel health around ¥12,000 for 60 minutes.

Shops are small, often operating out of a single room in an apartment or a floor in a mixed-use building. Flashy signs are rare, so the area looks like an ordinary residential neighborhood. First-time visitors may have trouble finding the locations.

Access is good: about 20 minutes from Tokyo Station to Machiya by JR, and about 15 minutes to Minami-Senju. Weekday evenings are recommended; weekends can be crowded with local customers. Reservations are generally in Japanese, but shops catering to foreigners are increasing.

Note that street touts are almost nonexistent here. It's best to research shops online beforehand. Also, around Minami-Senju Station, foot traffic decreases late at night, so women should avoid walking alone.