🇯🇵 Meeting someone safely in Japan

Practical habits for a relaxed, safe first meeting in Japan, for visitors and for people who live there. Written for women first; useful for everyone.

Before you meet

• Have a HerHello voice or video call first, so you know the person matches their profile.
• Tell a friend who you are meeting, where and when, and share your live location.
• Arrange your own transport there and back.
• Plan the last train home before you go — trains stop around midnight and taxis cost much more late at night.

The first meeting

• Choose a busy public place in daytime — a café, a restaurant or a shopping centre.
• Keep your drink and your phone with you, and leave if the plan suddenly changes.
• Do not go to a hotel room or a private home on a first meeting.
• If you are visiting: quiet manners matter. Speak softly on trains, avoid big public displays of affection, and expect a first date to be relaxed and unhurried.

Money and scams

• Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you have not met — for a ticket, a visa, a family emergency or an investment.
• Nobody genuine needs your bank details, one-time codes or ID photos to date you.
• Be wary of a new match who moves the conversation quickly to another app and then to money or investing.

If something feels wrong

• Leave. You never owe anyone an explanation.
• Report and block them on HerHello — reports are reviewed by a person.
• Use the numbers below in an emergency. The Japan Visitor Hotline answers in English, Chinese and Korean, 24 hours a day.

Emergency numbers in Japan

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