Dobuita Street — Attraction in Yokosuka

An ABSOLUTE DEATH TRAP. Do you value your life? Your loved one's life? Especially if you have children or you are pregnant, DO NOT go through here. It is 2019 and I've never seen so many smoking stands down such a short, family-oriented tourist site with eateries where we should be able to enjoy what we taste without SMOKE filling our nostrils, throats and lungs. I had a massive headache just walking through this street of total negligence from inhaling 2nd-hand smoke and my family was compromised as well even though we tried to quickly get out of there. How do these businesses benefit from providing free, kill-yourself-and-everyone posts by their restaurants? I'm trying to picture the business meetings the owners were having saying, "Hey, why don't we place MORE murder-stands down the road at convenient locations by the side of the street so everyone can be assured they are impacted because smoking will bring more customers for sure!!!"

Unbelievable.

2nd-hand smoke is still unfortunately not taken seriously or educated about enough in many parts of the world. Japan is especially behind the times considering their "healthy" outlook and understanding of their surroundings.....NOPE. Not in this department. It's literally the most baffling and hypocritical and selfish act still prevalent in public today. Other heinous and lewd acts are taking place underground and behind closed doors daily, but least they are hidden from most of society whereas smoking is blown in our faces directly every day in far too many places around Japan. I can't even go to the grocery store on foot or bike without having to run into a tar zombie blissfully getting their fix while harming others in the process.

When it comes to smoking in general, Japan is either blind, stupid, misinformed, ignorant or all of the above and then some. Everywhere you go in Japan, you still find the same violators getting away with poisoning innocent bystanders, even babies and children without a care. Police pretend to enforce ordinances and truly care about the problems smoking causes with health, litter and pollution....but they are just as bad as the perpetrators because they stand idly by when they have the power to make things right, and many of them are violators and hypocrites themselves. The same goes for educators and politicians who claim to care for their community and society as they inhale themselves. It's despicable and they need to be called out and thrown under the rails and into the fire.

But they don't do that in Japan. They stand pat. Hush-hush. Know about the 3 monkeys in Nikko? .....Precisely.

Even though smoking in public has gotten better, which I acknowledge, I DON'T CARE. If you're going to do something, do it right when you know there's a clear solution. NO DRUGS ALLOWED. NONE. NO DRINKING AND DRIVING ALLOWED. ZERO TOLERANCE. WITH HEAVY, DESTRUCTIVE PENALTIES.........wow, so they ARE capable?

But politics and business simply get in the way with tobacco for whatever bogus reason and those in power who care about their bottom dollar over what is right is somehow okay even in a civilized country as Japan. This in fact makes Japan look worse when they have the education, the resources and the knowledge to stop smokers from killing all of us who inevitably run into their plume of 5-6,000 toxic chemicals quite frequently.

How many times did you breathe in 2nd-hand or even 3rd-hand smoke from the streets, taxis and karaoke boxes today? This past week? Ever think about what it's doing to you? 15,000 Japanese people die every year from NOT smoking. Car emissions and other forms of pollution contribute, but cigarettes are 10 times more potent than anything out there including an abundance of cancerous toxins other fumes do not carry. Why didn't you know about these 15,000 people you say? Because the government doesn't want you to know. Tobacco companies don't want you to know.

Do your part and do not contribute money to pro-smoking businesses and attractions. But most importantly, get the hell away from smokers and...

This is the heart of the historic "HONCH", or Honcho district of Yokosuka, Japan. It's the second row of businesses across Rt.16 from the Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka installation's Main Gate.

The crazy stories you have heard told over the decades were most likely true. It was an absolute madhouse before the Navy and Marine Corps gentrified.

There are many restaurants, bars, clubs and souvenir shops. The most infamous night spots were on this street. Some are still open for business!

Stop by one of great eateries and haul in one of the famous "Yokosuka Burgers". They are available at George's, Tsunami, and directly across from the Yokosuka Navy base Main Gate the one and only Honeybee... but don't leave there without a world infamous stick dog. When they ask if you want mustard just smile and let it happen! These things kept Honch Crawlers alive for decades.

From the far end of Dabuita street on the Shiori side to Geodana's, Tom and Jacks, Surf Taco, George's, Rock City, Cantina, New Texas, New Tokyo, and on towards Tsunami's you can still experience "THE HONCH". But this time you don't need to wear protection! No one gets a beer bottle over the head, thrown out the front window or dragged back to the ship kicking and screaming... well not...

I visited Dobuita Street in Yokosuka, Japan after originally discovering the street in the game Shenmue. Although it's changed over the years it offers a unique and somewhat surreal experience with its Americanized atmosphere.

I visited during the week around 6pm in March, and although it was fairly quiet, some bars were still open. For a livelier atmosphere, I would recommend going on the weekend.

It's got an American vibe with an abundance of English and sometimes poorly translated signs added to the charm. Walking to the soundtrack of "Get Low" blaring from a nearby bar, it was filled with english speaking people.

The food and drink options along Dobuita Street leaned heavily toward American cuisine, offering a wide range of familiar dishes and beverages. It was a bit surreal to encounter such an Americanized place in the...