15 popular food spots in Tokyo! The charms of this city with its unique shopping streets, tourist spots, and hidden gems

How to enjoy eating your way around Tokyo

People have different reasons for going out to eat, such as "I want to have some fun while sightseeing," "I want to take some photogenic pictures," or "I want to casually eat some delicious food by myself." If you're not sure where to go, try these two points as a hint.

The first thing to consider is, "Who will you go with to go food-hopping?" If you're going out with friends or a partner, it's recommended to go to areas with commercial facilities and cafes nearby. Harajuku and Kagurazaka are areas where you can have fun all day, taking breaks and shopping in between.

If you have small children, areas like Ueno and Kichijoji that are close to zoos and parks where children can have fun are perfect. Large parks and well-equipped facilities make it a safe place for families to go and play.

If you're going alone, we recommend areas with a traditional downtown atmosphere that are easy to drop in to. Areas like Togoshi Ginza and Sugamo have a local atmosphere, and you're sure to have fun interacting with the locals.

The second thing to check is the type of food you want to eat. If you want to eat mainly seafood, then Tsukiji or Toyosu are the best places to go. If you're looking for the latest trends, then Shin-Okubo or Harajuku are the places to go, where new restaurants are constantly opening. It's also a good idea to choose an area based on the type of food you want to eat or the atmosphere of the town.

If you check in advance how to get there from the station and the local gourmet foods, you can enjoy your food tour efficiently.

A shopping street with a retro feel, filled with beloved gourmet food

If you want to enjoy a relaxing holiday, why not choose a shopping street where you can experience the warmth of local people and taste beloved gourmet food?

We will introduce four places where you can experience the atmosphere of the Showa era, including local specialty delicacies such as croquettes and minced cutlets.

Togoshi Ginza Shopping Street: A mecca for food lovers, offering everything from prepared foods to sweets

Togoshi Ginza Shopping Street in Shinagawa Ward is a treasure trove of gourmet food that is often featured in the media. The longest street in Tokyo, at 1.3 km in length, is lined with retro buildings and old shop signs, giving off an old-fashioned vibe.

Togoshi Ginza is home to over 300 shops, with a wide variety of gourmet restaurants offering everything from savory dishes like croquettes and oden to sweet treats like gelato and taiyaki.

"Togoshi Ginza Croquette" is a local specialty that the whole town worked on in the hopes of encouraging people to visit Togoshi Ginza. Initially it was mainly offered at butcher shops and delicatessens, but now various restaurants have developed their own menus, and you can enjoy a wide variety of unique croquettes such as "Oden Croquette" and "Gyoza Croquette".

In recent years, the number of trendy cafes, restaurants, handmade goods stores, and other new shops has increased, and the area is developing into a place where old-fashioned downtown atmosphere coexists with new trends.

It's also extremely accessible, taking just 40 to 50 minutes by train from Haneda Airport. You'll be spoilt for choice with the wide variety of reasonably priced gourmet food on offer.

Togoshi Ginza Shopping Street

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A map of the best gourmet spots you definitely want to stop by in Togoshi Ginza Shopping Street, a treasure trove of foodie spots

A representative food walking gourmet spot in Tokyo. We have carefully selected the best gourmet foods in Togoshi Ginza Shopping Street. We will introduce the wide variety of foods, including the popular fried chicken and onigiri, the specialty bread, and cafes where you can rest your feet, divided into savory foods, sweets, and drinks.

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A famous sunset spot. Enjoy a stroll around the surrounding Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street

Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street is a compact 170m-long shopping street that has been in operation since the 1950s. It is located in Yanaka, Taito Ward, between JR Nippori Station and Sendagi Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, and is lined with around 60 stores.

Two minced meat cutlets are popular in Yanaka Ginza. One is "Genki Minced Meat Cutlet" from "Niku no Suzuki". The second is "Yanaka Minced Meat" sold at "Niku no Sato". Please try the freshly fried taste and the differences between each store.

If you are heading home as the sun sets, be sure to stop by "Yuyake Dandan." Yuyake Dandan is a staircase between Nippori Station and Yanaka Ginza. Looking down towards Yanaka Ginza from the top of the staircase, you can see the shopping street glowing orange and the day slowly coming to an end.

Additionally, the surrounding Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi areas are popular walking spots known as "Yanesen." There are many power spots such as Nezu Shrine, as well as general stores selling antique furniture and tableware, so you can enjoy a leisurely stroll and eat your way through the town.

Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street

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Yanaka Ginza's food walk gourmet map. Let's take a stroll through the downtown area, which is full of delicious food such as ready-made food and sweets!

The Yanaka Ginza area is popular for its charming buildings and streetscapes, attracting tourists from Japan and abroad. Among the many shops, we will focus on gourmet food and introduce 8 unique shops offering prepared foods, sweets, and more, along with a map. Please use this article as a reference and enjoy a delicious stroll through the downtown area!

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Sunamachi Ginza Shopping Arcade: Great for affordable gourmet food

Sunamachi Ginza Shopping Street is one of the "Big Three Ginza" along with Togoshi Ginza and Yanaka Ginza. It takes about 20 minutes on foot from the nearest Toyocho Station, but it is known as a lively shopping street visited by 4,000 people on weekdays and 10,000 people on weekends.

Approximately 180 stores are gathered in this 670m long shopping street. What all the stores have in common is the reasonable prices of the food. There are many eat-on-the-go gourmet foods such as fried foods and yakitori that can be purchased for just a few tens of yen, so you can be fully satisfied even on a budget of 1,000 yen.

Another appealing feature is the wide variety of prepared foods available. The area around the shopping district has not undergone large-scale redevelopment, so land prices have not soared and prices have remained low.
As a result, in addition to people who come to eat while walking around, many local residents also come to buy "tonight's side dish." You'll find side dishes that you'll want to take out, such as tempura, oden, and gyoza.

You're sure to fall in love with the great value gourmet food and local atmosphere that blends into the daily lives of locals once you visit.

Sunamachi Ginza Shopping Street

A wide variety of sweets made with red bean paste! "Sugamo Jizo Street Shopping District" where people of all ages can enjoy themselves

Sugamo is known as "Grandma's Harajuku," but there are plenty of gourmet foods that people of all ages can enjoy. There are several shopping streets, but if you want to enjoy eating while walking, head to "Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street." It's a 5-minute walk from Sugamo Station.

The unique feature of Sugamo's gourmet food is that there are many sweets that use plenty of red bean paste. For Japanese sweet lovers, there is an irresistible lineup, including salt daifuku, anpan, taiyaki, and anmitsu. There are also many other Japanese sweets such as karinto, monaka, and warabimochi.

Besides sweets, there are also many places for a quick drink, such as famous gyoza restaurants and set meal restaurants where you will inevitably have to queue. There are also many restaurants that offer warm hospitality, so why not enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter?

Sugamo Jizo Street Shopping District

Each area is unique! Popular tourist spots packed with the latest gourmet food

One of the charms of food tours is being able to sample a little bit of each of the region's unique delicacies.

Each city has a wide variety of atmospheres and cuisine, from old-fashioned downtown areas that still retain their traditional scenery, to trendy spots that give you a sense of Tokyo's ever-evolving nature, to global areas where various cultures mix together.

We will introduce some recommended spots where you can enjoy sightseeing and eating at the same time when you visit.

Asakusa: A plethora of gourmet foods that are easy to eat even in a kimono

Asakusa is accessible directly from Haneda Airport or Narita Airport without having to transfer, making it a popular spot for foreign tourists.

There are several shopping streets in Asakusa, but the most famous is Nakamise Shopping Street, which stretches from Kaminarimon to Sensoji Temple. The street is about 250 meters long and is lined with around 90 restaurants and souvenir shops.

There are many people wearing kimonos and yukatas around Asakusa, and just looking at them will make you feel cheerful. There are plenty of one-handed gourmet foods that are easy for people wearing kimonos to eat, and can be eaten without getting your hands or mouth dirty.

The shop has everything from traditional Japanese sweets to the latest desserts, including skewered rice crackers, kiritanpo, and dango that can be eaten in one bite.
Some stores have eat-in spaces, so you can take your time and eat without rushing even on busy weekends.

Asakusa is about 1.5 km from Tokyo Skytree, and it takes about 30 minutes to walk to Ueno. Once you've had your fill of eating your way around, it might be a good idea to go for a walk to work up an appetite.

Nakamise Shopping Street

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Asakusa gourmet map: 15 highly recommended restaurants, from long-established establishments to trendy new shops

We have carefully selected the best food to eat while walking around Asakusa. We have compiled a list of savory, sweet, and drink items, from long-established restaurants to popular new stores. Some of the items are popular and perfect for Instagram. We have also included a map, so please make use of it when you go on a food tour of Asakusa!

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Kagurazaka: A town where gourmets gather

Kagurazaka is a town that is also called Tokyo's Little Paris. The name comes from the fact that many French people lived there due to the establishment of the national French-Japanese Institute there. The streets are reminiscent of Paris, with restaurants serving authentic French cuisine and backstreet cafes.

The nearest station is on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, and it takes about 10 minutes from Otemachi Station. When you exit Kagurazaka Station, you will find yourself on the main street, Kagurazaka Dori. In addition to French restaurants, there are also many Japanese restaurants, bakeries, and delicatessens.

There are many delicacies that can only be found in Kagurazaka, such as meat buns that have been loved by locals for many years, and "Peko-chan Yaki," the only edible doll-shaped cake in Japan. There are also several Japanese confectionery shops that originated in Kagurazaka, and a wide selection of stylish souvenirs.

Another charm of Kagurazaka is the stone-paved alleys. Kagurazaka was once one of Tokyo's leading entertainment districts, with 150 restaurants and 600 geisha. The stone-paved streets were designed to protect customers' feet from dirt, and even today they retain the atmosphere of the time.

There are many power spots such as Tokyo Daijingu Shrine and Akagi Shrine, as well as many general stores, making it an area that is fun to walk around.

Kagurazaka Shopping Street

Kichijoji: A place where you can enjoy a wide range of activities, from deep bars to picnics

Kichijoji is about 15 minutes by train from Shinjuku. It is a tourist spot with plenty to see, including many popular sweet shops, general stores, and second-hand clothing stores, as well as a zoo and art museum in the surrounding area. There is also plenty of food to eat while walking around the city.

Spreading out from the north exit of Kichijoji Station is Harmonica Yokocho, a street lined with around 100 shops. It originated as a so-called "black market" formed after the war, and the sight of food stalls lined up in the winding alleys creates a unique atmosphere.

In addition to traditional shops, there are also many bars and cafes for young people, giving the area a new and contemporary feel. In addition to drinking establishments, there are also a large number of shops selling oden, croquettes, and side dishes, allowing you to enjoy a food tour in a deep atmosphere that you won't find in other towns.

You can also buy some minced meat cutlets in the shopping arcade, or get some takeout from a cafe on the way to Inokashira Park. There are many places to eat as you walk around. Another recommended way to spend your time is to bring some takeout food and have a picnic at Inokashira Park.

Harmonica Alley

Ameyoko: A vibrant town packed with international cuisine!

Ueno Station is served by the Shinkansen and can be reached from Haneda Airport in under an hour. Why not enjoy your day off at the zoo or art museum, and then sample international cuisine at Ameyoko?

As soon as you get off at Ueno Station from Shinobazu Exit, you'll see the Ameyoko sign. The shopping street is filled with a wide variety of shops, including seafood, Chinese food, kushikatsu, and ramen.

During the day, cute delicacies such as tapioca, soft serve ice cream, and panda buns are popular, but at night, the impression changes completely. The whole of Ameyoko takes on an atmosphere similar to that of a Taiwanese night market. In recent years, the number of restaurants offering authentic Chinese cuisine, which is rarely seen in Japan, has increased.

At night, Ameyoko is a great place to stop by for a drink or a bite to eat while sampling cuisine from various countries. As there are many foreign tourists, you can really feel as if you have wandered into a foreign country.

Ameyoko Shopping Street

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12 recommended places to eat while walking around Ueno and Ameyoko! You'll be completely satisfied with beloved classics and international cuisine

Ueno is a city in eastern Tokyo that is full of deep history and culture. In addition to Ueno Zoo, Japan's first zoo, famous for its giant pandas, there are many cultural facilities such as the National Museum of Nature and Science, the National Museum of Western Art, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Ueno Station, a major terminal that has long developed as Tokyo's "northern gateway," is easily accessible and attracts tourists from all over the world.

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The latest in 2023! 21 recommended sightseeing spots in Ueno. How to enjoy each area, including Ameyoko and Yanaka

The Ueno area of Tokyo is home to many tourist attractions, such as the zoo, art museums, and Ameyoko. We will introduce the classic sights and gourmet spots, as well as hidden gems, divided into areas that are easy to walk around. We recommend ways to enjoy Ueno, such as strolling around the old town atmosphere, visiting art museums, and eating your way through the area.

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Shin-Okubo: Where the latest Korean cuisine comes together

Shin-Okubo is one of Japan's famous Korean towns in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. The area around Shin-Okubo Station is home to the latest Korean gourmet food, and is popular among young people as a food spot.

Particularly popular are the one-hand delicacies that use plenty of cheese. You can enjoy the "cheese balls" with soft dough and melted cheese, the Korean-style American hot dog "hot dog" that has now become a staple of street food, and the "cheese sotteok" with sausage and tteokbokki topped with cheese.

Also, in Korea, it is a standard culture to eat chicken with beer. Shin-Okubo is lined with restaurants where you can enjoy beer and chicken, so if you find one that catches your eye, it's worth stopping in.

Shin-Okubo is also full of photogenic sweets, such as macaron specialty shops that are popular on social media, colorful cookies, and fruit sandwiches that are popular for their beautiful cross-sections. Enjoy your gourmet tour to your heart's content while experiencing the Korean atmosphere.

Shin-Okubo

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A map of Korean food in Shin-Okubo. Introducing 14 restaurants, from the latest sweets to long-established famous restaurants.

Shin-Okubo is one of the leading Korean towns in Japan. In recent years, Korean sweets and street food have often been at the top of food trends, and Shin-Okubo can be said to be one of the origins of this trend in Japan. We will introduce the two categories of "sweets" and "street food" along with a map of each store.

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Harajuku: Experience cutting-edge gourmet food that reflects modern Tokyo

Harajuku is the center of youth culture, a popular spot for fashion, music, and food.

Harajuku has flourished as a food-hopping spot because of the many shops competing with each other and creating an environment in which new sweets and foods are developed. The stores change frequently, so it's always up to date with the latest trends.

There is a wide variety of photogenic sweets and food, especially around Takeshita Street, just outside Harajuku Station.

When it comes to local delicacies, there are colorful cotton candy and gelato, but the one that has captured the hearts of young people for many years is crepes. Each store has different batter and ingredients, and there is a wide lineup to choose from, from sweets using fruit to unique savory dishes.

While browsing the clothes and miscellaneous goods, enjoy the photogenic gourmet food that expresses the "kawaii" that is unique to Harajuku.

Takeshita Street

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Eat your way around Harajuku Station and Takeshita Street! 15 recommended latest Instagram-worthy sweets and gourmet foods

Harajuku has long been a popular mecca for young people and a trendsetter. Many gourmet foods have become national trends in this area, so we'll introduce 15 popular restaurants that we recommend for food tours.

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Shimokitazawa: A gourmet town evolving through redevelopment

Shimokitazawa, a mecca for fashion and curry, is a 10-minute ride from Shinjuku on the Odakyu Line. You can eat as much curry as you like, but why not try out the unique gourmet food that is unique to Shimokitazawa?

Shimokitazawa stretches from the north to the east around the station and is a mix of second-hand clothing stores, record shops, cafes, etc. Redevelopment has made it more convenient and more people are visiting.

In recent years, the number of food spots offering a variety of cuisines, such as meat-wrapped rice balls, baby castella cakes, and creative cuisine, has increased, and the area has become a gourmet town.

Enjoy your food tour as if you were on an adventure through the city.

Shimokitazawa Ichibangai Shopping Street

Freshness is the charm! Market gourmet that you can enjoy from the morning

If you want to eat fresh seafood in Tokyo, we recommend the first thing you do in the morning. Why not enjoy a satisfying morning snack tour of freshly caught and freshly prepared seafood?

Toyosu Market: See lively auctions

Facing Tokyo Bay, Toyosu Market is the largest wholesale market in Japan. It opens at 4am and you can actually watch the auctions of seafood and fruit and vegetables. During the peak auction times between 6am and 8am, you can get a glimpse of the vibrant market.

Most of the restaurants in the restaurant area have been relocated from Tsukiji, and as they are frequented by people who work at Toyosu Market, the ingredients and flavors are guaranteed. There is a wide range of restaurants, from seafood to Chinese food, coffee shops, and Japanese sweets shops.

If you get up early and visit Toyosu, you can't miss out on seafood. You're sure to find your favorite seafood gourmet, whether it's a sushi restaurant that serves reasonably priced sushi toppings that are the same as those used in high-end restaurants in Tokyo, or a set meal restaurant that serves boiled or fried fish.

Toyosu Market is easily accessible from Haneda Airport, about 30 minutes by train. There are plenty of parking lots in the area, making it easy for people from far away or families to visit.

Toyosu Market

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9 recommended places to eat at Toyosu Market. A gourmet tour of famous restaurants that open early in the morning

The restaurant area of Toyosu Market (Tokyo Central Wholesale Market), known as Tokyo's kitchen, is known as a high-quality gourmet spot. In this article, we have selected nine restaurants from different genres, including famous seafood restaurants and long-established restaurants that have been loved since the Tsukiji era. We will introduce a variety of restaurants where you can enjoy your meal from early in the morning.

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Even after the relocation, there's still plenty to see at Tsukiji

If you want to enjoy seafood dishes in the quiet morning air, why not head to Tsukiji Market first thing in the morning? The outer market is still open even though it has since moved to Toyosu.

Many of the shops open at around 5am and start to get gradually more crowded from around 8am, so if you want a quieter time, it's best to arrive early.

Although the number of stores has decreased since the market relocated, there is still a wide selection of gourmet food, mainly seafood dishes, such as seafood bowls, tempura, and sushi.

There are a variety of restaurant styles, from stand-up eateries to eat with one hand, so you can enjoy visiting different restaurants.

Tsukiji Market is within walking distance of Ginza and other areas. Enjoy gourmet food early in the morning and then go for a walk around the city to spend a fulfilling day.

Tsukiji Outer Market

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9 recommended gourmet spots to eat while walking around Tsukiji! Enjoy high-quality fish and meat at reasonable prices

Tsukiji has been supporting Tokyo's food scene for over 80 years. More than 400 specialty shops line the Tsukiji Outer Market (outside the market), with fresh seasonal ingredients and authentic cooking utensils lined up in a small space. With a lineup of long-established restaurants boasting delicious food, it can be said to be one of Japan's leading gourmet spots. Even after Tsukiji Market (also known as the "inside market") moved its role as a central wholesale market to Toyosu, its commitment and quality have not changed.

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Actually, there are such famous dishes! A hidden gem of a food spot

It may not be as well-known as other gourmet spots, but once you go you'll be hooked... We'll introduce you to some hidden spots that are popular among the public and offer a food-hopping experience to suit your tastes.

"Kamata" where you can compare different kinds of gyoza with wings

Kamata is a downtown area located in Ota Ward, Tokyo. It is easily accessible from Haneda Airport, and can be reached in about 10 minutes by train.

When you get off the station, you'll find a shopping street on either side of the station, giving you a sense of the local atmosphere. In Kamata, you can try different types of "winged gyoza." In fact, Kamata is also known as the "holy land of winged gyoza," with many Chinese restaurants lined up in the city, making it a popular destination for gourmets.

The fried dumplings with wings originated in Kamata and are said to have been created at a restaurant called "Nihao" which was founded in 1983. When the founder, Isao Yagi, came up with the idea after being inspired by the grilled meat buns of Dalian, China, it became very popular and gradually more restaurants offering fried dumplings with wings began to open in Kamata.

Nowadays, Nihao, Jinchuan, and Huangyong are known as the "big three" of the world of fried dumplings. You can get a glimpse of the uniqueness and individuality of each store, such as the ingredients and broth, so be sure to try the iron plate combination of beer and dumplings.

Kamata West Exit Shopping Street

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Visit recommended restaurants in Kamata, known as the "holy land of fried dumplings"

In Kamata, the "holy land of fried gyoza," we introduce five famous gyoza restaurants recommended by a gourmet writer. In addition to the "big three," there is Koraen, which is a great value for money izakaya, and Shunkoen, which is close to the station and can be used for various occasions. You can't go wrong by visiting these holy places.

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A must-see for sweets lovers! "Jiyugaoka"

Jiyugaoka is a fashionable, sophisticated town that is recommended for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The charm of Jiyugaoka is that there are many sweets shops from all over the world, such as "Mont Saint Clair" and "Madeleine Lapin", which are popular among gourmets.

In addition, Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest, a shopping mall that brings together a variety of sweets specialty stores, will be renovated in 2022. It has completely changed its concept and interior design, transforming it into a store specializing in Korean sweets.

You can enjoy Korean sweets, which are making their first appearance in Japan, in a photogenic pink space.

Jiyugaoka, which is evolving more and more as a sweets town, is perfect for various situations such as dates and girls' nights. After enjoying sweets at the shops, you can take home souvenirs such as cakes and enjoy a sweet moment at home.

Jiyugaoka

Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest

There are many unique spots for gourmet food walking around Tokyo, such as shopping streets that are easy to go to alone, areas with many new gourmet restaurants, and famous seafood and sweet restaurants. Why not choose a spot based on your mood that day and the food you're looking for?

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