Tokyo is one of the most vibrant cities in the world! This busy city mixes historical culture with ultramodern twists. Here you will find neon skyscrapers next to ancient temples. It also boasts some of the best food in the world. That’s why Tokyo is at the top of every foodie’s must visit list! There are so many incredible places to dine and drink in Tokyo and this list barely scratches the surface. But here are some of my favorite things I ate, drank, saw and did in Tokyo. I hope you enjoy!
To Eat:
Yakitori in Memory Lane
1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Across from the Shinjuku Station you can find a tiny alleyway called Omoide Yokocho aka Memory Lane aka Piss Alley. This is one of my absolute favorite places in Tokyo. This little hidden street is lined with small restaurants serving yakitori. Yakitori is grilled skewers made from bite sized pieces of meat, fish, and vegetables. You will smell the aroma of grilled meats wafting through the air as you walk down this bustling street. Find an open seat at one of the restaurants and sit down.
Tip: There are no menus, so just point to the skewers you want and the chef will cook them for you over a charcoal grill. The bar menu at these restaurants is basic and cheap. Try a Japanese beer, highball, sour, or glass of sake to go with your amazing yakitori.
Ichiran Ramen
Multiple locations in Shinjuku and Shibuya
A totally unique Japanese ramen experience. Ichiran is a ramen chain that has multiple locations around Tokyo. They are known for their authentic tonkotsu pork broth ramen. Beside the delicious ramen Ichiran is known for it’s quirky setting and ordering system. At Ichiran you order your food and drinks from a vending machine and sit in an individual stall to enjoy your meal. It’s a super fun experience and some of the best ramen in the city!
Jiromaru Shinjuku
1 Chome-26-3 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
We fell in love with this little yakiniku restaurant near Shinjuku Station. Yakiniku means “grilled meat" and at Jiromaru you get to grill delicious pieces of wagyu beef on your own personal grill. This restaurant is tiny, doesn’t take reservations and is standing room only. The layout is almost like a sushi restaurant with chefs behind the counter; except instead of giving you sushi they are giving you delicious cuts of meat. The A5 wagyu I ate here literally melted in my mouth. We loved this place so much we tried to come back the next night but they were closed! I can’t wait to go back to Tokyo just to eat here again.
Kaikaya by the Sea
23-7 Maruyamacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo
Another one of our favorite meals in Tokyo was at Kaikaya by the Sea. This seafood based izakaya had some of the freshest seafood of the trip. We tried a bunch of different things off the menu and had an amazing meal. Some highlights were the fresh sashimi plater, the crab back and the tuna spareribs. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most highly reviewed eateries in all of Tokyo. It’s a superb izakaya that serves incredible authentic Japanese seafood.
Tip: Make reservations ahead of time on OpenTable.com
Tsukiji Fish Market
5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Tokyo’s historic fish market is one of the largest seafood markets in the world. The market and restaurants here open everyday at 5:00am and close around noon. The market consists of a few city blocks that are filled with seafood stalls and restaurants selling some of the freshest fish in the world. We did a guided food tour through the market but thought it would have been just as fun exploring on our own. This way we could go where we wanted, eat what we wanted and see more. If you fancy a sushi breakfast find a seat at one of the small sushi restaurants inside the market. They are always busy and serve the freshest sushi in Tokyo.
Sushi Yoshitake
〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 7 Chome−8−13 Brown Place９Ｆ
For a special New Years Eve dinner we booked an omakase sushi dinner at the 3 Michelin star sushi restaurant, Sushi Yoshitake. Our omakase meal consisted of 30 or so courses created and chosen by the chef. We had some incredible bites of food and also some unusual bites of food but that is the best part of tasting menus, trying different things! It was an unforgettable experience and the perfect way to ring the new year!
TIP: We made reservations for Sushi Yoshitake and other nicer restaurants in Tokyo by using the website Tableall.com. It can be difficult if you don’t speak Japanese to get reservations at exclusive p[aces in Japan so this website helps. Some other incredible sushi restaurants in Tokyo that provide a similar experience are Masuda, Ginza Kyubey, Umi, Sawada, Jiro, & Saito. Get into one and go!
Afuri Ramen
〒150-0013 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Ebisu, 1 Chome−1−7 117ビル 1F
A great ramen restaurant that is known for their unique Yuzu Shio Ramen. Unlike the usual thick and hearty ramen broths’ found in most ramens, Afuri’s broth is light & delicate with hints of yuzu citrus. A must try if you love ramen!
Tonkatsu Maisen
4 Chome-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo
Tonkatsu Maisen in famous for it’s tonkatsu, or Japanese deep fried pork cutlet. It is crispy and cooked to absolute perfection. At Maisen they use their own branded pork which can only be found in their restaurants. A typical meal comes with a crispy Tonkatsu pork cutlet, a bowl of rice, cabbage salad, pickles & miso soup. You can also try a Tonkastu Sandwich.
A Happy Pancake
〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 4 Chome−9−3 清原ビル
Home to some of the Tokyo’s fluffiest Japanese pancakes. Inside the restaurant you can watch behind the glass as the chefs create these giggling soft pancakes. They are sweet and delicious. Another place in Tokyo where you can find similar pancakes is at Flippers.
Kakekomi Gyoza
〒160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1 Chome−12−2 第58東京ビル
Juicy handmade gyoza in the middle of Shinjuku. This place is open late and super affordable. Their pan fried dumplings were delicious and perfect as a late night snack after hitting the bars. You order from a machine at your table and then your piping hot gyoza and cold beers are delivered right to you.
Shima & Wagyumafia
3 Chome-5-12 Nihonbashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
We are still kicking ourselves for not making it to Wagyumafia or Shima when we were in Tokyo. These restaurants are famous for Wagyu Sandwiches. They are expensive but worth every bite. Definitely at the top of our bucket list for our next visit.
photo by Wagyumafia
TIP: You can find vending machines on every corner in Japan. They sell a variety of things like hot coffees, tea, soup, beer, & mixed cocktails.
We loved the coffees which came out piping hot!
To Drink:
Bars in Golden Gai
1 Chome-1-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City,
This famous area of Tokyo is known for it’s night-life. There are 6 streets in this pedestrian only area that are packed with around 200 tiny ramshackle bars. Each bar only fits a small amount of people and are usually packed with people drinking and smoking cigarettes. It’s a super quirky and fun place to spend the evening, bar hopping from place to place. We spent New Years Eve here and rung in the New Years in a little dark bar packed with new friends counting down to midnight.
Tír na nÓg
Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−9−5 チアーズ銀座 B１
A beautiful speakeasy in Ginza. As you walk through the unassuming entryway you are transported to a different world. The decor makes you feel like you are in Neverland with fairies and cocktails made by the lost boys. We loved this stunning bar and enjoyed some really unique cocktails.
Bar Trench
Japan, 〒150-0021 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Ebisunishi, 1 Chome−5−8 ＤＩＳビル
There are so many incredible bars in Tokyo! We loved drinking absinthe at this dark and mysterious bar in Shibuya. It had an old-timey vibe and we felt like we stepped back in time when we walked through the door. They serve absinthe the traditional way with a drip system and a sugar cubes. It was such a fun bar experience.
Black Sugar Boba from 茗茶 台湾タピオカ専門店
1 Chome-2-6 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
This tiny walk-up boba stall had some of the best black sugar boba I’ve ever had in my life. You can find this little spot at the entrance of one side of Memory Lane. Look for the plastic giant boba cup sitting out front.
To Do:
Robot Restaurant
Japan, 〒160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1 Chome−7−7 新宿ロボットビル B2F
One of the best nights we had in Tokyo started at the Robot Restaurant. The name can be deceiving as it’s not really a restaurant and more of a show. This weird and over the top performance includes giant parade floats, tons of neon lights, and insane costumes. There are no real words to describe the Robot Restaurant, you will just need to see if yourself. Make a reservation and put this experience at the top of your Tokyo to-do list!
Tip: Order the cocktail that comes in a flashing light bulb! It was delicious and super fun to sip in the dark during the show.
Digital Arts Museum - TeamLab Boarderless
Japan, 〒135-0064 Tokyo, Koto City, Aomi, 1 Chome−3−8 お台場パレットタウン
You absolutely must go here! Buy tickets ahead of time HERE.
This museum is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been. It’s an giant interactive collection of art and each room is different. Get lost exploring and discovering the beautiful artwork around every corner.
Tip: This place can get busy so go as soon as they open. Your ticket says that the museum opens at 10:00am but they actually open at 9:30am. If you go at 9:15am you have a good chance of being in some of the rooms without the crowds. Try and find the lantern room first.
Explore Harajuku area
Takeshita Street
For a fun afternoon take the train to Harajuku Station and then walk down Takeshita Street. This colorful area is where you will find funky modern fashion, quirky vintage stores and cosplay shops. The food here is as vibrant as the clothing you will see walking around. You can find giant cotton candy, fluffy pancakes, crepes and more delicious street snacks. This area is also home to some of the cute animal cafes where you can visit with owls, hedgehogs, cats, or even pigs.
We fell in love with Tokyo and can’t wait to go back one day soon. There are so many amazing things to do, restaurants to eat and and bars to enjoy. This list only scratches the surface. I hope one day you find yourself in Tokyo taking in all it has to offer and more!
