Travel guide
Tokyo's food scene runs from 100-yen conveyor-belt sushi to 20,000-yen omakase, plus ramen, izakaya and local dishes you can't find elsewhere. Here's what to try, where to find it, and how eating out works.
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Tokyo offers a wide variety of food from around Japan and the world, including traditional Tokyo dishes that have existed for centuries. The city's local cuisine was shaped over a period of 400 years in and around the Edo period (1603–1867), and you can find local specialties in the 23 wards, the western Tama area, and the Izu and Ogasawara islands.[2],[3]
Drinking and dining in Tokyo is significantly less expensive than in other popular foodie capitals around the globe. An increasing number of restaurants have English-language menus, and many now cater to vegetarians, vegans and those with special dietary requirements — though research and planning is recommended.[2]
Washoku, or traditional Japanese cuisine, was listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013. Its defining characteristic is seasonality, with ingredients chosen to match and celebrate the season or occasion. A typical meal is rooted in ichiju-sansai (one soup, three dishes) — a balanced combination of rice, soup, meat and/or seafood, and vegetables.[4]
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Sushi restaurants go from affordable, 100 yen per plate conveyor belt restaurants to high-end, Michelin-starred affairs. At conveyor belt shops, price-coded plates circulate around the shop; you grab what looks good and at the end you'll be charged by the server for the plates on your table. They start at just 100 yen a plate, making them an affordable introduction, and have conveniences like a hot water spigot and green tea powder on the table, along with touch-screen panels for special orders.[5]
The middle tier is the majority of sit-down sushi in Japan. Ordering a set gives the best value and variety, usually running 2,000 to 3,000 yen at lunch and 5,000 and up for dinner. You can order omakase (chef's choice) if the price isn't a worry.[5]
Specialty sushi shops at the very top often have limited seats, and getting a reservation can be difficult. They generally serve courses, with the option to order extra of your favorites at the end. Look to spend at least 7,000 yen for lunch and over 20,000 for dinner, not including alcohol.[5]
For the very freshest fish, try sushi restaurants in Ginza or anywhere near the Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu Market.[2]
There are over 10,000 ramen restaurants in Tokyo alone. Popular ramen areas include Ikebukuro, Takadanobaba and Tokyo Station's Ramen Street, which extends underground from the Yaesu south exit. Tokyo Ramen Street located underneath Tokyo station offers eight different shops to choose from.[2],[6]
Otakibashi-dori, running from the west exit of JR Shinjuku Station toward JR Okubo Station, has a particularly large selection of ramen restaurants. The Shimbashi neighborhood hosts huge crowds of office workers fresh off the clock and hungry for ramen, and the area around Shinjuku Station has a number of ramen restaurants scattered about its many back streets.[2],[6]
Some names to know: Ichiran is famous for its private style of dining where customers sit in sectioned off booths, and the servers communicate through a small window through which they'll pass your ramen. Afuri ramen is credited with creating a citrus ramen which uses yuzu, a sort of Japanese lime, in its broth. Tenka Ippin is a nationwide ramen chain that offers a huge selection of ramen for very low prices.[6]
Yokocho is Japanese for "alleyway" and refers to narrow streets packed with izakayas, bars, and eateries. They are mainly populated with izakayas where you can both eat and drink, and they're packed with affordable, no-frills, laid-back establishments rather than expensive 5-star meals.[7]
Some of the best yokocho include Shinjuku Golden-Gai, Omoide Yokocho, Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho and Ebisu Yokocho. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ebisu are among the top areas for exploring them. Most yokocho are in business districts and major neighborhoods like central Shinjuku and Shibuya, Ebisu to the south, and Shimbashi to the east, and they're usually within walking distance of major train stations.[2],[7]
Shinjuku's Golden Gai is a series of 7 alleyways comprised of more than 270 different establishments dedicated to drinking and eating, with bars ranging from classy wine bars to less-than-friendly dive bars. Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho, or Drunkard's alley, dates back to the early 1950s, is located right next to Shibuya Station and is known for its yakitori shops — some bars are so tiny you can only fit 4 or 5 people inside. Ebisu Yokocho is one of Tokyo's best places for foodies, known for its extensive selection of cuisine, and most places are open all night.[7]
Yurakucho's Farm to Table Dining Alley, also known as Sanchoku Yokocho, offers regional Japan delicacies in the heart of Tokyo. It was renovated in 2019 and boasts 11 bars specializing in select ingredients and regional cuisines, and it's open twenty-four hours, seven days a week.[7]
Beyond yokocho, the areas around Yurakucho and Ueno stations are popular spots for old-school izakaya under the railway arches, and trendy new train-track venues have popped up in up-and-coming areas like Nakameguro. Yurakucho also has many small izakaya bars and yakitori stores under the archways.[1],[2]
Tsukiji Outer Market is a famous Japanese food destination within walking distance of Ginza, home to around 460 shops. Visitors can have fresh sushi for breakfast or buy souvenirs such as seafood, seasonings, kitchen utensils, and tableware. The Tsukiji Fish Market operated next door until 2018 but has since moved to Toyosu.[8]
It's best to visit Tsukiji Outer Market between 9:00 and 13:00, when it is most lively, and most stores close before evening. The market is closed on Wednesdays, Sundays, and national holidays, so many shops are closed on those days as well. Most stores are cash only, so prepare lots of cash in advance, and the market does not allow visitors to eat while walking — eat purchases in designated areas such as in front of the store where you bought them.[8]
The Toyosu Fish Market opened on October 11, 2018. The general public can visit the observation corridors, and visitors can watch the tuna auctions from the observation corridors in the Fisheries Wholesale Market Building — though the tuna auction observation deck requires reservations in advance. There are 38 restaurants inside the market, and the Fisheries Intermediate Wholesale Market Building includes the Uogashi Yokocho area with approximately 70 shops.[9]
Toyosu Market is closed on Wednesdays, Sundays, holidays, and irregularly, and opening hours vary by floor, store, and/or facility.[9]
To really fit in at a yokocho, try sake, a distilled spirit called shochu, or a fruity mixed drink called chuhai. Shochu is typically stronger than sake and is distilled from either sweet potatoes, barley, or rice. Don't expect fancy cocktails in yokocho; choices are draught beer, Japanese sake, shochu, chuhai, and sours.[2],[7]
At ramen restaurants, ice cold beer and oolong tea are the most common drinks. Oolong tea is said to calm the stomach after a delicious, oily meal.[6]
Tokyo's many beer gardens officially open in June, from the beer garden atop Mt. Takao to the elegant surrounds of Meiji Kinenkan, and many remain open in September.[10]
Tipping is not common practice in Tokyo or other parts of Japan. At izakayas, do not tip when paying the bill, which is settled at a cash register by the door rather than at your table.[2],[7]
Most bars and izakaya apply a seating charge and serve a customary small dish prior to ordering. Some bars have cover charges and may serve a small appetizer in lieu of a seating charge. Once seated, you'll receive an oshibori towel to clean your hands, either cold and sealed in plastic or handed to you warm, and you will probably be served a small appetizer, or otoshi, for which there will be a small charge.[2],[7]
At izakayas, order a drink first from the menu, which is often written by hand on papers posted on the restaurant's walls. The menu probably won't be in English, especially in yokocho favored by locals over tourists. Izakayas serve small dishes that aren't too filling, so order several to enjoy a variety of local specialties — it's common to start with sashimi and move on to grilled meats, fish, or seasonal vegetables. Izakayas aren't generally open during the day, as they are popular with the after-work crowd, and they'll likely close at midnight, with the last order taken 30 minutes to an hour before closing.[7]
At ramen shops, even if you don't see any servers, you can choose your dish using a food ticket vending machine that accepts cash. The machine will most likely be written in Japanese but has pictures and prices next to the buttons; if you're completely lost, politely ask for some guidance — simply saying "ramen?" will get the job done. Ramen shops are typically small and rely on fast customer turn around, so don't linger too long after your meal. Slurping is considered the correct way to eat ramen.[6]
Sushi etiquette is simpler than it looks: there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to enjoying sushi. The wasabi in Japan is usually real, not colored horseradish like most shops overseas, and it's usually added by the chef before serving. Gari, or pickled ginger, is served on the side as a palate cleanser between different fish, and you can also use the green tea served as a palate cleanser. Use soy sauce sparingly — to accent and highlight the flavor of the fish, not to cover it up — and try to touch only the fish, not the rice, with the sauce. Eat each piece in one bite. If you're having a hard time with chopsticks, it's perfectly acceptable to use your hands for rolls and nigiri sushi, but bring the chopsticks back out for the sashimi. Go easy on cologne and perfume, since sushi has many delicate flavors.[5]
A few more ground rules: bring cash because many smaller restaurants don't accept credit cards, and arrive early or go during off-hours to avoid long lines at popular restaurants. Don't rub your chopsticks together, as it is seen as an insult to the establishment. Although making noises while eating is generally considered bad manners, slurping soba noodles is considered a way of enjoying the flavor in Japan. Bars and restaurants in Japan typically don't allow smoking indoors, but smoking is possible in stores that have met certain requirements or in special smoking rooms. Smoking and drinking on the streets outside yokocho establishments is prohibited.[2],[3],[7]
For a splurge with a show, Ninja Tokyo near Tokyo Station has the appearance of a ninja residence, and you can enjoy ninjutsu performances while you eat. Some dinner venues, like Asakusa Kaguwa, involve singing, dancing and theatrical flair.[2]
For swanky high-rise dining, the skyscraper districts of Otemachi and Marunouchi around Tokyo Station have plenty of options. Ginza is one of Tokyo's retail meccas for all the large brands, and its main street houses some of Tokyo's original department stores.[1],[2]
In traditional areas like Kanda, Nihonbashi and Asakusa, you can find family-run restaurants that have been in business for multiple generations. Tsukishima is packed full of local restaurants serving both monjayaki and okonomiyaki — about 60 eateries line Tsukishima Monja Street, serving everything from meat and seafood to spicy options.[2],[3]
If you're in Tokyo in spring, many eateries, including department stores that sell food, offer boxed lunches featuring fresh spring ingredients for takeout meals under the blossoms in a park. Visitors who want to view rows of cherry trees from a cafe or restaurant seat can try the Sumida River or the riverside in Nakameguro.[11]
Outside the city, the hot spring town of Hakone, with stunning Mt. Fuji views, is an easy day trip, and Kamakura in neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture is home to many shrines and temples. Tokyo also has nine islands in total, offering nature, beaches, surfing and other water sports — on the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, people prepare seafood not only raw but also charcoal-grilled, steamed, and in miso-soup dishes, and shima-zushi is made with fish caught in the waters near the islands, marinated in soy sauce in a preparation called zuke.[1],[3]
Conveyor-belt sushi starts at just 100 yen a plate, making it an affordable introduction. At mid-tier sit-down shops, a set usually runs 2,000 to 3,000 yen at lunch and 5,000 and up for dinner. Top specialty shops run at least 7,000 yen for lunch and over 20,000 for dinner, not including alcohol.[5]
No. Tipping is not common practice in Tokyo or other parts of Japan. At izakayas, the bill is settled at a cash register by the door rather than at your table.[2],[7]
Most bars and izakaya apply a seating charge and serve a customary small dish prior to ordering. You'll probably be served a small appetizer, or otoshi, for which there will be a small charge. Some bars have cover charges and may serve a small appetizer in lieu of a seating charge.[2],[7]
Even if you don't see any servers, you can choose your dish using a food ticket vending machine that accepts cash. The machine will most likely be written in Japanese but has pictures and prices next to the buttons. If you're completely lost, politely ask for guidance — simply saying "ramen?" will get the job done.[6]
It's best to visit between 9:00 and 13:00, when it is most lively, and most stores close before evening. The market is closed on Wednesdays, Sundays, and national holidays, so many shops are closed on those days as well.[8]
No. Tsukiji Outer Market does not allow visitors to eat while walking, so purchases should be eaten in designated areas such as in front of the store where you bought them. Most stores are cash only, so prepare lots of cash in advance.[8]
An increasing number of Tokyo restaurants have English-language menus. Restaurants increasingly cater to vegetarians, vegans and those with special dietary requirements, but research and planning is recommended.[2]
Every rule, fee and deadline above is taken from these official pages, which we read on October 26, 2026. Rules change, so check the official page before you apply or pay.
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