CityBuddy
Omoide Yokocho
Beste tijd om te bezoeken
Visit right when the bars open around 5 PM to grab a seat before the after-work rush. The alley is most atmospheric after dark when the lanterns glow and smoke curls into the night sky.
Budgettips
No entry fee exists since it's a public alley. Most shops charge 100-300 yen per skewer, and a full meal with drinks runs about 2,000-3,500 yen per person. Bring cash, as many tiny stalls don't accept cards.
Aanbevolen voor
Foodies who love grilled skewers and sake, Solo travelers who enjoy counter dining and chatting with chefs, Night owls seeking an authentic post-work Tokyo drinking experience, Photographers drawn to neon-lit, cramped alleyway atmospheres
Plan je bezoek
1.5-2 hours
Over
Korte feiten: Roughly 60 tiny, smoky yakitori bars and restaurants are crammed into this narrow alley network near Shinjuku Station. Locals have been squeezing onto stools here since the postwar black market days of the 1940s, when the area first sprang up.
Hoogtepunten: One of the last surviving pockets of old Tokyo, this alley somehow escaped the redevelopment that turned the surrounding neighborhood into a forest of glass skyscrapers. The air still smells of charcoal-grilled chicken and soy sauce, just as it did 70 years ago, and some shops still source their skewers from the same family-run suppliers.
Insidertips
- Go with a small group of 2-3 people max, as most counters only seat 4-6 and larger parties won't fit.
- Don't order everything at once, start with 2-3 skewers and some drinks, then add more as you go, that's how regulars do it.
- Skip the tourist-trap stalls nearest the main road and walk deeper into the alley for better food and fewer crowds.
- Leave large backpacks and bulky coats at your hotel, space is extremely tight and most hooks can only hold a light jacket.
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