Where to Find the Best Street Food In Tokyo
There’s no better way to find out about a new culture than trying their street food! If you’re travelling to Tokyo, here’s some of the best places to visit if you’re looking for authentic street food.
Insider tips for eating street food in Japan
Don’t walk and eat
In Japan, it’s considered rude to walk and eat, so make sure to eat your food in front of the stall you purchased from before continuing on
Bring cash
Many Tokyo street food stalls take cash only, so have some yen handy!
Dispose of rubbish at the stall or take it with you
Littering is another big no-no in Tokyo, so throw any trash from your street food in the bin at the stall, or if you can’t find one take it with you
Line up
Some street food vendors in Tokyo can be super popular with locals and tourists alike, so just be aware that there may be lines for some crowd favourite. Japanese people love lining up for good food, so if you see a crowd of people it’s probably going to be delicious!
Namikase Dori & Sensoji Temple
Namikase Dori is the walking street which leads to the famous Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. It’s filled with street food stalls selling sweet and savoury snacks and is a must visit place in Tokyo! Some popular street food to try is Dango (rice cake skewers), senbei (rice crackers) and Mochi daifuku (glutinous rice filled with sweet paste and fruit). On the weekends, the temple often has additional street food vendors selling hot foods like okonomiyaki and meat skewers.
2. Asakusa
The streets of Asakusa are a food lovers paradise with loads of street food options! You can find a bit everything including candied strawberries, matcha crepes, melon pan, ice cream, potato croquettes, fried chicken, and sweet potatoes. Your best bet is to have a wander around and see if anything takes your fancy - just make sure your eyes aren’t bigger than your stomach! We usually start with the covered side streets near Sensoji Temple and go from there.
3. Tsukiji Fish Market
While Tsukiji Fish Market no longer sells wholesale seafood anymore, the Outer Market is still very much alive with street food for locals and tourists to enjoy! It’s arguably the best street food place in Tokyo to score some fresh sashimi, sushi, seafood and fresh produce. Queues here can be insanely long, so it’s best to visit early in the morning and budget a but of time to make your way through the market and see everything on offer. A word of warning - as this is a popular tourist location, prices can be quite high for basic foods like wagyu and crab sticks, so be sure to check the pricing and quality before purchasing to make sure you’re getting a reasonable deal.
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4. Takeshita Dori, Harajuku
Takeshita Dori in Harajuku has always been known for fashion, but recently has also become a popular place for street food! It’s mostly sweet treats like Japanese crepes, candied strawberries, boba tea and fairy floss, but also has a few savoury options like rainbow cheese toast and long fries. While the food here is a little gimmicky, it’s still worth trying for the experience!
5. Omoide Yokocho, Shinjuku
Omoide Yokocho is a street food alley tucked away in Shinjuku, and is a must visit place in Tokyo! The name translates to ‘memory lane’, and is known for its Izakaya style food stalls with open bbq and rowdy patrons. Omoide Yokocho is a night time spot where locals go to blow off steam and enjoy authentic street food like yakitori - if you want an authentic experience, you can get yourself a seat at one o the tiny restaurants and join in on the fun!
6. Yokohama Chinatown
Not technically in Tokyo, but a close distance if you’re visiting the Cup Noodle Museum or Gundam Factory in Yokohama, Yokohama Chinatown is a great place to Chinese enjoy street food! Known as one of the largest Chinatowns in Japan, this area is packed with little stalls selling dumplings, fried snacks, Peking duck and more.