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By Julian Canlas - 21 min read

Tokyo tips from travel experts and a neighborhood guide for foodies

Do you want to experience Tokyo’s unique food scene across its different neighborhoods, but don’t know where to start? This big city is home to about 160,000 restaurants, and you can get easily lost amidst all the choices! Tokyo also has a transport system that can be quite hard to navigate your way through, and you can spend hours going in circles.

But don’t worry! This blog post is for you. I’ve asked travel experts for great Tokyo travel tips, and then paired them with the best foodie places in some of Tokyo’s amazing neighborhoods. Thank me later. For now, itadakimasu.

? 5 Tokyo tips from travel experts

1/ Spend at least a week in Tokyo

Plan to spend at least a week in Tokyo. It’s a massive city with so many things to do. Tokyo is a city of contrasts, and exploring its historic temples and palaces alongside contemporary culture is an experience that is unique to Tokyo.

Our first Tokyo travel tip comes Christina, an Australian travel journalist and owner of travel2Next, an award-winning travel blog. I contacted her after reading her excellent 10-day itinerary on visiting Japan.

Needless to say, she is right. Tokyo is a big city with so many different sides to it. Tokyo is where old is intertwined with cutting-edge. It’s a city where you can see skyscrapers built next to temples and shrines, and they’re all visited by tourists from around the world. And, somehow, they all go well with each other.

2/ Book a hotel close to the Yamanote line

Book a hotel close to the Yamanote line. This is the main circle line in Tokyo, which allows you to travel quite fast to the most important areas in the city.

This line is also included in your JR Pass, the train pass that allows you to travel all the way through Japan for a fixed price. You can buy your JR Pass for 1 week, 2 weeks or 3 weeks.

My advice is to buy the ticket also for your days in Tokyo, as you will travel with the Yamanote line a lot. The following are great stations and neighbourhoods to book your hotel: Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya. Typical Tokyo and lots of great restaurants!

This second Tokyo travel tip comes from Suzanne, and I emailed her after I came across her great article on Japan travel tips (in Dutch).

You can’t go wrong with booking a hotel next to the Yamanote line! It’s by far the most popular and convenient way to get around the capital, because it’s the only line that goes to most of Tokyo’s popular central stations.

As for the neighborhoods, Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya are also some of my favorite Tokyo neighborhoods ?. There is so much to do, and there are so many great places to eat in those areas!

3/ Take advantage of lunch specials at take-out cafés

Be sure to take advantage of the lunch specials all around Tokyo at smaller take-out cafes catering to office workers where you can get a delicious bento box or sushi for less than a lunch at a sit-down Tokyo restaurant. Another convenient spot for affordable meals, especially dinners, tends to be the restaurants within the train stations that cater to office workers.

This Tokyo travel tip comes from Karen, who wrote an excellent blog post on visiting Japan on a budget.

When I was a broke 17-year old travelling to Tokyo, alone, for the first time, I remember going to these places for cheap lunches, so that I could spend my money elsewhere, like on sightseeing and transport.

They’re also great if you want to have a real taste of everyday Tokyo and experience how to eat like a local. Plus, if you’re friendly enough, you can make buddies along the way!

4/ Always carry a Metro map

Always carry a Metro map and note that tickets are not interchangeable between the lines — some of which are for subways and others for above-ground trains. Don’t be afraid to ask a Metro employee for help.

The ticket office staff will not give up in finding a solution for your problem or question even if they have a hard time understanding you.

This tip comes from Jessica, who I contacted after reading her very valuable article on how to navigate Tokyo’s subway system.

I’m not alone when I say that Tokyo’s subway system is very confusing… even my friends who’ve been living there for years still get lost! And it doesn’t help that the lines are owned by different companies!

When you do get lost, don’t panic, and ask an employee for help! Having the Tokyo metro app also helps, because it has a map of the Tokyo subway that locates where you are.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B73Lj6WpPGr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

5/ Have cash on hand

You still have to expect to pay cash in most places. Besides food and drink, 7-Eleven and K-Mart have free wi-fi (at most stores), restrooms, and ATMs where you can withdraw cash using international credit cards. There are other services available such as paying utility bills, buying tickets to events, purchasing prepaid cards and more at the multi-media terminals in stores.

But, as a visitor, know that 7-Eleven and Family Mart is there for you. They are places where you can escape the searing heat or warm your frozen fingers, quench your thirst, score a snack, fire off a few pics and replenish your funds.

This excellent point comes from Priscilla, who owns an amazing food and travel blog, and it is really two tips bundled into one. The first one revolves around carrying cash, while travelling in Tokyo, and it’s a tip that also applies to Japan and most of Asia. While more stores are starting to accept bank cards, it’s always better to carry cash on hand to pay small vendors and other places that prefer cash.

As for Japanese convenience stores? They’re freaking next-level! You can pay your bills there. You can withdraw money there. You can eat there. Heck, you can even buy a great selection of Kit-Kats to feast on! Every convenience store in Tokyo is an absolutely magical place that stocks more things than you think they can.

?️ A foodie guide to my 5 favorite Tokyo neighborhoods

Did you know that Tokyo has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants? That’s right! Tokyo has become somewhat of a foodie capital in the last few years. In fact, the director of Michelin, Jean-Luc Naret, said, “Japanese cuisine is dynamic, diverse and interesting. Tokyo is worth the travel.” Needless to say, he’s right. But you probably already knew that!

Foodies and travelers from around the world visit Tokyo for its great eateries, cafés and bars that offer amazing experiences, from the food they serve to the atmosphere and energy they bring.

At the same time, Tokyo’s vast culinary scene varies greatly between neighborhoods. For example, there’s the cute neighborhood of Harajuku, with its great spots to satisfy your sweet craving. There are also the restaurants that serve big portions at Ryogoku, where sumo wrestling was born. And then there’s Shinjuku, my favorite Tokyo neighborhood, which has amazing small eateries and bars that bring an edge and flavor to the Japanese capital.

But, anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. Here is my foodie guide to my 5 favorite Tokyo neighborhoods ?.

Ginza

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8vZk3ElZPA/

While Ginza is best-known for its high-end boutiques, it also has many restaurants and bars that have greatly influenced Japanese food culture, and the way people in Tokyo eat out. Therefore, it’s also the perfect neighborhood for foodies who want to know more about Tokyo’s rich culinary history!

If you want your delish late-night gyoza fix – Gyoza Hohei

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf9nOU9H4Gc/

Why you should visit
– Delicious gyozas!
– Fast service
– Affordable

A legendary gyoza restaurant from Kyoto, Gyoza Hohei recently opened a branch in Ginza. Gyoza Hohei focuses on two types of gyoza: garlic and leek, and ginger. The result? A small menu full of amazing flavors! Each gyoza is also perfectly-cooked. The top part is well-steamed and soft, while the bottom is crispy and grilled. They’re so good!

It’s the perfect place to eat these bite-sized dishes of sweet meat and vegetables, without breaking the bank. They also close late, at 1 AM, so you can head there after a short night out.

If you want delicious tempura at a 2-Michelin starred restaurant – Kondo

https://www.instagram.com/p/BapOvAjFMWY/

Why you should visit
– Light and fresh tempura
– 2-Michelin stars
– Rich culinary history

Entering Kondo is like stepping into a Japanese culinary institution. This 2-Michelin starred Tokyo restaurant is owned by top tempura chef, Fumio Kondo, whose name and image are associated with tempura artisanship. He is one of the most important figures that made tempura into the world-renowned dish that it is today.

Suffice to say, Kondo attracts many foodies and celebrities from Japan and overseas. Its tempura dishes are prepared à la minute and by very skilled chefs.

Fumio Kondo is known for pioneering tempura vegetables, and this is reflected in their delicious vegetarian dishes, which include asparagus, onions and lotus root! In all their dishes, the batter remains very light and crispy. Yummy!

If you want to visit one of Japan’s most storied bars – Lupin

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq2Qc6RAzu3/

Why you should visit
– Part of Japan’s literary history
– Amazing cocktails

Opened in 1928, Lupin is a cocktail bar that was once a popular spot for many of Japan’s most influential pre- and post-Second World War writers, painters, actors and photographers. Its name is a nod to Arsène Lupin, a fictional gentleman thief from a series of short stories published throughout in the early 20th century by Maurice Leblanc. Arsène Lupin is a very popular character in Japan, and there’s even a manga series that’s based on the character! Maurice Leblanc has visited this cocktail bar, himself.

And, of course, if you’re thirsty, the bar also offers an amazing selection of cocktails, including Lupin’s favorite drink, the Moscow Mule. When I visited the bar, I ordered a glass of Golden Fizz, a drink with egg yolk, and the very dangerous The Thunderclap, which has brandy, gin and whisky. They were quite delicious and went down smoothly.

Despite having been renovated after being badly damaged in the Second World War, the style of the bar is still the same. With furniture made of dark wood and the framed photos of its famous clientele, it feels like a blast of the past. The cocktails are prepared by veteran bartenders who wear stylish uniforms. It’s definitely a nice cocktail drinking experience, and you can feel history ooze from its walls.

If you want to fall inside the rabbit hole – Alice in a Labyrinth

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjayxc_nNW3/

Why you should visit
– Great for Alice in Wonderland fans
– A Japanese take on the Lewis Carroll classic
– Delicious food

Only 3 minutes away from the Ginza Station, Alice in a Labyrinth is a cool Tokyo restaurant that’s based on Lewis Carroll’s popular children’s novel, Alice in Wonderland. The place has big teacup dining booths, playing card tables, waiters in costumes of Alice in Wonderland characters, rose garden chairs, and popup menus in diorama boxes. This whole place offers a full immersive experience that should satisfy fans of the novel!

While the food can get a little pricey, it’s pretty delicious and it doesn’t take too long to be served. Here, you can eat the tail of the Cheshire Cat as a slice of pizza, the Caterpillar as sushi…and grilled rabbit!

Shibuya

Shibuya is a lively neighborhood in Tokyo that is packed with shopping malls, nightclubs and restaurants.

Of course, internationally, it’s known for its atypical landmark intersection, the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. But did you know that Shibuya also has a coffee room popular with artisanal coffee lovers from around the world? And an area called the Love Hotel Hill, which has Tokyo’s biggest concentration of, you guessed it, love hotels? In this foodie guide, let’s have a look at 3 places located in these areas.

For the best yakiniku place in the Love Hotel Hill – Dogen

Source: Matcha Japan

Why you should visit
– Amazing grilled meat
– Charming interior
– Affordable

Dogen is one of the most popular yakiniku – Japanese for grilled meat – eateries in the Shibuya area. The place might resemble a ramshackle house hastily cobbled together using scrap materials such as Sapporo beer crates serving as makeshift chairs, but make no mistake: their dishes are absolutely delicious!

The beef tendon appetizer soaked in a bath of ponzu broth melts in your mouth. The salted beef tongue with green onions will introduce your taste buds to a whole new world of flavors. The Japanese have a preference for grilled gizzards, and I think that this place does them perfectly! Plus between the cooking and the sizzling, seeing the meat be prepared becomes a show in itself. There’s a reason why this place is so popular with locals!

On a side note, Dogen is located on the infamous Love Hotel Hill in Shibuya, which has loads of restaurants, bars, and love hotels for a nice time. You can eat at Dogen, go to a nearby bar, and stay in a love hotel, all in one night. Convenient, right?

For a nice view of the Shibuya Crossing – Starbucks Café

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByRv0HZgod2/

Why you should visit
– Nice view of the Shibuya Crossing
– Standard Starbucks offerings

A café chain that (probably) needs no introduction, the Starbucks branch inside the Shibuya Tsutaya video rental store is a very popular viewing spot of the world-famous Shibuya Crossing.

The rush of people crossing this intersection is impressive to see from afar but absolutely hellish to actually experience on the spot. With that in mind, what better way to view this than from the comfort of the second floor of this Starbucks café?

This branch has full-length windows that have a perfect view of the crossing. It’s one of the busiest branches that I’ve ever been to, though, so you’ll have to buy a frappuccino while you wait until there’s free space by the counter next to the windows!

One of the best cafés for traditional Japanese coffee – Chatei Hatou

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6Nhc1aJQa5/

Why you should visit
– Amazing coffee
– Experience kissaten
– Great atmosphere

Need a cozy and quiet coffee break in the otherwise busy Shibuya neighborhood? Chatei Hatou is a pilgrimage site for coffee lovers around the world. It’s even influenced James Freeman, the founder of Blue Bottle Coffee, a high-end coffee chain, on his thinking of what makes a great cup of coffee.

Chatei Hatou is actually a kissaten, a Japanese-style coffee room that puts emphasis on the quality of their coffee selection more than on anything else. As a higher-end kissaten, the coffee options in Chatei Hatou are twice as expensive as in regular cafés, and for good reason: the quality of the coffee here is simply amazing.

As a place founded over 30 years ago, Chatei Hatou doesn’t have the chic minimalism of modern and trendy cafés, but this gives character to the whole place. In an age in which cafés all look the same, regardless of where you are in the world, this kissaten stands out with its polished wooden interior, by staying faithful to its heritage.

Harajuku

Welcome to the cosplay capital of Japan! Harajuku is the neighborhood in Tokyo, where cute meets weird. It’s known for its Kawaii (cute in Japanese) vibe and pop culture adoration, with fashion boutiques, second-hand shops and trendy clothing stores at every corner. Most of these are located in Takeshita street, which gets very busy during the weekend.

For those who do not know what Kawaii is, it is the culture of cuteness in Japan, but there’s more to Kawaii than looking and acting cute. For many young people in Japan, Kawaii is an escape from the extreme pressure and difficulties of work and school, where they’re expected to wear boring uniforms and act within a very rigid social structure. Kawaii is a way to express themselves.

So for many people who dress Kawaii and go to Harajuku during the weekend, this becomes a time to celebrate their identity. And, you know, looking cute and colorful just makes life simply more fun! As such, in Harajuku, there are so many cute food places that also desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth!

If you want the Kawaii restaurant experience – Kawaii Monster Cafe

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7D-rrEjpx9/

Why you should visit
– A great place for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu fans
– It’s a trippy experience
– You’ll meet Mr. Ten thousand Chopsticks, or Tokyo as a monster

Kawaii Monster Cafe is a cool concept restaurant that’s located 5 minutes away from the Harajuku station. The entrance of the place is actually the open mouth of the Kawaii monster named Mr. Ten Thousand Chopsticks, who is swallowing everything in its path, including you (and your friends). The result? A new Tokyo that’s ever-expanding inside the monster. The whole concept may seem insane…and it actually is.

Inside this monster, there are four chambers to visit, and they all have clashing aesthetics and vibes. There’s the Mushroom Disco room with big plants and multicolored fungi. There’s the Milk Stand, where bunnies and unicorns drink milk from baby bottles. There’s the Bar Experiment room, which is wrapped around the tentacles of a jellyfish. And then there’s the Mel-Tea room, which has macaroons and macarons sticking out of its walls.

I’m glad to say that they don’t skimp on the quality of the food and drinks, either, but this does not mean that they are not as whacky as the design of the whole place, itself! You can order multicolored spaghetti, chocolate chicken, and the very colorful poison cake. They also have weird cocktails, too, like the (problematically-named) druggy cocktail, which is fruity and served in test tubes.

The place is a creation of designer Sebastian Masuda, who’s known for 6%DOKIDOKI, his popular store for all things Kawaii. Masuda has also worked alongside several Kawaii artists on fashion and music, including Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, a popular J-pop star known for infusing Kawaii with monster aesthetics.

Kawaii Monster café encapsulates Masuda’s preferences for an aesthetic that fuses hyper-cutesy Kawaii with monster. I highly recommend this place for Kawaii fans.

If you want a cotton candy paradise – Totti Candy

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3dZ_rFj5Q-/

Why you should visit
– The giant cotton candy
– Sugar hit
– Did I mention that the cotton candy is bigger than your head?

Totti Candy is a paradise for people who love cotton candy and sugar! Their shop at Harajuku looks sleek, pink and futuristic. While they sell a whole range of sweets, gummy candies and chocolates, they’re best known for their cotton candy varieties. The place is always packed with people, and you can see the professional cotton candy makers spin these amazing treats all day!

The factory is located in Harajuku’s trendy Takeshita Street, which is filled with endless stores, from wacky socks to conspiracy theory t-shirts. There are some nice boutiques that sell all things Kawaii, like accessories for your cat or a cat beanie hat for yourself….
^・ω・^❁.

Of course, Totti Candy also represents the vibrant energy so present in Kawaii. So much so that this giant fluff of sugar that’s as big as your head doesn’t look weird as you stroll across this street. I highly recommend this place if you want cotton candy, or an Instagram moment! The cotton candy looks very nice in photos (and real life)!

If you want Japanese artisan crepes – Marion Crepes

https://www.instagram.com/p/BV8prE1lMoQ/

Why you should visit
– It’s part of Harajuku’s history
– Really delicious crepes
– It has a giant crepe

Also located in the famous Takeshita Street, Marion Crepes has been serving crepes since 1976. While it claims to be the oldest crepe shop in Japan, this is disputed by its rival, Angel Heart, which is located on the opposite side of the street.

Either way, while Angel heart has the more Kawaii look, Marion Crepes has longer lines of people waiting to get its famous crepes. Granted, both shops are super popular, but this may indicate that Marion Crepes makes slightly better crepes than its neighboring rival.

Like in so many eateries in Japan, Marion Crepes has fake food displays for its delicious crepes. It’s like a visual menu that you can look at while waiting in line.

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There are savory options with fillings like tuna, chicken, and shrimps, and they’re delicious and all, but Marion Crepes is better known for its delicious dessert crepes. They have dessert fillings like blueberry, strawberry and chocolate.

You can also order the Mega Marion, which is double the size of a regular crepe and has more than double the amount of fillings! The Mega Marion is so big that I don’t know if it still counts as a nice indulgence, or a challenge to finish!

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is probably the Tokyo neighborhood that made me fall in love with Tokyo. Shinjuku has it all: impressive skyscrapers, small eateries with delicious food, dazzling evening neon light, quaint bars, crowds that never seem to dissipate, and an infamous red-light district that has served as the backdrop of many Yakuza-related games and films. It is one of Tokyo’s busiest neighborhoods, thanks to its well-connected train station, and districts frequented by very different types of people.

To simplify things a bit, Shinjuku has two main districts: West Shinjuku and East Shinjuku. West Shinjuku is the business area, and it has some of Tokyo’s tallest buildings that house big companies, government agencies, and even hotels. East Shinjuku, on the other hand, is where the busy nightlife scene is located, with small bars and eateries across its narrow streets.

While both have charm in their own ways, as a traveler who likes to discover the grittier and more authentic sides of the areas I visit, I definitely prefer the East side, and loved the small bars and eateries that make East Shinjuku alive.

So here are my top 3 eateries and bars to visit in this Tokyo neighborhood. All of the places I recommend are on TWISPER, and you can find their exact addresses there, so check them out!

If you want try a hidden gem of a bar in Kabukicho – Hammond Orgasm

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7vwhFPokfo/

Why you should visit
– Weird name
– Intimate
– Live music ranging from Okinawan rock to jazz
– Hidden gem from the busyness of Kabukicho

Hammond Orgasm is a small bar located on the 4th floor of a building in a backstreet of Kabukicho. There are posters of Western and Japanese music icons on the walls. Musical instruments that look well-used crowd up the small space used for regular live music. The place is a hidden gem that’s away from Tokyo’s tourist spots.
While the name may be off-putting for some (I love it), it’s actually a wordplay on hammond organ, an electric organ played by many jazz organists and rock bands, like The Spencer Davis Group, famous in the 1960s for singles like Gimme Some Lovin’, which features the sound of the hammond organ.
Anyway, the owners of the bar will tell you more about the hammond organ. They are some of the friendliest music lovers out there. They’re willing to talk about music, and they even perform themselves some nights. If you want to really know about the extent of the love the Japanese have for music, especially rock and jazz, this is the place to go.

If you’re an adventurous foodie in Tokyo’s Piss Alley – Asadachi

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLo4CvJAJCl/

Why you should visit
– Another weird name
– Really weird food
– It’s iconic

All right, here’s another place with a weird name. A hole-in-the-wall eatery that’s existed for more than 40 years, Asadachi means morning wood in Japanese. But what’s even better is that it’s located in a small network of alleyways next to Shinjuku station that’s colloquially called Piss Alley.

While its original name is Omoide Yokocho, or Memory Lane, the Japanese affectionately refer to it as Piss Alley, because people back then would just pee in its alleys due to the lack of toilet facilities in the small eateries and bars across Omoide Yokocho.

But don’t let its nickname keep you from visiting Omoide Yokocho! It is a part of Tokyo that feels local and authentic. The ramshackle aspect of its bars and eateries is a reminder of the hardships that Tokyo endured after the Second World War, when they had to use cheap materials to quickly build nice places to eat and drink, hence the name Memory Lane.

(Plus, it doesn’t really smell like pee, anymore.)

But, anyway, if you want a bit of excitement in life, or consider going vegetarian, Asadachi serves dishes that are supposed to improve your energy and stamina… like skewered salamander, snake wine and the undesired innards of various animals.

This eatery is really not for the faint-hearted, but if you want to experience Tokyo’s food culture beyond the sanitized cafés and restaurants that offer fluffy pancakes and coffees with cutesy (and slightly creepy) latté art, this is the place to be!

If you want an international experience in Golden Gai – Bar Araku

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6lOibSJc8N/

Why you should visit

– International atmosphere
– Great place to meet fellow travelers
– All-you-can eat snacks

Bar Araku is owned by an Australian expat who wants the place to feel welcoming to both Japanese and international folk. This is a charming bar to exchange tips with fellow travelers, expats and even friendly locals. On the walls, there are messages left by travelers across the years, and you can ask the friendly staff to pin yours if you want your stay to be remembered.

Of course, true to its international roots, they have some delicious small bites like Aussie beef pies, but you can also bring your own food. They have a nice selection of drinks to help you get more buzzed! You can order the bar’s original Green Tea Fizz, which is a mixture of sencha green tea, soda water and lemon juice.

The bar is located in Golden Gai, a small area in Kabukicho that’s known for its collection of drinking spots that are less touristy! In this bar, maybe you can muster some courage to invite fellow travelers for a night out of alcohol and dancing ;).

Ryogoku

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Wi_1Egoa3/

My last favorite Tokyo neighborhood, Ryogoku is the home of Japan’s national sport, sumo wrestling! As such, it has numerous sumo stables (the place where sumo wrestlers live and train) and chanko-nabe restaurants. Chanko-nabe ? is a type of Japanese stew packed with protein and calories that help sumo wrestlers get heavy and strong for their matches.

As such, you can expect the restaurants here to have 1. big portions and 2. events related to sumo wrestling! If you can’t come to the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, where big sumo tournaments are held thrice a year, here are my recommendations on great chanko-nabe restaurants to visit!

The famous Kokugikan Sumo Stadium. Can you feel the excitement?

If you want to get serenaded by former sumo wrestlers – Kappo Yoshiba

Why you should visit
– Regular music performances of former sumo wrestlers
– The dōyō centerpiece

Kappo Yoshiba is a restaurant and a former sumo stable that still has the dōyō, or the practice ring, as its centerpiece. The place regularly hosts music performances during the evening that includes former sumo wrestlers singing sumo jinku – a type of folk music based on sumo life – and shamisen (a string instrument that looks like a banjo) musicians.

And I’m very happy to report that you can also get sumo-sized meal portions, like the famous chanko-nabe. They have surprisingly cheap nigiri set menus for lunch for 1000 yen or 8 euros!

This place is great if you want to bulk up and get serenaded by former sumo wrestlers ?.

If you want giant chanko nabe – Chanko Tomoegata

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrnGW79g_Hc/

Why you should visit
– Fun branding
– Amazing miso soup
– Giant chanko-nabe portions

Another sumo-themed Tokyo restaurant is Chanko Tomoegata, and they’re quite fun with their branding! The entrance is a colorful mix of sumo flags called nobori and pictures of sumos in different body types and sizes. While the interior is a bit more mundane and normal, they serve tea in a cup with cute sumo illustrations on them!

OK, first off, the miso soup here is sensational. It tastes so full and buttery! And, of course, they also have chanko-nabe available… in giant portions for 30,000 per person! It might not be cheap, but that doesn’t matter, because you won’t be hungry for the rest of the day.

If you want to eat AND watch sumos wrestle in real-time – Hana No Mai

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmx-P_Dhk2C/

Why you should visit
– The pinnacle of Tokyo restaurant entertainment – a live sumo match
– All you can eat and drink options upon reservation
– Great interior

Throughout this blog, we’ve delved into many restaurants and eateries that offer amazing experiences to its clientele, including the wacky Kawaii Monster Cafe and surreal Alice in a Labyrinth. But in the pinnacle of Tokyo restaurant experiences… There are live sumo matches in Hana No Mai.

I kid you not, actual sumo wrestlers fighting to topple each other off.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwFK-NrHFnu/
This place is a whole experience, and the interior is reminiscent of the Edo Period (1603 – 1868), when sumo wrestling was popular. You have sliding screens, Japanese woodblock prints, and tiled roofs. And you can book in advance to get all you can eat and drink courses! It’s the perfect #foodcoma ending for your Tokyo foodie trip ;).

? Wrapping up

To me, food is one of Tokyo’s main attractions. I hope that you enjoyed this blog post and got inspired (and hungry) after discovering these amazing places in the Japanese capital. Also, check out Sarah’s blog post for her list on the best dishes that you should try in Tokyo!

As always, you can get the TWISPER app to save these amazing spots to try out ;).

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About the author Julian Canlas

Julian Canlas leads content and community at TWISPER. He is a 20-something content strategist who loves to travel and write about online culture. You can email him at julian@twisper.com for blog collaborations with TWISPER and other partnerships.