Omoide Yokocho

Omoide Yokocho

Omoide Yokocho
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksHistoric Walking Areas
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Shinjuku
Shinjuku is the commuting capital of Tokyo, and contains the busiest train station in the world. To the west, there's an office district with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office at its center. To the east, there’s a district with long-established department stores, cinemas and theaters. Shinjuku Gyoen is a park originally built as the garden for the Imperial Household. It is quite famous as a venue for cherry-blossom viewing in March and April. In Shinjuku, many restaurants operate all night, and districts such as Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) or Shinjuku Golden Machi have back streets filled with tiny restaurants and bars that reflect each owner’s unique taste and style.
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See what travelers are saying
  • TheOExpress🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇭🇰
    Hong Kong, China6,156 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Atmospheric and picturesque…
    …to wander round and, let’s be honest, take lots of photos too. I stopped off quickly in a branch of Iekei where I had some absolutely delicious miso ramen and some beers for pretty low prices. So good, affordable is available here, you just have to look!
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written February 17, 2024
  • John and Deb K
    Karratha, Australia820 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the Visit for a Cold Beer and good Food
    Crazily busy with people everywhere, we arrived about 6pm and we were lucky to find a small bar/restaurant with 2 seats. The staff were friendly and the service good beer was cold and food was good. Enjoyed our evening.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 31, 2024
  • AK95
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates192 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good buzz and atmosphere
    Would highly recommend stopping here for a drink or food. It’s a very busy little street and very hard to find a place that will fit a full group together, most restaurants serve the same type of food so wherever you can get a seat go there! Really good buzz around the street, so if you’ve time definitely visit!
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 6, 2024
  • 639abbie
    Canberra, Australia1,396 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Barbecue lane is well suited to this location
    The vibe on the street was fantastic with smell of barbecue and most stalls are full. We walked through the street but did not eat we just ate but it was sooo tempting. Just go visit if you can but plan for a dining. Oh don’t search with google for yakitori alley as it’ll bring you to a restaurant named that.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 11, 2024
  • msa23_2000
    Chino Hills, California1,522 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Charming alley - great for photos.
    Memory Lane, is a small ally right by Shinjuku Station that is I were not specifically looking for it I would’ve walked right by. It’s a narrow alley with lots of really small restaurants. I didn’t stop to it, but took some great photos and just gazed in at the food through the windows. As it is narrow, it feels crowded. I would go at sunset when the lights turn on but it is not too crowded.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 12, 2024
  • JAC
    Chichester, United Kingdom160 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great choice of Japanese restaurants in a small alleyway - very lively place to visit
    Lots of Japanese restaurants crammed into a tiny alleyway. Be prepared to wait to be seated but whichever place you choose to eat in will serve excellent food. Beware of the cover charge per person which is a small plate of cabbage or some other Japanese appetizer - the cover charge varies from place to place but you shouldn't be paying more than Yen300 per person. The cover charge replaces the service charge as tipping is uncommon in Japan
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 5, 2024
  • DaliaMMQ
    Salt Lake City, Utah118 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Traditional food
    A little street with a lot of restaurants with traditional food. Just around a few blocks from the Godzilla statue, you can hit the 2 places in the same evening. Big enough for strollers and friendly staff, food is delicious and price is reasonable.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written October 8, 2024
  • Kaylee
    Paris, France686 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit
    One of the must visits when you’re in Tokyo. Find a place that has locals for a more authentic experience. Most charge a cover charge and make you order drink and food but the prices are okay. Best atmosphere at night, be sure to not linger and hold up the seat once you’re done.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 13, 2024
  • 63certo-me
    Le Barcares, France886 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    1940
    Next to Shinjuku area, an alleyway full of bars and places to eat about 80 places. Also known as the Pee Alley, it began as a black market in the late 1940s. Between the watering holes and the lack of bathrooms, hence the nickname. I recommend it more to see than to stay
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 27, 2024
  • 재복 이
    Seoul, South Korea271 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Narrow but fun pub
    Small shops gather in a narrow alley. It's the right name for Omoyoko, but it's on the other side of the famous Kabukicho Signal Road. I'd like to go and have a jacitoria and a beer. There are many locals, but there are also many foreigners visiting. After the tour, a light drink and go to the hostel.
    Visited October 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written October 27, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,167 reviews
Excellent
384
Very good
510
Average
197
Poor
37
Terrible
39

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

鼻でか太郎
Mitaka, Japan10,059 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Friends
We went to Kikuya (a famous restaurant) in Omoide Yokocho, Shinjuku. There is a second floor seating, and it's good that you can make a reservation. The food and drinks are not that expensive, and it was just over 3,000 yen per person with a bottle of wine. *Ice and water are an additional 500 yen. All the food we ordered was pretty tasty. Garlic tempura (517 yen) tax included Onion and garlic tempura, very filling. Tempura sauce was served separately. French fries (412 yen) tax included The potatoes are fried after the order is placed, but the amount is a little small. Homemade potato salad (495 yen) tax included The color is not white! It was a new type of potato salad that would make a good side dish with a strong flavor. The cost is not bad. Omoide Yokocho has become a tourist spot, and there are many restaurants that are surprisingly expensive, so be careful if you are a first-time visitor! Anyway, the restaurant is small, and depending on the number of people (4 or 6 people) and the seat you're shown, it doesn't feel like you can stay long.
Google
Written November 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SPAZIO_INFINITO
Turin, Italy2,955 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
Visiting the beautiful Tokyo can not miss a stop in Omoide Yokocho.
Located in Shinjuku district, along the railway network, a few minutes walk from Studio Alta and Godzilla Street, next to Shinjuku-Nishiguchi Metro Station.
It is a traditional Japanese alley with old wooden buildings and many small family-run restaurants (where they can seat 6/8 people maximum).
The premises are very close together and often the chairs are along the narrow street.
Smoke and fumes from the kitchens pour down the narrow street of Omoide Yokosho.
Here you can find the typical dishes of traditional Japanese cuisine.
The best time to visit us is certainly in the evening with the countless colorful lanterns and the signs of the premises lit.
It is a well-known attraction and therefore quite crowded with tourists.
I would definitely recommend it.
Automatically translated
Written November 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ben King
London, UK348 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Couples
Truly unique area. The tiny streets and tiny restaurants are like nothing I’ve seen before. Each restaurant has a unique and delightful menu, just venture into whatever restaurant catches your eye. Be warned that a lot of them are cash only and there’s a ‘fee’ for sitting down - but you get an appetiser included in the price. It starts to get busy at around 6pm so try and get here around then. You want the bustling atmosphere!
Written November 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carolyn K
9 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
It’s narrow and crowded and the many restaurants will refuse to serve you if you don’t order an alcoholic beverage. My companion and I don’t drink though we tried to order soft drinks and food but we were told to leave. They only want to serve you if you are going to drink and the food is very overpriced and cover fees add up if you plan on hopping around. Definitely a tourist trap
Written June 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Trip42085720783
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Solo
This town is for Nombe, spread out along narrow paths that weave modernity into Showa retro. The izakaya, which you enter in a small, shrunken space, feels cramped but has a certain calming feel to it. A city that offers different gems for each shop and is ready when you return
Automatically translated
Written January 29, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

T&F
Montreal, Canada688 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
We passed through this area twice, once during the day when nothing is open and then in the evening where these two streets come alive with locals and tourists! It’ a crazy busy and crowded, the stalls are very small so if you intend to eat or have a drink I would recommend arriving early in the evening. It can be overwhelming and there is not much English menus so it could be difficult to really know what your eating. We did not eat because the food raw food was sitting out on counter in warm temperatures and we were concerned of freshness. Mind you we have not really read reviews where people got sick but nevertheless we didn’t want to chance it. The code is absolutely fun. This place is also known as memory lane or piss alley. Do not confuse this with the Golden Gai, two separate areas. Memory Lane is worth the peek to submerge yourself in a different culture. We did a slow walk through and enjoyed watching people converse and laugh!
Written April 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deborah H
Singapore, Singapore190 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Friends
It’s my second time here First experience was great. Hence this round, brought my group of friends here to try and experience. Biggest regret. Nice to see but please don’t eat here. We suspected having foreigners menu. ¥2,000 for 5 skewers. ¥1,000 for one bottle of beer. Total we paid ¥9,800 for 2 bottles beers, 5 skewers and 1 octopus.
Written August 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kate M
San Francisco, CA1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
Go to the alley soak up the atmosphere but don’t buy the food or drinks! It’s wildly overpriced and not great quality. We were charged at least 50% more for food there than all the other restaurants we tried. Tokyo has so much to offer but this is a real tourist trap you can avoid!
Written April 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

philjh59
Chesham, UK140 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
We were staying in Shinjuku and decided to try this area even though the reviews were mixed. Yes it is iconic as a typically old street in Tokyo and yes it is fascinating to walk through it but don't stop to eat because the food was awful and extremely over priced. We had eaten in many places before, enjoying all the Japanase/Korean cusine on offer, so it was a shock to be presented with almost inedible skewers of meat and chicken. My advice is to visit the area, take pictures and then eat elsewhere. We had a wonderful 2 weeks in Japan and the meal we had here stood out as being the worst we had by a long shot.
Written February 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Purwitanto
Sengata, Indonesia3,076 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Couples
After returning from a one day trip to the Mount Fuji area on a tour bus that stopped in Shinjuku we were quite hungry. We decided to look at Omoide Yokocho because it was not far from where the bus stopped.
The location is in the Shinjuku area, not far from a subway exit that I forgot (there are lots of subway exits at Shinjuku station).
Omoide Yokocho itself is an alley with low, old buildings between the skyscrapers of Shinjuku. Most of the buildings in Omoide Yokocho have been converted into bars or izakaya. We tried eating at a random restaurant, but it seems we chose the wrong one.
The Omoide Yokocho alley is quite attractive with lights and decorations along the alley.
If you happen to be in the Shinjuku area, it's worth a visit.
Google
Written November 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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OMOIDE YOKOCHO (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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