Omoide Yokocho
思い出横丁
A narrow alley left over from the postwar period, next to the west exit of Shinjuku Station, where about 60 yakitori and small bars are packed together. Lanterns and charcoal smoke create a rich Showa-era night scene.
Omoide Yokocho, “Memory Lane,” sits right beside the north side of the railway tracks at the west exit of JR Shinjuku Station. It grew out of a postwar black market. Several alleys, each barely two meters wide, are packed with about 60 shops serving mainly grilled chicken skewers, grilled offal, nikomi (stewed dishes) and draft beer. Most shops have only a few counter seats. Red lanterns and charcoal smoke make it one of the most Showa-flavored scenes in Tokyo. Spending per person is about 2,000 to 4,000 yen. Some shops charge a seating fee or require each guest to order a drink, and visitors who only take photos without buying anything are not welcome. Most shops open in the evening and stay open until late at night. Transportation: it is a 1- to 2-minute walk from the west exit of Shinjuku Station, and it can be combined with Kabukicho and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck for a night out in Shinjuku. Note: the alleys are narrow, so do not block the way when taking photos, and ask permission before photographing people.
Opening hours
About 16:00–24:00 (varies by shop; some open at lunchtime)
Nearby sights
- Kabukicho, Shinjuku
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
- Shinjuku Gyoen
- Meiji Jingu
- Takeshita Street, Harajuku
- Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky
- Sunshine City Ikebukuro
- Roppongi Hills & Tokyo City View