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Tokyo’s best food & drink

  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Last updated: 07 July, 2024

One of the world’s great culinary capitals, Tokyo is often heralded for having more Michelin stars than any other city. But what really makes it special, is that from high-end sushi down to a humble bowl of ramen, there’s so much to try and so much of it is superb.

Sushi epitomizes that best – you could spend several hundred pounds at the most exclusive restaurants or have a quality feed for under £10 at a budget chain.

Across Tokyo’s dining scene, certain traits shine through – the frequent focus on seasonality and culinary technique, and the deep respect for chefs.

Specialisation too – you’ll find no end of shops that have perfected just a single dish, whether that’s ramen, soba noodles, or sumo-sized hotpots.

The dining scene

Make time for a lively night at an izakaya, where you can order small portions of all sorts of classic Japanese flavours (for a reasonable price). These casual pub-slash-restaurants are found all over, from chains to family-run joints – all great for a broad menu of dishes, washed down with sake, beer and hi-balls.

Sushi has become a global phenomenon, but Tokyo does it best – the finest fish, served up anywhere from budget chains to Michelin-starred wallet-busters.

Kaitenzushi restaurants are where the sushi comes on conveyor belts – look out for value chains like Sushiro and Uobei.

Teppanyaki, where seafood and Kobe Beef are cooked on iron griddles in front of diners, is popular across the city. Prices range from super-expensive places such as Ukai-Tei in Ginza to the less exorbitant Ten near Tokyo Station.

Also, for at least one meal, sign up for a kaiseki-ryori lunch or dinner. This Japanese tradition features a succession of dishes that are artfully presented and culinarily sublime. Splurge on a traditional version at Kikunoi in Akasaka or try it with contemporary twists at Tenoshima in Aoyama.

What to try

Char-grilled chicken skewers (yakitori) washed down with beer and sake is a classic combination. You’ll find plenty of izakaya for this under the rail tracks in the Yurakucho district.

Ramen is another popular dish – and though every neighbourhood has its ramen joints, head to Ramen Street in Tokyo station for a collection of shops selling different ramen styles.

Head to the Ryogoku district, the centre of the sumo world, for restaurants that serve chanko nabe – the hotpot that sumo wrestlers eat to get big.

Finally, make sure to participate in a traditional tea ceremony – if you’re lucky, you’ll be presented with delicious Japanese sweets.

Recommendations

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  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Breakfast table at a ryokan

Bucket List Experience

Kaiseki-ryori dinners in Tokyo

The succession of artistically presented dishes that comprise a kaiseki-ryori dinner has come to represent the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine.

Featuring anywhere up to 12 fixed courses that focus on in-season produce, kaiseki will include some familiar elements, with sashimi early in the dinner, delicate tempura later, and maybe a few mouthfuls of wagyu as a centrepiece. The rest, however, can be wonderfully indecipherable.

Being such an exalted cuisine, kaiseki dinners don’t come cheap – expect to pay at least £100 a head. Or, go for lunch, when many restaurants offer taster sets at a fraction of the price.

Just reserve well ahead – even though Japan has plenty of kaiseki restaurants, they always book up quickly.

They are often served at ryokans (traditional Japanese inns). For a real flavour of traditional Japan, book in for a night at one, and tick off both bucket list experiences at once.

Adult price: £100

Good for age: 18+

Duration: 3-4 hours

Kappo Yoshida

  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Close up of a hot pot containing chicken in broth

Experience

One of Ryogoku’s chanko nabe specialists, this restaurant was once a sumo training stable and still has a practice ring at its centre.

Good for age: 18+

Duration: 2-3 hours

When: March, May and Sept

Freq: annually

Kyubey Ginza

  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Kyubey Ginza

Experience

The restaurant that invented gunkan maki (seaweed wrapped) sushi in the 1940s – has courses from 75 pounds.

Good for age: 18+

Duration: 2-3 hours

When: March, May and Sept

Freq: annually

Ramen Street

  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

traditional tokyo style ramen with dumpling

Experience

Every neighbourhood has its ramen joints – some that people will queue hours for. Ramen Street in Tokyo station, however, has a collection of shops selling different ramen styles.

Good for age: 18+

Duration: 2-3 hours

When: March, May and Sept

Freq: annually

Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten

  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten

Bucket List Experience

The Michelin-3-star restaurant, featured in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, only has one thing on the menu – a 200-pound omakase course.

Good for age: 18+

Duration: 2-3 hours

When: March, May and Sept

Freq: annually

  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

A classical expression of Japanese hospitality that can last for hours in its most elaborate form, the tea ceremony has been practised for centuries. Every aspect, from where the most important guest is seated to how the host wipes the utensils, has significance. Every movement is choreographed, and for kimono-dressed practitioners, the nuances take years to perfect.

Full versions (around 4 hours) are only for die-hards; shorter versions are available down to a mere 30 minutes, but the shorter it is, the less traditional. There are usually special options for children, and some will include sweet-making.

Even the shortest versions, though, are a great way to experience traditional Japanese culture and formality.

Adult price: £20

Good for age: 13+

Duration: Up to 4 hours

When: On request

Freq: Selected dates

  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Most of the ‘inner’ part of this famous wholesale fish market – where massive tunas are lined up for sale – has moved to Toyosu island, but much of it still gets delivered back to Tsukiji and the ‘outdoor’ part remains a bustling and vibrant food market.

With its narrow lanes filled with stalls and shops, the market offers a wide variety of fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables, and traditional Japanese delicacies. Sample sushi, sashimi, street food, and local snacks as you browse – perhaps even take a sushi breakfast.

Good for age: 13+

Duration: 2-3 hours

When: March, May and Sept

Freq: annually

Yurakucho district

  • Tokyo, Kanto, Japan

Office workers in Yurakucho alley, The alley is famous for its small Japanese eateries under elevated Japan Railway rail tracks and its laid back, charming atmosphere.

Experience

Under the rail tracks in the Yurakucho district is the place to go for a bite at a traditional izakaya. Try char-grilled chicken skewers (yakitori) washed down with beer and sake – a classic combination.

Good for age: 18+

Duration: 2-3 hours

When: March, May and Sept

Freq: annually

Who to go with: organised tours

22

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

  • Tokyo

Welcome to Sushi Making Tokyo! Experience roll sushi and authentic Japanese sushi and create unforgettable memories in the heart of traditional Tokyo — Asakusa! Sushi Making Tokyo offers a top-rated cooking class by Food Activity Japan. Located just steps from Sensoji Temple, Asakusa is the perfect place to explore Japanese food culture. No experience is needed — our friendly local staff will guide you in English. Groups and solo guests are all welcome — let’s enjoy making sushi together! It is one of the most memorable things to do in Tokyo. After enjoying our food activity in Japan, you won’t just be full — your heart will be full too, with smiles, new skills, and memories that last a lifetime. Let’s dive into Japanese culture together!!

Price ¥7,200

Min age 4

Rating 4.95 / 5 [3309 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Tokyo

Welcome to Sushi Making Tokyo! Experience roll sushi and authentic Japanese sushi and create unforgettable memories in the heart of traditional Tokyo — Asakusa! Sushi Making Tokyo offers a top-rated cooking class by Food Activity Japan. Located just steps from Sensoji Temple, Asakusa is the perfect place to explore Japanese food culture. No experience is needed — our friendly local staff will guide you in English. Groups and solo guests are all welcome — let’s enjoy making sushi together! It is one of the most memorable things to do in Tokyo. After enjoying our food activity in Japan, you won’t just be full — your heart will be full too, with smiles, new skills, and memories that last a lifetime. Let’s dive into Japanese culture together!!

Price ¥6,300

Min age 4

Rating 4.95 / 5 [1373 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Website >
  • Tokyo

Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s busiest areas, can be overwhelming with its endless options and crowds. Hidden local gems are often missed—tucked away from the guidebooks and hard to find without Japanese. Join our food tour by MagicalTrip, proud winner of the Tripadvisor Best of the Best Award and discover three beloved local spots, guided by a a MagicalTrip Certified Guide, professionally trained and carefully selected. Along the way, you’ll enjoy incredible food and gain insights into Japanese cuisine and Shinjuku’s complex layout. We begin at a hidden sushi restaurant, where a skilled Itamae prepares fresh, beautiful sushi before your eyes. Next, we head to a Yakiniku spot near Shinjuku West or Kabuki-cho to grill mouthwatering Wagyu beef on traditional Japanese BBQ stoves. As we stroll through neon-lit Kabuki-cho, the tour wraps up at a local snack bar or cozy bar, with dessert or a drink to finish. You’ll leave full, happy, and with a deeper appreciation of Tokyo’s culinary scene.

Price ¥21,087

Min age 0

Rating 4.85 / 5 [982 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Tokyo

~~ Best of the Best 2023 Award Winner! ~~~ Ramen and Gyoza are becoming even more famous than Sushi and Tempura in the world. Ramen is a noodle dish with delicious soup and many different toppings. In this class, we will make home-style Ramen. Gyoza is a dumpling with minced pork and vegetable stuffing. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to make Ramen and gyoza at your home? *We will make the soup from the scratch. We don’t use instant package. *If you have food restrictions and/or food allergies, please let us know in advance. Summary: ● Award winning Japanese Cooking Class in English ● Learn from Chef / YouTuber ● Local Supermarket Tour *Optional ● Visit local home Kitchen studio in Tokyo ● Perfect activity for foodies and cooking lovers ● Perfect for single, family and group travelers ● Easy Access! Located in the nostalgic atmosphere of Tokyo. *** Notification *** Please also check the latest number of attendees from "YUCa's Japanese Cooking" website.

Price ¥18,500

Min age 0

Rating 4.97 / 5 [753 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Website >
  • Tokyo

Before the sushi making, you will explore the world's biggest and most famous fish market, and your guide will teaches you about the Market, Japanese foods, ingredients and utensils. In the sushi making class, you can learn how to make Nigiri sushi and rolled sushi from a professional sushi master. You will find making sushi can be difficult, but don't worry! In this class, you will learn the simple ins and outs of making Sushi so you can make delicious Sushi yourself. Sushi topping cannot be changed on the day of the event.

Price $105

Min age 0

Rating 4.87 / 5 [690 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Website >

Logistics

Price: Free
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 18+
Frequency: annually
When: March, May and Sept
Duration: -