Greater Tokyo
Izakaya
Guide.
Independent picks for classic izakaya, yakitori and local drinking spots across Greater Tokyo — starting with Ueno, Yurakucho, Shimbashi and Yokohama.
Written from firsthand visits, not just review scores.
Quick reloads are grouped together.
Don’t Go to Tourist-Targeted Restaurants
Maybe it’s because of the weak yen, but Tokyo has seen more and more overpriced restaurants aimed mainly at inbound tourists — and too many of them simply aren’t very good. Even as a Japanese local, I sometimes walk into a place without realizing it at first. Then I look around: almost every table is filled with overseas visitors, English menus are everywhere, and the prices are noticeably high. That’s when I think, “Ah, this place is built for tourists. Worst-case scenario.” Don’t let paid inbound-tourism ads or guides decide where you eat. This site takes no advertising money and has no financial incentive to push one restaurant over another. I want visitors to experience the real food of Japan — the places locals actually go. There are more questionable places than there used to be, but Japan still has countless genuinely great restaurants.
Avoid Tourist Trap Restaurants in Tokyo
How I screen out overpriced tourist-focused restaurants and find the izakaya and local places Tokyo residents actually use.
Read the local’s guide ↗
Tokyo Izakaya Guide for Tourists
Fifteen practical things to know before your first izakaya — from otoshi and ordering to tipping, nomihodai, time limits and choosing a good local place.
Read the Tokyo izakaya guide ↗Explore by area
A growing English-language guide to eating and drinking across Greater Tokyo, organized by neighborhood and occasion.
Ueno
Ameyoko, old-school drinking spots and casual places built for one more round.
Shinagawa — Konan Exit
Private-room dinners, company gatherings and casual drinks around Shinagawa Station’s Konan Exit.
Yurakucho
Yakitori, railway-arch atmosphere and easy access from Ginza and Hibiya.
Shinjuku
Late-night izakaya, yakitori and neighborhood drinking around one of Tokyo’s busiest hubs.
Ikebukuro
Robata grilling, yakitori, beef tongue and seafood on both sides of Ikebukuro Station.
Shibuya
Private-room izakaya for date nights, business dinners and quieter conversations away from the crossing.
Shimbashi
After-work drinking, classic izakaya, yakiton, seafood and old-school Tokyo drinking culture.
Kamata
Casual izakaya, sashimi, yakitori and grilled offal around Kamata Station.
Yokohama
Seafood, yakiton, motsu and casual izakaya around Yokohama Station, focused mainly on the west side.
Find your kind of night
The English edition will also organize recommendations by what you actually need that evening.
A Tokyo izakaya guide built from actual nights out.
SHUTOKEN IZAKAYA GUIDE is an independent restaurant guide focused on izakaya across the Greater Tokyo Area. The English edition is written for visitors who want more than a list of ratings — what the place feels like, what to order and when it makes sense to go.
The English edition covers the same restaurant guides as the Japanese edition, with additional advice on izakaya etiquette and choosing restaurants in Tokyo.
Japan Izakaya Forum
Read visitor reviews, share photos and ask questions about izakaya across Japan. English and Japanese visitors share the same conversations.
Explore izakaya reviews & discussions →