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5 More Unique Shopping Streets in Tokyo
- TOKYO
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- SHOPPING
- SIGHTSEEING
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- STREET_FOOD
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- LOCAL_NEIGHBORHOODS
Visiting a shotengai, a Japanese shopping street, can be one of the most fun things you do in Japan. After we published our article A Tour of Tokyo's 10 Most Unique Shopping Streets, a lot of people were hungry for more. So, as we like to do here at DiGJAPAN!, we "dug" deeper and put together another list of interesting places for you to explore. Here are more hidden gems to add to your travel itinerary, with delicious street food and a local atmosphere!
Many like to call this "a true shitamachi shopping street". Shitamachi (lit. "downtown") is the term for the area of Tokyo where merchants and craftsmen used to live. It is associated with a retro and nostalgic atmosphere. With a length of 520m it is one of the longest shopping streets in Tokyo. Walk around with the locals and check out the little shops that look like they just came out of the Showa Era (1926–1989). We recommend visiting Joyful Minowa on a day tour of the Toden Arakawa Line (Tokyo Sakura Tram).
Address: 1-18-5 Minamisenju, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: short walk from Minowabashi Station on the Tokyo Sakura Tram / 6 min. walk from Minowa Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
Website (Japanese-only): http://www.joyfulminowa.com/
Ueno: approx. 10 min. train on the Hibiya Line
Nippori (Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street, Yanesen area): approx. 20 min. by bus
Our second pick is hiding right between two of Tokyo's most visited neighborhoods, Asakusa and Akihabara. Okazu meaning "side dish" and yokocho meaning "alley", this is quite literally "the alley of side dishes". This area used to host a lot of workshops and small factories, which naturally produced a number of hungry workers. Small shops started popping up selling ready-to-eat side dishes that are common in Japanese cuisine. You'll find yourself walking with cute grandmas going about their daily shopping, while old Japanese songs play from speakers along the street.
Address: 1-chome Torikoe, Taito-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: 9 min. walk from Kuramae Station on the Toei Asakusa Line / 16 min. walk from JR Okachimachi Station and Naka-Okachimachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line / 6 min. walk from Shin-Okachimachi Station on the Toei Oedo Line and Tsukuba Express.
Website (Japanese-only): http://machiteku.com/kobetsu/okazu_yokocho/
Akihabara: approx. 15 min. walk
Kappabashi Street: approx. 25 min. walk
Senso-ji: approx. 25 min. walk
Jujo might not be one of the most visited areas of Tokyo, but the shopping street alone is worth a trip here. Besides, you can get here very easily with a direct train ride from Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and even Shibuya. Jujo Ginza Shopping Street is home to some very cheap (and delicious) street food! Here you'll find all kinds of tasty treats to snack on, with prices as low as 10 yen! You could visit it together with the nearby Akabane, another lesser-known but very interesting district.
Address: near 2-24 Kamijujo, Kita-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: short walk from Jujo Station on the JR Saikyo Line
Website: https://jujo-ginza.com/en/
Akabane: 3 min. train on the Saikyo Line
Another piece of Tokyo's everyday life, this covered shopping alley is brimming with about 140 shops and restaurants. There are several great street food options as well as cafes where you can take a breather. Shin-Koiwa is also known for its many ramen joints, so be sure to explore the whole area for a big tasty meal.
Address: near 1-43-8 Shin-Koiwa, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: 2 min. walk from Shin-Koiwa Station (South Exit) on the JR Sobu and Chuo-Sobu lines.
Website (Japanese-only): https://www.lumiere-shoppingstreet.com/
Akihabara: 16 min. on the JR Chuo Line
Tokyo Station: 15-20 min. by train
Unless you know about it, this road is likely to go unnoticed. Also called "Shibakara Spicy Street", it has everything you need to set your taste buds on fire. Many of the shops and restaurants here offer special dishes made with Bhut jolokia (ghost pepper), the world's hottest chili pepper. From ramen to curry, hamburgers and yakitori, this street is all about spicy stuff. It's very close to the Tokyo Tower and Zojoji Temple, so we definitely recommend to stop by if you're visiting that area.
Address: 2-12 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: 2 min. walk from Shibakoen Station on the Toei Mita Line (exit A1) / 5 min. walk from Mita Station on the Toei Mita and Asakusa lines (exit A9) / 6 min. walk from Daimon Station on the Toei Asakusa and Oedo lines (exit A3) / 9 min. walk from JR Hamamatsucho Station.
Website: http://www.shiba-shotenkai.com/en/
Shiba Park: 7 min. walk
About the Author
Laura is an Italian living and working in Tokyo. She loves exploring hidden and unknown places, taking pictures and listening to Punk Rock music. When she’s not busy doing the above, she might enjoy a craft beer or play the sanshin (an Okinawan instrument similar to a shamisen).
Joyful Minowa
Nearest Station: Minowabashi
Many like to call this "a true shitamachi shopping street". Shitamachi (lit. "downtown") is the term for the area of Tokyo where merchants and craftsmen used to live. It is associated with a retro and nostalgic atmosphere. With a length of 520m it is one of the longest shopping streets in Tokyo. Walk around with the locals and check out the little shops that look like they just came out of the Showa Era (1926–1989). We recommend visiting Joyful Minowa on a day tour of the Toden Arakawa Line (Tokyo Sakura Tram).
The street is lined with shops selling all kinds of mouthwatering food, from juicy yakitori to puffy homemade onigiri.
When you start smelling the irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread, it means you found Oomura (MAP). You can't go wrong with their ham cutlet sandwich.
Tachibanaya (MAP) sells a lot of tiny and cute Japanese sweets. The adorable "Happy Cat" is packed with creamy anko bean paste.
Joyful Minowa is right by Minowabashi, the last stop of the Tokyo Sakura Tram. This retro streetcar is a great alternative way to get around Tokyo.
Information
Joyful Minowa | ジョイフル三の輪Address: 1-18-5 Minamisenju, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: short walk from Minowabashi Station on the Tokyo Sakura Tram / 6 min. walk from Minowa Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
Website (Japanese-only): http://www.joyfulminowa.com/
What's Nearby
Asakusa: approx. 20 min. by busUeno: approx. 10 min. train on the Hibiya Line
Nippori (Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street, Yanesen area): approx. 20 min. by bus
Okazu Yokocho
Nearest Station: Shin-Okachimachi
Our second pick is hiding right between two of Tokyo's most visited neighborhoods, Asakusa and Akihabara. Okazu meaning "side dish" and yokocho meaning "alley", this is quite literally "the alley of side dishes". This area used to host a lot of workshops and small factories, which naturally produced a number of hungry workers. Small shops started popping up selling ready-to-eat side dishes that are common in Japanese cuisine. You'll find yourself walking with cute grandmas going about their daily shopping, while old Japanese songs play from speakers along the street.
Shops here look so traditional! You'll see miso being sold by weight and stored in these big containers.
Irifune-ya (MAP) is a very old store that specializes in rice toppings and side dishes like tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce and sugar). Just looking at all the different ingredients in the window is a lot of fun.
If something looks interesting make sure you try it! We loved these shiso maki (miso paste rolled in shiso leaves and fried) from Gunji Miso & Tsukemono (MAP).
Stop at Gheureux (MAP) for some lovely pastries. Muffin choices include "apple rum raisin cinnamon" (in the picture) and "coffee caramel".
Information
Okazu Yokocho | おかず横丁Address: 1-chome Torikoe, Taito-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: 9 min. walk from Kuramae Station on the Toei Asakusa Line / 16 min. walk from JR Okachimachi Station and Naka-Okachimachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line / 6 min. walk from Shin-Okachimachi Station on the Toei Oedo Line and Tsukuba Express.
Website (Japanese-only): http://machiteku.com/kobetsu/okazu_yokocho/
What's Nearby
Ueno: 15-20 min. walkAkihabara: approx. 15 min. walk
Kappabashi Street: approx. 25 min. walk
Senso-ji: approx. 25 min. walk
Jujo Ginza Shopping Street
Nearest Station: Jujo
Jujo might not be one of the most visited areas of Tokyo, but the shopping street alone is worth a trip here. Besides, you can get here very easily with a direct train ride from Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and even Shibuya. Jujo Ginza Shopping Street is home to some very cheap (and delicious) street food! Here you'll find all kinds of tasty treats to snack on, with prices as low as 10 yen! You could visit it together with the nearby Akabane, another lesser-known but very interesting district.
There is so much food to choose from. Yakitori, croquettes, fried vegetables, and they're all so cheap. The colorful hand-written signs make for a very local atmosphere.
Head to Aisaika (MAP) and try a "tsukune sando". It's a meatball sandwiched between two slices of lotus root. They season it with a mouthwatering sweet sauce!
These chicken balls from Toridai (MAP) are probably the cheapest treat you can get at just 10 yen each! They're crunchy and juicy. They also disappear quickly.
If you have a sweet tooth Jujo Ginza has got you covered too. Here you can get all kinds of Japanese sweets, like this delicate strawberry mochi.
Information
Jujo Ginza Shopping Street | 十条銀座商店街Address: near 2-24 Kamijujo, Kita-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: short walk from Jujo Station on the JR Saikyo Line
Website: https://jujo-ginza.com/en/
What's Nearby
Ikebukuro: 6 min. train on the Saikyo LineAkabane: 3 min. train on the Saikyo Line
Shin-Koiwa Lumiere Shopping Street
Nearest Station: Shin-koiwa
Another piece of Tokyo's everyday life, this covered shopping alley is brimming with about 140 shops and restaurants. There are several great street food options as well as cafes where you can take a breather. Shin-Koiwa is also known for its many ramen joints, so be sure to explore the whole area for a big tasty meal.
Get your fill of yakitori and other delicacies at Nakafuji (MAP). Here you'll find some unique choices like miso cutlet and gyoza balls.
Since old times Shin-koiwa has been a place for goldfish breeding. Walking around the district you'll find several shops that showcase these colorful fellows, like Kids Factory (MAP).
Make sure you check the side alleys for some interesting retro sceneries, you never know what you'll find.
Information
Shin-Koiwa Lumiere Shopping Street | 新小岩ルミエール商店街Address: near 1-43-8 Shin-Koiwa, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: 2 min. walk from Shin-Koiwa Station (South Exit) on the JR Sobu and Chuo-Sobu lines.
Website (Japanese-only): https://www.lumiere-shoppingstreet.com/
What's Nearby
Ryogoku: 19 min. on the JR Chuo LineAkihabara: 16 min. on the JR Chuo Line
Tokyo Station: 15-20 min. by train
Shiba Shopping Street
Nearest Station: Shibakoen
Unless you know about it, this road is likely to go unnoticed. Also called "Shibakara Spicy Street", it has everything you need to set your taste buds on fire. Many of the shops and restaurants here offer special dishes made with Bhut jolokia (ghost pepper), the world's hottest chili pepper. From ramen to curry, hamburgers and yakitori, this street is all about spicy stuff. It's very close to the Tokyo Tower and Zojoji Temple, so we definitely recommend to stop by if you're visiting that area.
Look for this cute mascot to find places that have special spicy choices.
Many of the restaurants here include a spicy version of their menu items. In the picture is POKUPOKU (MAP).
You can even find spicy taiyaki! These fish-shaped cakes are normally sweet, but this one from Kotobukido (MAP) is filled with a very generous portion of hot curry.
There's not only spicy food here. Monogatari (MAP) is a liquor store that specializes in sake and shochu. The passionate owner reaches out to smaller breweries to bring their products and stories to people. Recommended!
Information
Shiba Shopping Street | 芝商店会Address: 2-12 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo (MAP)
Access: 2 min. walk from Shibakoen Station on the Toei Mita Line (exit A1) / 5 min. walk from Mita Station on the Toei Mita and Asakusa lines (exit A9) / 6 min. walk from Daimon Station on the Toei Asakusa and Oedo lines (exit A3) / 9 min. walk from JR Hamamatsucho Station.
Website: http://www.shiba-shotenkai.com/en/
What's Nearby
Tokyo Tower: 18 min. walkShiba Park: 7 min. walk
I hope you enjoyed this second part of discovering the many shopping streets of Tokyo. Shotengai streets can tell you a lot about the area, and they make for wonderful additions to a trip. Tokyo has so many that I could keep writing articles about them. Tell us about your favorite shopping streets in Japan!
About the Author
Laura is an Italian living and working in Tokyo. She loves exploring hidden and unknown places, taking pictures and listening to Punk Rock music. When she’s not busy doing the above, she might enjoy a craft beer or play the sanshin (an Okinawan instrument similar to a shamisen).
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 12 27,2019 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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