20 of the Most Famous Streets in Tokyo You Need to Visit

There’s so much to see and do in Tokyo, where do you begin? You can start by putting away your guidebook!

You could wander the streets of Japan’s capital every day for a year and still not see it all. With so many sights, experiences, cultural icons, and curious hotspots, famous and infamous, it can feel a little like landing on the moon if you’re visiting for the first time.

From a post-war black market to a bustling electric avenue so bright you won’t be able to tell night from day, hidden restaurant side streets and alleyways to a former railway line transformed into a zen oasis, Tokyo has so much to offer!

Many of the city’s best-kept secrets can be found close to some of the most popular tourist spots and busiest train stations – you just need to know where to look.

This breakdown of 20 of the most famous streets in Tokyo will give you all the inspiration you need to get out there and start exploring. So, dig out your walking shoes, and let’s get started!

Heading to Tokyo? Then you need to check out my 4-day and 5-day Tokyo itineraries for beginners!

• Shopping Streets
• Unusual Streets
• Beautiful Streets
• Food, Drink & Nightlife Streets
• Streets with Landmarks

20 of the Most Famous Streets in Tokyo You Need to Visit

Shopping Streets

1. Ameya Yokocho

Ameyo Yokocho, commonly known as ‘Ameyoko’, is a popular and vibrant open-air shopping street that runs alongside the section of the railway line between Okachimachi station and Ueno station.

It became popular after World War II when vendors began selling a variety of surplus American army goods and hard-to-get luxuries like candy. These days you can still find the candy stalls but there’s also a lot more on offer from fresh seafood to clothes, and fruit on sticks.

Don’t Miss: Bargain Brands

Many out-of-season designer and sports brands can be found on the stalls at bargain prices, and the vendors are often ready to negotiate. So don’t always pay the asking price!

2. Nakano Broadway

Nakano Broadway is an indoor shopping complex best known for its wide range of anime-related merchandise and collectibles. This Otaku haven is ideal for finding the latest video games, anime movies, or related souvenirs. Visitors can spend hours browsing the shopping complex’s three floors.

Don’t Miss: The Tokudai Soft Cream Challenge!

Nestled in the basement of Nakano Broadway is Tokudai Soft Cream, a modest-sized stand offering a variety of brightly colored ice cream flavors. For those who can’t decide, the soft cream challenge boasts an impressive tower of eight flavors on a single cone. How’s that for a sweet tooth!

3. Yanaka Ginza Shotengai

Just a short walk from Nippori train station, Yanaka Ginza is a taste of Tokyo from days gone by. This modest retro shopping street is lined with cafes, bars, and local vendors selling food, clothes, candies, and other essentials as they have done for nearly 70 years. A popular place for many Japanese tourists to visit, you’ll also find most of the prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere quite nostalgic.

Don’t Miss: The 10-yen Manju

Keep an eye out along Yomise-dori street for the store selling these traditional Japanese treats for just 10-yen. The steamed buns come in a variety of flavors and fillings and are a great snack.

4. Ginza Corridor

This popular street of restaurants sits just a 15-minute walk from Tokyo station beneath the railway tracks between Shimbashi and Yurakucho JR stations and shows a much more casual side to Ginza where workers come to relax in the evenings with a drink at one of the bars or find something to eat at one of the many restaurants.

As you would expect, the street can get quite busy in the evenings during the week so best to get there early if you don’t want to queue.

Don’t Miss: Sushi no Midori

Extremely popular with locals, this sushi restaurant is known to have hungry locals queueing down the street late into the night.

5. Ginza Chuo-dori

Close to Ginza station in central Tokyo, or a 12-minute walk from the busy Tokyo station, Chuo-dori is the main street in the Ginza area and host to many department stores, cafes, and beautiful designer store windows. There are also affordable places to shop too such as the 12-storey Uniqlo building, where tourists can get a discount by presenting their passports at the sales tax counter.

If you’re looking to indulge yourself, head to the Matsuya department store food hall. I dare you not to buy something.

Don’t Miss: Pedestrian’s Paradise

At weekends, the street is closed to traffic and pedestrians can enjoy the tranquil shopping promenade.

6. Togoshi Ginza

Step off the train at Togoshi-Ginza station onto the longest shopping street in Tokyo. There are hundreds of stalls and local traders on this pedestrianized street, which is closed to traffic, including bars, cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, furniture stores, second-hand stores, and many more.

Don’t Miss: The Gin-chans of Good Fortune

Togoshi Ginza’s yellow mascot, Gin-chan can be seen all along the street in storefronts, statues, and windows, but there are three statues to look out for. Each one holds a ball in their palm. Rubbing the ball will bring you luck, health, or romance, depending on which one you meet!

Famous Streets in Tokyo – Unusual Streets

7. Takeshita Dori

Looking for fun brightly lit stores offering some of the craziest and colorful trinkets, foods, and fashion you’ll see in Tokyo? Take a stroll along the brimming 400m-long Takeshita Street. The street is brimming with independent stores selling everything from rainbow-colored cotton candy to purple cat-laden sweaters. Variety is the word. Just a 30-second walk from Harajuku train station, you can’t miss the bright archway which greets thousands of visitors each day

Don’t Miss: The Biggest Daiso in Tokyo

One of Japan’s best-known chains of 100-yen stores, Daiso has thousands of goods to choose from. This one, spread across three floors offers everything from sake sets to bags of uniquely Japanese candies to take home to your friends.

8. Kappabashi Street

This unusual shopping avenue just a 5-minute walk from Asakusa station caters to a particular audience. Lined with over a hundred stores selling kitchenware, tableware, and plastic food, you’ll recognize it by the giant chef’s head complete with a towering white hat sitting atop one of the buildings.

Don’t Miss: The Food Sample Shops

If you’re looking for something unique to take home as a memento, take a peek inside one of the shops selling super realistic plastic and wax recreations of sushi, noodles, and many more Japanese dishes. You’ll recognize them by the rows of plastic food in the windows.

9. Chuodori Akihabara

Akihabara, or ‘Electric Town’, is the colorful area around Akihabara station near central Tokyo known as a major retail center for electronic goods, video games, anime, and Japanese pop culture in general. Chuodori is the main street that runs through it. Step into one of the tall buildings and get lost among the manga stores, concept cafes, and restaurants

Don’t Miss: A Visit to a Maid Cafe

Maid cafes are certainly unique to Japan and a fun experience. Find out what it’s like to be served sugar-filled snacks and drinks by waitresses in maid outfits calling you ‘master’ or ‘mistress.’ It’s actually quite popular!

Famous Streets in Tokyo – Beautiful Streets

10. Icho Namiki or Gingko Avenue

Rows of magnificent golden Gingko trees line both sides of one of the city’s most scenic avenues during the autumn months. From exit 1 of Aoyama-Ichome train station follow Aoyama-dori Avenue on foot for 5 minutes until the row of trees comes into view on your right. You can’t miss them. As you walk beneath the shade of these giant and immaculate natural wonders, you’ll see Meiji Jungu Gaien Park either side and Meiji Memorial Museum in the distance ahead.

Don’t Miss: The Best Time of Year

If you want to see the trees in all their brilliant golden glory, the best time to visit is in late November or early December.

11. Log Road Daikanyama

This large and modern outdoor shopping promenade now exists where the old railway tracks of the Tokyu line used to run, alongside the new line.

A 4-minute walk north from Daikanyama station along the Tokyu Tokyo line, you’ll find quiet benches, wooden boutiques, a cafe, a string of stylish popup shops, and plenty of greenery on your way.

Don’t Miss: The Spring Valley Beer Brewery

Grab a beer or stop for lunch at Daikanyama’s very own Spring Valley Brewery. A bar, restaurant, and working brewery, you can enjoy a range of regular, craft, and experimental beers that are all made on-site.

12. Meguro Riverside Walk

Cross the road from the east exit of Naka-Meguro station and continue past Starbucks and Tsutaya bookstore until you reach the river, then turn right to begin your relaxing walk along the Meguro River, a welcome break from the buzzing city.

When you’re done, take a detour to the nearby popular Naka-Meguro neighborhood with its trendy bars and restaurants.

Don’t Miss: Meguro River Cherry Blossom Promenade

In the spring, the river walkway comes alive with food and drink stalls and crowds of spellbound tourists and locals as all the trees which spill over the river turn pink and white. It is a stunning sight to see whilst sipping on pink champagne from one of the food stalls.

Famous Streets in Tokyo – Food, Drink & Nightlife Streets

13. Ebisu Yokocho

Just a 5-minute walk from Ebisu station, this covered maze of Izakaya, bars, and restaurants sprang up from locals trying to preserve their lifestyle against the busy Shibuya entertainment districts.

It’s popular with locals and workers looking for drinks and dinner and is a great dining option for rainy days. There are more than a dozen food stalls offering a range of simple Japanese dishes such as yakitori, sushi or sashimi, okonomiyaki, and yakiniku. You will love the food and the friendly casual atmosphere.

Don’t Miss: Daruma Tengu

One of the larger eateries in the area but also one of the most popular. Arrive too late and you’re likely to have to wait.

14. Golden Gai

Half the fun is wandering through this shabby Shinjuku backstreet browsing the hundreds of bars on display. Just a short walk from the east exit of Shinjuku train station this narrow street of scruffy two-storey buildings is one of the last remaining examples of how a lot of Tokyo used to look before it was redeveloped in the 80s and 90s.

Don’t Miss: Hair of the Dog

With walls illustrated with signatures, drawings, posters, and old photographs, this tiny rock bar has been open for more than twenty years and is a true homage to ska and punk scenes of the early 80s.

15. Omoide Yokocho

Another popular Shinjuku eating and drinking hotspot is the famous Omoide Yokocho, reminiscent of Showa era Japan, and close to Shinjuku station’s west exit. Steam from the small restaurants and barbeque food stalls drift across this narrow alley barely wide enough for two people. In the evening, when tired salarymen spill out of their offices to get a drink and something to eat, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere to sit.

Don’t Miss: Horaiya Yakitori

Grab a bite to eat at Horaiya, a family-run restaurant serving locals fresh charcoal grilled meat dressed in their secret family sauce for over 75 years.

16. Shinjuku Kabukicho Ichiban Gai

A few minutes’ walk east of Seibu-Shinjuku station you’ll find Godzilla’s giant head looming over a dizzying boulevard of love hotels, bars, host and hostess clubs, and pachinko parlors. Enough to give you a good idea of what to expect in this bustling neon entertainment district.

As you wander the busy streets, watch out for beautiful young men and women trying to coax you into their clubs, unless you’d prefer to part with your money.

Don’t Miss: Don Quijote

Tokyo’s all-night shopping bazar offers everything from alcohol to fancy dress costumes to retro video games. You’ll spend hours wandering the narrow, crowded aisles looking for the perfect souvenir.

17. Harmonica Yokocho in Kichijoji

Located around the corner from the north exit of Kichijoji station, Harmonica Alley in Kichijoji is said to be named for the way the network of narrow side streets resembles the reeds of a harmonica.

By day this former flea market is filled with shoppers browsing the local fishmongers, clothes stores, cafes, and independent traders. By night the standing bars and small restaurants are packed with workers looking to let their hair down.

Don’t Miss: The Monthly Farmer’s Market

From 7AM to 10AM on the third Sunday of every month, the area is transformed into a farmer’s market. Offering fresh food, and baked goods, it’s worth getting out of bed for.

Famous Streets in Tokyo with Landmarks

18. Sensoji Temple Nakamise-dori Street

A short walk from Asakusa station, Nakamise is perhaps the most famous avenue in Tokyo. This 250-meter-long street reaches from the famous ‘Thunder Gate’ right up to the entrance of Senso-ji temple and is always packed with tourists picking up snacks, souvenirs, postcards, or kimonos. You’re sure to find a gift for someone here.

Don’t Miss: Kameya Ningyo Yaki

Kameya is the name of one of the stalls along the avenue. Try their ningyo yaki. It’s a small traditional Japanese sponge cake filled with red bean paste and they come in many shapes and sizes.

19. Shibuya Crossing

When most people think of Tokyo, they imagine thousands of tourists and commuters scrambling across the iconic Shibuya crossing under giant video ads. This easy-to-find landmark can be found right outside the Hachiko exit of Shibuya station.

When you’ve had a go at scrambling across the famous crossing, take some time to explore the surrounding area buzzing with trendy restaurants, cafes, and bars.

Don’t Miss: The Hachiko Statue

This bronze statue of the famous dog remembered for its unshakable loyalty to its owner is just outside the Hachiko exit of Shibuya station but beware there’s often a queue to get your picture with him. So be prepared to wait.

20. Tsukiji Outer Market

A short walk from Tsukijishijo station, Tsukiji market is an outdoor food market where visitors can shop, eat, and explore a great place for fresh seafood. Browse the market for a range of fruit, snacks and sweets, meat, cooking equipment, tea, and a huge choice of seafood.

Note: The Inner market, known for its famous tuna auctions moved to Toyosu market in 2018, however, the outer market mentioned above remains.

Don’t Miss: The Freshest Sushi Breakfast You’ll Ever Have

Don’t miss your chance to try a market-fresh sushi breakfast at one of the nearby eateries.

What’s your favorite street in Tokyo? Let me know in the comments! If you’re heading to Tokyo be sure to download my Tokyo bucket list checklist!