Nonbei Yokocho Shibuya is a street-food stop in Tokyo.
Nonbei Yokocho in Tokyo's Shibuya is the Drunkard's Alley north of Shibuya Station. 40 tiny standing counters, each seating four to six. Yakitori, sake.
Tip: Cash only. Look for English-friendly signs; many counters charge a 500-yen seating fee.
Address: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan
Ameyoko Centre Building basement in Tokyo's Ueno is the Asian-grocery food hall under Ameya-Yokocho. Korean kimchi, Indonesian sambal, Thai green papaya.
Try: Asian groceries, kimchi and frozen goods
Tip: Take stairs down inside the Ameyoko Centre Building. Daytime busiest; cash and IC card work everywhere.
Shinjuku Memory Lane late stalls in Tokyo's Omoide Yokocho stay open after midnight. Motsuyaki offal skewers, highballs and the smoky alley's late ramen.
Try: Motsuyaki offal skewers
Tip: Cash only. After 23:00 the alley shifts to the late shift; counters seat four to six.
Kagetsudo Asakusa Melonpan in Tokyo is the jumbo melon-bread counter near Senso-ji temple. 16-cm sweet melon-bread baked all day; queue starts from 10:00.
Try: Jumbo melonpan sweet bread
Tip: Cash only. Buy fresh; the bread is best within 15 minutes. Branches in the Asakusa shopping streets too.
Toyosu Uogashi Yokocho in Tokyo is the visitor-side food alley inside the Toyosu market complex. Sushi, donburi, tempura and seafood standing counters.
Try: Wholesale-market sushi and seafood
Tip: Open from 05:00 with the market trade. Sushi Dai and Daiwa Sushi are the breakfast queues; arrive by 06:30.
Azabu-Juban Shotengai in Tokyo is the centuries-old shopping street through Minato. Naniwaya taiyaki, Asahi croquette and Sasaya oden stalls along the strip.
Try: Taiyaki, croquette, oden
Tip: Naniwaya Sohonten taiyaki is the canonical stop. Most stalls open from 11:00; weekend lunch is busiest.
Ekiben Matsuri inside Tokyo Station is the 200-bento ekiben hall facing the Yaesu central exit. Regional Japanese bento boxes from all 47 prefectures.
Try: Regional ekiben bento boxes
Tip: Best ekiben (regional bento boxes) for shinkansen rides. Stand outside the JR turnstiles; eat at the train seat.
