Street food¥Daily 10:00-20:00 (vendor hours vary)
Ameya-Yokocho in Tokyo's Ueno is the 500-metre street under the JR tracks, 400 vendors of takoyaki, kebabs, dried seafood, post-war black-market origin.
Try: Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kebab, dried fish
Tip: Saturday afternoons are jammed; weekday mornings stay calm. The takoyaki stalls and Turkish kebab counters are the lunch picks.
Street food¥Daily 09:00-19:00 (vendor hours vary)Cash only
Nakamise-dori in Tokyo's Asakusa is the 250-metre snack street between Kaminarimon gate and Senso-ji temple. Ningyo-yaki, agemanju, senbei since 1685.
Try: Ningyo-yaki, agemanju, senbei rice crackers
Tip: The ningyo-yaki at Kimura-ya Honten and senbei at Tokiwa-do are the historic picks. Eat on the spot, do not walk-and-eat.
Street food¥Most stalls 17:00-24:00Cash only
Harmonica Yokocho in Tokyo's Kichijoji is the post-war alley behind the JR north exit. 100-plus tiny stalls of yakitori, oden, standing sushi and craft beer.
Try: Yakitori, oden, standing sushi, motsu nikomi
Tip: Iseya yakitori main shop is around the corner; the alley itself is the better stand-up dinner crawl after 19:00.
Street food¥Most stalls 17:00-24:00Cash only
Yurakucho Yakitori Alley in Tokyo runs under the JR Yamanote Line tracks behind Tokyo International Forum. Smoke-stained yakitori counters since the 1950s.
Try: Yakitori under the JR tracks
Tip: Walk in any direction off the tracks; the Andy's Shin Hinomoto counter at exit C1 is the English-friendly opener.
Street food¥Most stalls 11:00-23:00
Tsukishima Monja Street in Tokyo's Chuo ward is the 200-metre alley with 70 monjayaki restaurants. Tableside teppan griddle, the canonical Tokyo monja crawl.
Try: Monjayaki tableside griddle
Tip: Take the Yurakucho or Oedo Line to Tsukishima Station, exit 7. Most counters open lunch and dinner; weekends queue.
Street food¥Most stalls 17:00-04:00
Ebisu Yokocho in Tokyo is the 2008-opened indoor food alley designed as a modern yokocho. 20 izakaya stalls of yakiniku, oden, sashimi and grilled offal.
Try: Modern izakaya stall food
Tip: Open until 04:00 most stalls. Walk-in friendly; the takoyaki stall and the gyoza counter are the loud first orders.