Yurakucho Yakitori Alley is a street-food stop in Tokyo.
Yurakucho Yakitori Alley in Tokyo runs under the JR Yamanote Line tracks behind Tokyo International Forum. Smoke-stained yakitori counters since the 1950s.
Tip: Walk in any direction off the tracks; the Andy's Shin Hinomoto counter at exit C1 is the English-friendly opener.
Address: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006, Japan
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.
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.
Ameyoko Okachimachi tachigui in Tokyo runs along the Ueno-Okachimachi stretch of Ameya-Yokocho. Standing-counter sushi, fresh oysters, Korean tteokbokki.
Try: Standing seafood and Korean street food
Tip: Daytime busiest. The standing-sushi at Mihashi and the Korean stalls toward Okachimachi are the order.
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.
Try: Tiny standing izakaya counters
Tip: Cash only. Look for English-friendly signs; many counters charge a 500-yen seating fee.
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.
