The Ueno and Okachimachi area in Tokyo is packed with izakayas—Japanese pubs—where both tourists and locals can drop by casually. Within walking distance, you’ll find a variety of restaurants offering diverse cuisines and atmospheres, making it easy to enjoy a rich food experience even during a short stay.
In Japan, the traditional izakaya style is to order dishes one by one, share them among your group, and enjoy them with drinks. You can stick to one restaurant or try several to compare flavors and experiences.
Here, we introduce three izakayas representing different specialties: seafood, yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), and Kyushu regional cuisine. Even first-time visitors can enjoy each restaurant’s unique charm.
This izakaya focuses on seafood delivered directly from Hokkaido, but also offers meat dishes, smoked foods, and overnight-dried fish. The menu ranges from sashimi to grilled items and regional specialties.
Highlights:
Sashimi Platter: Includes tuna, salmon, and Hokkaido specialties like surf clam. Each bite offers a distinct flavor.
Grilled Dishes: From seafood to Hokkaido beef and pork, allowing you to alternate between land and sea flavors.
Local Hokkaido Cuisine: Dishes like ramen salad provide a unique twist beyond standard izakaya fare.
Drinks: Focused on sours and highballs, with large mug all-you-can-drink options available.
Experience Review: The sashimi platter is visually stunning, with thick surf clam slices that reveal sweet flavor with every bite. The three-meat grill features a sweet and savory sauce, balancing the richness of the meat with alcohol perfectly. The ramen salad refreshes your palate mid-meal. Grilled overnight-dried fish has a simple yet memorable roasted aroma.
Specializing in yakitori and Japanese sake, this izakaya focuses on chicken dishes, from skewers to small plates and hot pots.
Experience Review: The chicken is prepared fresh daily, grilled by cut to bring out both aroma and juiciness. Oyama chicken, a premium local brand, has a firm texture and rich flavor that varies with each skewer. The miso-based “chan-chan-yaki” offers a different taste experience from traditional yakitori. Pairing with sake enhances the flavors even further.
Note: Oyama chicken is a premium breed raised near Mt. Oyama, known for firm texture and rich fat flavor. “Japanese premium chicken with rich flavor and juicy texture” accurately describes the experience.
This izakaya specializes in Kyushu cuisine, particularly dishes from Miyazaki. Enjoy the firm texture of local chicken served as sashimi or grilled over charcoal. Chicken nanban is also a must-try.
Experience Review: The local chicken sashimi is firm, with flavor unfolding as you chew. Charcoal-grilled chicken is aromatic and juicy inside. Chicken nanban balances sweet vinegar and tartar sauce, keeping fried dishes light. They also serve Wagyu steak, offering a satisfying contrast to chicken dishes.
In the Ueno & Okachimachi area, you can hop between izakayas within walking distance, each offering a unique style:
Hokkaido Maruha Sakaba: Savor the pure flavors of Hokkaido seafood.
Kidori Okachimachi: Experience the difference in texture and aroma between chicken cuts.
Kikusui Ueno Okachimachi: Taste regional Kyushu flavors and cooking techniques.
Even though all three are “izakayas,” the ingredients and cooking styles provide distinctly different experiences. Visiting multiple restaurants lets you fully appreciate the diversity of Japanese pub culture and enjoy a fun izakaya hopping adventure.
