A Guide to Eating and Drinking in Tokyo

  Sushi in Tokyo

Eating out in Tokyo is pretty characteristic of the country as whole: it's fast, efficient and often bite-sized but – much like its hi-tech, big-business culture – it doesn't always come cheap.

Although fine dining in Tokyo might be beyond those on a tight budget, there are ways you can experience the uniqueness of the city’s cuisine without breaking the bank.

One of the most authentically Japanese ways of grabbing a quick bite is to hunt out a ‘tachigui soba’. As the name suggests ‘tachigui soba’ ('tachigui' means to stand and eat and 'soba' is a type of noodle) exist mostly to feed hungry businessmen on the go. Drinks (usually just water) are often free,as well.

For the really daring, however, the Tsukiji Central Wholesale Market contains the world's largest fish market and offers something a little more Japanese. But it comes at a price, and you'll have to get there before 9am to catch any of the action.

While tourists have been banned from the tuna auctions that happen at 05:00 because of the disruption they were causing, there are still many visitors to Tsukiji throughout the morning's trading. Grabbing a sushi breakfast in amongst the hustle and bustle of the market is one of the best ways to start off your day Tokyo-style.

Although it might be a little early for most people to wash it down with a ‘choko’ (cup) or two of sake, the local rice wine is a must when dining out in the evening. It comes in all sorts of different varieties, but can be broken down into two basic classifications: ‘futsu-shu’ (the equivalent of table wine) and ‘tokutei meishoshu’, a rather more upmarket drink altogether. As a general rule, you should steer clear of the second as it can be very pricey indeed!

While part of the national diet (and so readily available at a range of prices), many sushi restaurants in the city are also often at the top of the stellar league of dining establishments. For something a little cheaper, try ‘yakitoriya’ - eateries where you can get ‘yakitori,’ a sort of barbecued kebab and delicious alternative to raw fish.

For the traveler on a really tight budget, the best thing might be to make for a supermarket. While this may not sound like the most inspiring of dining experiences, you might just be surprised. Supermarkets in Tokyo can provide you with a range of quite appetizing dishes for remarkably little.

As with so much in this beguiling country, eating out in Tokyo can occasionally be a thoroughly confusing experience. But if you get served something that you don’t think you ordered, that’s at least part of the fun of traveling in a genuinely foreign culture – you never quite know what’s going to happen!

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