Tokyo – Travel with KKday

Tokyo is one of the world’s most glamorous cities. With incredible shopping and must-see sights, and incredible food. Feast on Tokyo’s finest (and make your dinner reservations) with KKday’s round-up of the best restaurants in the city.

1. Akasaka Hanamura Tempura Restaurant

Tucked away in a back alley, Akasaka Hanamura may be small and unassuming, but its built a loyal patronage after almost a century in business. Enjoy a delicious tempura meal cooked right before you, with fresh vegetables dipped in tentsuyu sauce.

Specialty: Seasonal Tempura Course

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Open on: Mondays to Sundays at 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Closed on: Tuesdays.
Address: 6-6-5, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

2. Hyoki Kasuitei

Top Tokyo Restaurants: Hyoki Kasutei — Tokyo Restaurants: Hyoki Kasutei

Amidst the bustle of the Roppongi district, Hyoki Kasuitsei’s minimalist interior and incredible customer service allow you to dial back a bit. Let their famous Steamed Hot Pot course transport you all the way back to Ancient Japan.

Specialty: Steamed Hot Pot Course

Tokyo Restaurants: Hyoki Kasutei Steamed Hot Pot — Hyoki Kasutei: Steamed Hot Pot

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Open on: Mondays to Saturdays at 6:00-11:00pm.
Closed on: Sundays and Public Holidays
Address: Mercury Roppongi 1, 2F, 6-7-7, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

3. Hyakumangoku Sushi Restaurant

Sushi is one Japanese dish that’s become so popular, you can grab a bite at the closest convenience store. But for the owners of Hyakumangoku, there’s just no rushing craftsmanship.

Top Tokyo Restaurants: Hyakumangoku — Tokyo Restaurants: Hyakumangoku

For over 45 years, they’ve been perfecting their Edo-style Sushi with only the freshest seasonal ingredients picked from the Tsukiji Market. The patience and attention to detail is evident in their whole menu, as even their simple herbal miso soup is marinated for three weeks before it’s served to you.

Specialty: Sushi

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Open on: Mondays to Fridays at 4:00pm-10:00pm, Saturdays at 4:00pm-9:00pm.
Closed on: Sundays and Public Holidays
Address: Ebato Building 1F, 2-11-5, Higashiueno, Taitou-ku, Tokyo

4. Unagi Uomasa Restaurant

Top Tokyo Restaurants: Unagi Uomasa — Tokyo Restaurants: Unagi Uomasa

At this Michelin Star restaurant, freshness it top priority. So much so, that it’s only upon placing your order that the chef cuts, skewers, grills, or steams your eel. As you wait for your meal, the staff serves you a fine selection of appetizers, freshly cut liver, wasabi, and eel bone chips.

Specialty: Unagi Eel Dishes

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Open on: Mondays to Sundays at 11:30am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm.
Closed on: Tuesdays and 3rd the Wednesday of the month.
Address: 4-14-4, Higashiyotsugi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo

5. Wagyu Imari Restaurant

Top Tokyo Restaurants: Wagyu Imari — Tokyo Restaurants: Wagyu Imari

After dining at Tokyo’s Wagyu Imari Restaurant, no steak will ever truly compare. Enjoy their special Hapinesumura beef, which is handpicked daily and noted for its signature melt-in-your-mouth flavour.

Specialty: Wagyu Beef Course

Wagyu Imari Specialty: Wagyu Set Course — Wagyu Imari: Wagyu Set Course

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Open on: Mondays to Fridays at 5:00pm-11:00pm, Weekends and Public Holidays at 11:30am-10:00pm
Location: Uniden Ginza building 7F, 2-8-12, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

6. Kioi Nadaman Restaurant

Top Tokyo Restaurants: Kioi Nadaman — Tokyo Restaurants: Kioi Nadaman

Operating since 1830, the restaurant chain—which has opened branches all over the country—has built a legacy for excellent food and service. After a trip to the Imperial Palace, feast like royalty at Kioi Nadaman as you enjoy authentic kaiseki cuisine as overlook the stunning Imperial Gardens.

Specialty: Kaiseki Cuisine

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Open on: Weekdays at 11:30am-2:30pm and 5:00pm-10:00pm, Weekends at 11:30am-10:00pm
Address: Hotel New Otani garden tower 6F, 4-1, Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Don’t you remember the times when we used to meet our friends at the nearest Timezone and played all our weekly allowance away, where we battled it out for the high score, or collected tickets to win all sorts of prizes. That was before mobile games and playstations, and it seems that for most of the world, arcades are a thing of the past.

But not in Japan. This country is known for all its childish wonders, like Tokyo Disneyland, the Doraemon Experience , and Tokyo Legoland. When Japan kids encountered the likes of Pacman and Space Invaders back in 1978, they were instantly hooked. And while the boom has definitely passed, Japan’s arcades have become such a fixture in contemporary Japan there’s no doubt they’re here to stay.

Which is great news for us! Here are the 10 best Japan Arcades in Tokyo to relive those grade school days!

Hirose Entertainment Yard (HEY) by Taito

Tokyo, Japan: Hirose Entertainment Yard (HEY) Arcade by Taito

If the neighborhood arcades are like churches to the Japan gaming youth, then the Hirose Entertainment Yard—or ‘HEY’—is the grand cathedral. With its neon lights and dedicated floors to all sorts of arcade staples, this place has become an icon in itself. Perhaps it’s because HEY has been around longer than most arcades, but HEY is where you can see Tokyo’s most competitive hang out, show off, and swap gaming tips—in other words, an authentic, organic community. But don’t let this intimidate you; the HEY community is very welcoming to noobs and tourists.

Address: 1-10-5 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Train Station: Akihabara

Club Sega

Even in the midst of Tokyo’s electronics Mecca, Club Sega is impossible to miss. At a staggering seven stories tall, Club Sega is Japan’s largest arcade and is a welcoming place for both serious gamers and newbies. People who come in come here to stay, and the building is equipped with coffee, vending machines, and cup noodles for gamers not ready to hit pause anytime soon. As a video game developer themselves, Club Sega’s fifth floor is dedicated to their own produced games. And word on the street is, you can test out some of their new releases here before they even hit the markets!

Address: 1-10-9 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Train Station: Akihabara

Sega Gigo

Visitors headed to Sega GiGo will be sent on a wild nostalgia trip. Among all of Japan’s iconic arcades, Sega GiGo has the supreme honor of housing the first Pokemon game ever. Another legendary game? Sega Gigo has floors dedicated to the iconic claw machines and capsule toy dispensers we all remember from childhood.

Address: 1-15-1 Soto-kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Train Station: Akihabara

Game Bar-A-Button

For something a little more upscale and a little more adult, head to Game Bar-A-Button. As you enter the bar, you’ll see a large HD screen propped over the bar with both vintage and current gaming consoles. Enjoy your cocktails as you speed with Mario Kart.

Game Bar-A-Button has managed to keep it both classic and classy, and is a weekend favorite among both the Japan gaming community and travelers.

Address: 1-13-9 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Closest Station: Akihabara

Anata No Warehouse

For an experience beyond just the arcade games, head to Anata No Warehouse. Not many tourists go here, and for good reason—the place was designed to be a Japan replica of Hong Kong’s Kowloon Walled City, and looks just like the former slum town. The arcade is 18-and-over only, and you’ll have to cross sketchy buildings just to get to the games. Surprisingly (or not), the games are the only pristinely preserved things in the entire complex. And while this isn’t technically in Tokyo, it’s so close to the city it hardly makes a difference.

Address: 3-7, Kawasaki, Nisshincho, Kanagawa
Train Station: Kawasaki

Tokyo Joypolis

What happens when you combine a theme park and an arcade? You’ve got the incredible Joypolis, which takes the outdoor experience of amusement park rides and combines them with the latest in virtual technology. Its indoor rollercoaster and chilling haunted house are unlike any other in the country. And while you do a heftier price compared to the other arcades on the list, the one-of-a-kind experience is worth it.

Address: DECKS Tokyo Beach 3F～5F, 1−6−1, Minato, Daiba, Tokyo
Tokyo Train Station: Odaiba-kaihinkōen
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Super Potato

Another homage to the Golden Age of Gaming is Super Potato, also in Akhibara. Going to this place is a nostalgia trip in itself; you’ll find it tucked away in an unassuming back street away from the flashy stores and bustling shoppers. Here you’ll find old (and rare) favourites such as Super Mario and 007 Golden Eye, and if you head to the top floor, you get to sit on a throne made of NES and Sega game cartridges. Another thing that draws gamers of all ages, and travellers from all over to Super Potato is its specialty store of rare and quirky gaming merchandise

Address: 3F-5F Kitabayashi Building, 1-11-2, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Train Station: Akihabara

Tokyo Leisure Land

For the less serious gamers looking for a fun but more ‘leisurely’ time, head to Tokyo Leisure Land—another arcade along Akihabara. It provides the same, classic Japanese arcade experience with less crowds and greets visitors with a colorful rainbow at the entrance. Another unique thing about Tokyo Leisure Land is that it has an entire floor dedicated to just music games. Head here for a fun and easy time, but be sure not to confuse it with Tokyo Leisureland—an amusement park on Odaiba Island (but that place is pretty awesome as well!)

Address: 9-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0021
Tokyo Train Station: Akihabara

Taito Station

UFO machines, Gachapon, and shooting games…what else comes to mind when you think about arcades? Photo booths! And few things make for better travel souvenirs than actual, developed photos. At Taito Station, you can have as much fun with the photo sticker booths as you want: decorate the photos, change your hair color, or try on some wacky effects to make you look like a Japanese cartoon character. And because it’s Japan, you’ve also got the fun option of cosplaying for these booth prints!

Address: 1-10-5 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Train Station: Akihabara

Be sure to rekindle your inner child with KKday’s other Japan tours:
>> Get your Tokyo Disneyland Tickets with us!

>> Come and explore Tokyo Legoland and book your ticket with us!

>> Book your Tokyo One Piece Tower Tickets over here!

Tag: Tokyo

Relive your childhood at these Tokyo Arcades!