It's easy to find a restaurant in Tokyo. At hotels, in shopping arcades, and near stations, eateries can be found. From high-class establishments to those serving common folk, as well as concept restaurants like "maid cafes", Tokyo has it all! For sushi or shabu-shabu, you can expect to shell out over ¥10,000, but at many typical eateries, lunch costs only around ¥1,000. Now, let's take a look at the details!
The Tokyo Restaurant Guide
Finding a restaurant in Tokyo is simple!
High-Class Restaurants are Near Hotels and Department Stores
Restaurants are located in a variety of places around Tokyo, including hotels, office buildings, department stores, stations and even underground. In hotels, department stores and large office buildings, many relatively expensive restaurants offer sushi, Italian and French cuisine.
Enjoyable Casual Eateries are By the Stations
Eateries that Japanese frequent, such as izakaya pubs and ramen shops, are often found under elevated train tracks or near stations. A lot of world-famous cafes and fast-food chains have also set up shop in these areas. There are even shops serving halal and vegetarian dishes here.
Since many places also offer entertainment for diners to enjoy, you can choose where to go with your family or friends, depending on their tastes.
Prices at Tokyo Restaurants
These are rough estimates of what you'll pay for a meal in Tokyo.
High-Class Restaurants
At fancy restaurants located in hotels or listed in the Michelin Guide, lunch will cost over ¥3,000 per person, and dinner can run over ¥5,000. If you wish to enjoy shabu-shabu (thinly sliced, par-boiled meat and vegetables dipped in sauce) or a traditional Japanese Kaiseki course, you will pay over ¥10,000 per person.
Casual Eateries
At so-called "family restaurants" and eateries aimed at common people, lunch will cost about ¥1,000 per person, and dinners will run approximately ¥3,000. For your reference, a Big Mac at McDonald's is ¥390, and a Tall Latte at Starbucks will set you back ¥370 (as of June 2018).
Themed Restaurants in Tokyo
Why not visit a restaurant with a "concept" in Tokyo?
Maid Cafes
"Maid cafes" are where women dress up in cute costumes to serve you. In addition to chatting with customers, the maids will sing and dance for you! In Akihabara, a district boasting many maid cafes, you can even find such shops where the maids speak in languages besides Japanese.
Spot Information
- Spot name: At-Home Cafe Flagship Store
- Address: Mitsuwa Bldg. 1-11-4, Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 5 minutes on foot from JR Akihabara Station
A Butler Cafe
This "butler cafe" is where you can imagine you're the noble daughter of a high-class family or the son of well-to-do people. Handsome young men who look like they stepped out of anime dress up as butlers to offer you high-quality service. The decor and furniture, which lend a classic ambience to the interior of this cafe, are also lovely to look at.
Spot Information
- Spot name: Butler Cafe Swallowtail
- Address: Showa Bldg. 3-12-12 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 11 minutes on foot from JR Ikebukuro Station
A Monster Cafe
This "monster cafe" is popular with overseas visitors to Japan, who come to experience the Kawaii culture of artists like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Enjoy entertaining shows put on by performers dressed up as animals and ghosts. You may also be surprised by the colorful cuisine offered at this eatery!
Spot Information
- Spot name: KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU
- Address: 4F YM Square, 4-31-10 Jingu-Mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 2 minutes on foot from Tokyo Metro Meiji Jingu-Mae Station
A Prison Restaurant
At this "prison restaurant", the staff appear as prisoners, ghosts or horror movie characters. Both the people and the food inside this place offer a lot of surprises to their guests. If you let the staff know that it's a birthday party or other special occasion when making your reservation, they will celebrate it with a cake!
Spot Information
- Spot name: The Lock-Up
- Address: Shinjuku Square Bldg. 1-16-3 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 2 minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station
A Ninja Restaurant
This "ninja restaurant" is based on the concept of a residence where ninjas always undergo training to hide themselves. However, they appear to serve customers at this restaurant. Their foreign language "training" is also perfect, so you can breathe a sigh of relief when you visit.
Spot Information
- Spot name: NINJA AKASAKA
- Address: Akasaka Tokyu Plaza 1F, 2-14-3 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- 3 minutes on foot from Tokyo Metro Akasaka Mitsuke Station
Making Reservations at Restaurants in Tokyo
Here are some ways to make reservations at restaurants in Tokyo.
If you're planning to visit a famous restaurant, please make a reservation before you go. It's easy to do if you consult with the front desk staff or concierge at your hotel.
Some restaurants also accept reservations made on the Internet. Since their Websites may offer language support besides Japanese, as well as discount coupons, please be sure to check them out before you travel to Japan!
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