Where will you go after arriving at Haneda Airport? We heartily recommend the downtown Kamata area! (Article series / The Surrounding Areas of Haneda Airport Part 1)
How do you spend your day of arrival or the last day of your holiday in Japan? If the answer is “travel to/from the airport”, then you could be using your time on better things! There are lots of exciting attractions in the areas surrounding Haneda and Narita Airports. With the theme of “starting the fun upon setting foot in Japan” and “enjoying yourself right up until the flight home” this article series features tons of great ideas for fully enjoying all the fun spots near the airports.
In Part 1, we will introduce some great attractions near Keikyū Kamata Station, approx. five minutes away from Haneda Airport via the Keikyū Line.
Suggested plan: Start your holiday right after arriving in Japan. Explore downtown Kamata on foot.
Special Feature: Best restaurants for drinking and dining!
Kamata is full of places to eat, and is especially famous for its fried dumplings with crispy edges. Don’t forget to visit one of their many izakaya (Japanese pubs), which offer a wide variety of great-value food and drinks.
【Home-Style Chinese Restaurant Nihao Bekkan】
This restaurant is the original inventor of Kamata's famous "winged gyoza"! With thin, crispy skin and a juicy, meaty filling, they’re extremely addictive!
Address:Hanesamu Bldg. B1F, 4-25-7 Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Business hours:11:30-14:00,17:00-23:00
Closed:Open 365 days
Cost:2 servings of “winged gyoza” (12 pieces): ¥600
【Tonkatsu Tatsumi】
This is the only place in East Japan where you can try tonkatsu breaded pork cutlets made with Hokkaido's famous Akan pork. Soft and juicy, tonkatsu is the perfect dish to bring out the exquisite flavors Akan pork has to offer.
Address:Lumiere Hikari 1F, 7-48-8 Nishi-Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Business hours:11:30-14:30 (L.O. 14:00), 17:30-21:30 (Tonkatsu L.O. 20:30)
Closed:Sundays
Cost:Pork Loin Cutlet Set (200g) ¥2,268
Accepted credit cards:A,J,M,V(only accepted in the evening session)
【UmeQ: Kamameshi – Yakitori – Unagi 】
Ume-Q has been serving kamameshi in Kamata since 1970. Kamameshi is rice cooked in a small pot with seasonings, vegetables, and meat. Ume-Q is also well known for its yakitori (skewered chicken), and unagi (BBQ eel).
Address:7-69-1 Nishi-Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Business hours:11:30-14:00, 17:00-21:00
Closed:New Year’s holiday
Cost:Kamameshi Set: ¥1,819. Ume-Q Set: ¥2,500
Accepted credit cards:M,V(only accepted in the evening session)
Check out these spots if you're in the shopping mood!
【ItoYokado Omori-Store】
ItoYokado Omori-Store is conveniently located only a 3-min walk from the Keikyu Line’s Ōmorikaigan Station. We suggest heading to the food area and picking up some pre-made side dishes, snacks, etc., to enjoy back at your hotel when you get hungry. Of course you can also find a variety of household goods here as well. No need to rush, either; this shop is open until 11 p.m.!
Address: 2-13-1 Omori-kita, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 10:00-23:00
Closed: Open 365 days
Credit cards accepted: A, D, J, M, V, 銀
Facebook (English): ＠letsgo.itoyokado
Instagram: itoyokado_global_official
【Umeyashiki Shopping Street】
This shopping street stretches for 555 meters starting from infront of the Keikyu Line’s Umeyashiki Station. With around 140 shops, you’ll find everything from pre-made side dishes and seafood, to misc. goods shops and retro cafes!
Address: Area surrounding the Keikyu Line’s Umeyashiki Station, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: Varies by shop
We selected spots, where you can “see & experience.”
Public bath experience
Public bathhouses have long been a popular place for Japanese people to interact with their neighbors, and Ota-ku boasts as many as 42 of these important community hubs. Yu-City Kamata even features a hot spring with naturally black hot waters.
What are ‘kuroyu’ (black water hot springs)?
Long ago, the area around Kamata used to be part of the ocean. Thus, the hot spring water drawn up from below the ground is infused with the fossilized remains of sea plants, making the water appear dark in color. This water is beneficial in that it gives bathers silky smooth skin in addition to warming the body.
Bathhouse art
Relax and enjoy the impressive landscape murals on the walls while you soak in the bath.
Post-bath drinks
Remember to keep hydrated after you bathe. A bottle of coffee-flavored milk is a perfect follow-up to a long soak.
Address:1-26-16 Kamata, Ota-ku area
Business hours:10:00-24:00
Closed:Tuesday
Fee:Bath + sauna) Adult: ¥730, Tebura Set ¥800 (soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, hand towel and bath towel included), (Only bath) Adult: ¥460
It’s sometimes nice to visit areas filled with luxurious stores like Omotesando and Ginza, but downtown, inexpensive areas are fun too! If you want to experience the lifestyles of authentic Japanese people, head to Kamata after arriving in Japan!
Note: abbreviations of card companies that can be used.
A = A = American Express / D = Diners / J = JCB / M = MasterCard / V = Visa / 銀 = UnionPay
