[Ameyoko Shopping Street Travel Guide] Enjoy Shopping and Great Food in This Bustling Market Street!

After World War II, supplies distributed by the Japanese government to the public were running out.
In response, black markets sprang up across Tokyo, and Ameyoko Shopping Street was one of them.
There are two theories about the origin of its name: the first says it was called Ameya Yokocho because there were many candy shops, which later became shortened to Ameyoko.
The second says it came from America Yokocho because many American goods were sold there, which was then shortened to Ameyoko.

Ameyoko Shopping Street is packed with shops that sweet lovers will find irresistible.
You can find not only standard Japanese sweets but also rare ones.
Being able to buy large amounts of sweets at low prices is also one of the major attractions of Ameyoko Shopping Street.
You will likely be surprised by both the value and the variety.
Be sure to join the famous bargain chocolate sales that have become one of Ameyoko Shopping Street’s specialties.
The sight of large amounts of chocolate being tossed into a bag along with lively rhythmic calls is something unique to Ameyoko Shopping Street.
The price is 1,000 yen, so definitely give it a try.

Ameyoko Shopping Street has many drugstores, including Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Daikoku Drug.
Japanese drugstores sell not only medicine and health-related products but also cosmetics and daily necessities. In addition, cosmetics and daily goods are often cheaper there than at regular retail stores.
If you are thinking of visiting a drugstore during your trip to Japan, why not enjoy shopping at one while sightseeing at Ameyoko Shopping Street?

Ameyoko Shopping Street has many apparel shops and variety stores where you can find all kinds of items.
Selling quality items at affordable prices is another thing that makes Ameyoko Shopping Street unique.
Even today, many shops sell imported American goods and items influenced by American culture, and the area has a particularly strong connection to jeans.
There are various theories, but it is said that jeans were first sold in Japan at Ameyoko Shopping Street around 1950, when secondhand imports from the United States were the norm.
Ameyoko Shopping Street was the starting point for the spread of jeans in Japan, and for that reason there are many stores selling denim products here.
This could be the perfect chance to buy a favorite piece for yourself.

Ameyoko Shopping Street has plenty of street food you can enjoy while walking around.
A standard favorite is cut fruit on skewers, such as strawberries and bananas, which also make a strong visual impression.
One of the things that makes Ameyoko Shopping Street unique is that you can casually enjoy not only Japanese foods such as menchi katsu, candied sweet potatoes, and manju buns, but also foods from many countries, including kebabs and Korean-style hot dogs.
Since the area is crowded, please be considerate of others and enjoy your food slowly in a nearby eating space or similar area.

Ameyoko Shopping Street and the surrounding area have many great-value places where you can casually stop in for a quick drink.
There are also many standing bars, so it is nice that you can enjoy drinks without feeling formal.
Many places are open not only during the day but also from the morning, which is another appealing point, as you can enjoy drinks in an atmosphere different from the evening.
At izakaya around Ameyoko Shopping Street, many places serve not only beer and highballs but also a wide variety of Japanese sake.
Another attraction is that you can enjoy distinctly Japanese dishes such as yakitori and stewed offal, and there are also many snack dishes that pair well with alcohol. Be sure to enjoy them with your drinks.
Another appealing point of the izakaya at Ameyoko Shopping Street is the close and friendly atmosphere between customers and staff.
With drinks involved, casual conversations come naturally, and it may even give you a chance to make friends from Japan and abroad.

Shimura Shoten is a popular store that has been doing business for 40 years on one corner of this constantly lively street filled with distinctive shops, and it is famous for its bargain chocolate sales.
The sight of famous brand chocolates sourced from Japan and abroad being packed one after another into bags to the spirited calls of “Throw it in! Throw it in! Add this too!” is truly impressive.
At the end, you even get the happy bonus of “one more extra!”

This specialty sweets shop in Ameyoko is known for its catchphrase, “Niki no Kashi, where you can find good products at low prices.”
In Ueno Ameyoko, the two stores, Daiichi Eigyosho and Big Hall, operate across the street from each other.
Daiichi Eigyosho, which is divided into first and second floors, mainly stocks sweets such as candy toys, dagashi snacks, candy, gum, chocolate, snack foods, bean snacks, rice crackers, dried delicacies, and imported sweets.

Ameyoko Center Building is a symbolic presence in the center of Ameyoko Shopping Street.
It is a commercial facility with a wide range of fashion and cosmetics, but the standout feature is the Ameyoko Underground Food Market.
Many shops there carry a wide range of Asian seasonings, vegetables, spices, and other unusual products.
Rather than feeling like the basement food floor of a department store, it has an atmosphere more like a market in Asia.
There are also fresh foods such as meat and fish, with many cuts and types of ingredients that you would not normally see in a standard supermarket.
It is so stimulating that it may make you forget you are in Japan.
You can come across sights and products you do not usually see, so it is well worth a visit.

This is the Okachimachi branch of Don Quijote, the popular discount store known nationwide for its overwhelming selection and surprising prices.
The sales floors span five levels above ground and one basement level, offering a wide lineup that includes food, daily necessities, electronics, cosmetics, and even luxury brand goods.
You still get all the appeal of Don Quijote, including products packed into every inch of space and the original “Jonetsu Kakaku” brand developed with great attention to detail, while also getting a touch of the Ameyoko atmosphere.
With a selection focused on specialized luxury goods, brand-premium capsule machines where you can win brand-name items, and over-the-counter sales where you can enjoy interacting with the staff, this is a Don Quijote where you can experience the spirit of Ameyoko.

This wholesale specialty shop for nuts and dried fruits has operated for more than 60 years in Ameyoko Shopping Street, one of Japan’s best-known shopping streets.
As a specialty wholesaler that works with multiple specialized trading companies, it boasts an extensive product lineup. It offers 71 types of nuts and 82 types of dried fruits. In search of high-quality products, not only business buyers but also individual customers and tourists visit the store.
What sets this shop apart is that, rather than carrying only the common items often seen in supermarkets, it offers a wide variety of nuts and dried fruits from different varieties and places of origin.

Founded in 1956, this military shop has long been loved in Ameyoko and is supported by a wide range of customers, from beginners in military fashion to dedicated fans.
Mainly centered on surplus items from the U.S. military, it offers flight jackets, riders jackets, leather boots, and more at reasonable prices.
Another feature is its diverse lineup, which also includes surplus goods from the militaries of various European countries, reproduction items based on military gear, and products from Nakata Shoten’s original brand.

A specialty shop for sukajan jackets, carrying original designs with a wide variety of motifs such as dragons, tigers, and hawks.
Sukajan is a short jacket with embroidered East-meets-West designs that was created in Japan after World War II, based on U.S. military flight jackets.
Custom-made sukajan jackets that can be ordered from just one piece are also popular, with customers free to choose the design, embroidery colors, and more.
Another attraction is being able to create a one-of-a-kind original sukajan jacket.

A restaurant run by a long-established meat wholesaler founded in 1932, located in Ueno’s Ameyoko Shopping Street.
It serves high-quality meat dishes made possible by its background as a meat wholesaler, all at reasonable prices, and it is such a popular spot that both lunch and dinner hours are almost guaranteed to be full, often with lines as well.
In the back of the store is a restaurant space with tables and counter seats. During the day, the menu mainly features set meals such as steak, hamburg steak, and fried dishes, most of them priced around 1,000 yen, making them excellent value. At night, there is a wide range of à la carte dishes, including pizza and pasta.

Located very close to Ameyoko Center Building, a symbolic presence in Ameyoko Shopping Street, Hyakkaen is a long-established fruit parlor that sells fresh seasonal fruit at affordable prices under the motto “better quality at lower prices.”
Its cut fruit, which lets you casually enjoy a wide variety of fruit such as strawberries, melons, pineapples, and watermelon, is one of the most popular takeout items in Ameyoko.

Nigiri sushi is said to have originated from food stalls in the Edo period, and these stalls were mainly standing-style, making them something like the fast food of their time.
This shop lets you enjoy nigiri sushi in that original standing style.
As the name suggests, the tuna uses natural bluefin tuna, and the freshness of the toppings is beyond question.

A standing izakaya with outstanding popularity in the area near Ueno Station, where many places welcome daytime drinking.
It is known for offering a wide variety of food and drinks at reasonable prices, and not only the tables and counters inside the shop but also the outdoor tables are often full.
Led by signature items such as mille-feuille ham cutlet made by layering thin slices of ham and deep-frying them, and tonpeiyaki grilled on a hot iron plate, every dish on the menu is made with care.

A long-established tea wholesaler founded in 1918. Its Ueno store, which opened in 1946, stands between Ameyoko and Ueno Naka-dori Shopping Street, right near Ameyoko Center Building, making it easy to access.
On the first floor, it sells Japanese tea carefully selected from places around the country such as Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and Uji, and produced at its own factory.
For a treat while strolling around Ameyoko, take out soft-serve ice cream made with high-quality Uji matcha, the kind also used in tea ceremonies. The matcha soft serve is excellent, and the mix with rich Hokkaido soft serve is also recommended.

A standing-style seafood izakaya located in Ameyoko Shopping Street.
It offers a wide variety of menu items, including assorted sashimi, fresh oysters, squid dressed with liver, and ikura rice bowls, making it easy to casually enjoy seasonal flavors. Another feature is the many great-value dishes.
Another attraction is being able to enjoy fresh seafood and Japanese sake in the lively interior.
There is a rule of 30 minutes and up to 2 drinks per person, so you cannot stay long, but it is perfect for stopping by for a quick drink in between sightseeing around Ameyoko.

A specialty eel restaurant located Approx. 2 minutes on foot from Ameyoko Shopping Street.
It has both counter seats and table seats, making it easy to use whether you are alone or with a group.
It serves eel grilled fragrantly over binchotan charcoal at affordable prices, making it easy to casually enjoy what is often considered an expensive dish.
In addition to eel rice bowls and boxed eel rice, it also offers a wide range of side dishes such as hitsumabushi, eel-liver soup, and salad.
Another feature is that you can also enjoy drinks that pair well with eel, along with snacks made with eel.

A long-established eel kappo restaurant located Approx. 3 minutes on foot from Ameyoko, near Shinobazu Pond.
With a history of more than 300 years, it offers authentic Edo-style eel in a calm Japanese setting.
The signature dish is unaju. High-quality eel from Mikawa is grilled over charcoal for a fragrant finish, then steamed until fluffy, creating an exceptional texture and flavor.
The sauce, made without sugar yet offering both richness and a clean finish, enhances the umami of the eel and adds depth to the taste.
Another popular specialty is shirayaki, eel served without sauce, which lets you slowly savor the eel’s natural flavor.

A long-established Japanese sweets shop founded in 1913. It is said that the shop got its name because the founder was born in the Year of the Rabbit.
Its specialty is dorayaki made by wrapping sweet red bean paste in freshly made pancakes. The large pancakes, made with lotus honey, have a pleasantly chewy texture.
Made with azuki beans from Tokachi, Hokkaido, the smooth red bean paste is left to rest for two nights, creating a deep flavor as it slowly settles.
Its deliciousness fully explains why it is praised as one of Tokyo’s three great dorayaki shops.

Located in Taito City, Tokyo, Ueno Park’s official name is Ueno Onshi Park. It is a historic park with a vast area.
It is one of Tokyo’s representative tourist spots, with visitors from Japan and abroad coming in spring to see its famous cherry blossoms.
Made up of Ueno Hill and Shinobazu Pond, it features diverse greenery and waterside scenery, creating an oasis in the city.

Japan’s first zoo, established in 1882. Despite being in central Tokyo, it is an urban zoo that preserves nature and houses Approx. 300 species and 3,000 animals. Its spacious grounds, surrounded by greenery, are divided into the East Garden and West Garden, where animals ranging from famous favorites to rare species are kept in environments close to nature.

This art museum is known for its distinctive brick-colored tiled building standing in the Ueno forest, and since opening in 1926, it has served as a temple of art.
It hosts many exhibitions, including special exhibitions featuring outstanding works from Japan and abroad, self-organized exhibitions, and open-call exhibitions.
There is also a restaurant, cafe, and museum shop.