If you end up coming to Japan with Young Pioneer Tours then you will end up staying in Akasaka, pretty much our favorite place in Tokyo.
Why do we like it so much? Well Akasaka has a bit of everything, bars, restaurants, weird food, adult bars and a whole heap of weird shit. It also has all of these in moderation. Hack there’s even an Irish bar…
What the Akasaka?
Akasaka is a compact but surprisingly lively district located right in the heart of Tokyo. It sits nestled between the ultra-busy Roppongi and the sprawling Shinjuku, yet manages to avoid the chaos both those places throw off in spades. During the daytime it’s a business hub, packed with salarymen in crisp suits rushing between offices and local eateries serving quick lunches. But as night falls the district reveals a different face — one packed with tiny bars, izakayas, and neon-lit alleys where Tokyo’s nightlife thrives quietly and a little off the beaten path.
It’s not the usual flashy tourist spot, which makes it perfect for anyone wanting a more genuine taste of Tokyo life. The streets feel lived in, a mixture of the old and new with traditional Japanese wooden buildings hiding behind modern glass towers. Shrines quietly nestle between convenience stores and tiny drinking holes. The overall vibe is one of contained energy, like the place is waiting for you to jump in and join the party without the pressure of the more famous nightlife districts.
Eating in Akasaka
The dining scene in Akasaka is as varied as you’d expect from a district at the heart of Tokyo’s business and nightlife. Whether you’re looking for a refined meal or just something quick and satisfying, you’ll find it here. There are high-end restaurants serving some of the best wagyu sashimi you can imagine alongside humble noodle joints where the broth is rich and the portions generous. The izakayas fill the streets with the smell of grilled chicken skewers, fried fish, and salty pickles.
What’s great about Akasaka is the balance between the serious and the casual. You can sit down for a multi-course meal with meticulously prepared ingredients, or grab a quick snack from a street vendor and still be eating like a local. The chefs here aren’t interested in gimmicks — they’re focused on flavour and quality, whether that means perfectly cooked rice or a bowl of ramen that warms your soul. If you’re feeling brave, Akasaka also has some more unusual offerings like horse sashimi or fugu (blowfish) served in specialist restaurants. But if you want comfort food, you won’t go wrong with grilled fish, rice, and miso soup from a local diner.
Top 5 Restaurants in Akasaka
What I personally love about this part of Tokyo is food wise they have absolutely everything you want from Wagyu Sashimi, to well McDonalds – although that will not be on my list.
Here’s my 5 top places to eat in Akasaka..
5 Uogashi Nihon-Ichi Fish so fresh you’d swear it was caught five minutes ago. Great for sushi and sashimi without the fuss.
4 Toriyoshi Shoten Yakitori done right. Charcoal grilled chicken skewers with crispy skin and juicy meat. Perfect with a beer.
3 Ramen Jiro A cult classic. If you want noodles that will hit you like a train, this is your spot. Big portions and bigger flavours.
2 Kyubey High-end sushi without the insane prices Tokyo is famous for. Chefs treat each piece of fish like an art piece.
1 Seryna If you want to go full Tokyo try their wagyu shabu shabu. Thin slices of wagyu cooked tableside in broth, dipped in sauces that make you forget every other meal.
Drinking in Akasaka
People come here to drink and indeed drink they do throughout the week. The after-work salarymen crowd is strong from Monday to Friday but weekends turn Akasaka into a party zone where office workers finally let off steam.
The variety here is massive. Traditional Japanese rest-bars where you sip whiskey or sake quietly. Pubs including Irish bars for anyone missing home and craving a proper pint. Then there are small bars that specialise in craft cocktails or rare whisky.
Yes there are girly bars and hostess clubs where drinks get expensive but Akasaka balances variety and price better than Roppongi or Shinjuku.
Top 5 Bars in Akasaka
This is no easy list to make as there are so many good ones, but hey I am a professional, so I have put the leg work in.
5 Bar Kaguya Small classy cocktail bar with bartenders who know their stuff. Great for starting the night.
4 Hub British Pub Classic British pub. Proper pints, football on TV, good for expats or locals.
3 Bar Orchard Relaxed whisky bar with a solid selection and no nonsense atmosphere.
2 Ginba Hidden gem serving excellent Japanese craft beers. Friendly staff and perfect for people watching.
1 Mori Mori Tiny bar with character, strong drinks and unforgettable nights. You’ll come back here again and again.
The Akasaka Adult Scene and Scams
Akasaka is not a red light district but it still has massage parlors and freelancers who will approach you on the street. Girls might grab your arm and invite you for a drink. One drink can quickly turn into a thousand-dollar nightmare.
These scams happen a lot to tourists. If you want to avoid trouble keep your distance from strangers offering drinks or company on the street. Remember if the pretty girl is talking to you on the street, it might not be because you are handsome.
The Overall Akasaka Vibe
Akasaka is classic Japanese without blowing your head off with chaos. It’s the perfect intro to Tokyo madness. Lively but manageable, old but new, local but welcoming.
You walk the streets and feel like you’re in a real neighborhood not a tourist trap. There is calm under the buzz like the city’s heartbeat you can feel without losing your mind. And overall its bloody good fun without fully frying your brain.
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