Tokyo Guides

Experience Tokyo Bars Like a Local: Advice, Tips, and Unspoken Rules

There are so many unspoken rules and ways of enjoying an izakaya that will not only help you fit in, but also make the experience so much more memorable as well. In this article, I share tips from my personal experience for people who are visiting Tokyo or just arriving to live here for the first time. I’ll add a few points that old-timers may want to weigh in on as well. Ducking under an izakaya’s half-curtain for the first time can be daunting, but if you follow this guide, you’ll be well on your way to an authentic izakaya experience in Tokyo. Kanpai!

Tokyo's Most Authentic Treats to Enjoy Here and To-Go 

Go deeper than viral trends to find authentic Japanese snacks and sweets both old and new. Some items are better enjoyed while in town, and others make excellent souvenirs for friends, family, and coworkers, whether home is near or far. Many of Japan's most common snacks nowadays were invented in Tokyo long ago, so make sure to check out our articles on shops where you can still try centuries-old original recipes of Japanese favorites!

The Best Japanese Izakaya Food to Try in Tokyo - Ranked Recommendations

You cannot truly experience a Japanese pub, known as izakaya, without trying its food menu, which works in harmony with the wide selection of drinks to create the lively, rambunctious atmosphere which draws in crowds of friends, students, and colleagues every night of the week. Izakaya food can be difficult to navigate when you visit for the first time, so I've assembled a list of standard dishes which can be found almost anywhere, as well as some easy-to-eat candidates for visitors with food restrictions. Read the comprehensive article and explore the wide variety of mouth-watering pub fare which keeps the conversation (and the booze) flowing all night long!