Omoide Yokochō, Covered alley with food stalls in Nishi-Shinjuku, Japan
Omoide Yokochō is a narrow, covered alley in Nishi-Shinjuku lined with approximately 60 small restaurants and bars. Most establishments seat only a handful of guests at counter-style tables facing the cooking area.
The area emerged as a black market immediately after World War II, then gradually transformed into a food district during Japan's economic growth years. This evolution shows how post-war recovery reshaped daily life in the city.
The name "Omoide" means "memories," reflecting the post-war nostalgia that still defines the place today. Visitors encounter skilled cooks working at open counters, preparing food in ways that have changed little over the decades.
The alleys are narrow and can get crowded during peak hours between 6 PM and 9 PM when office workers arrive for dinner. Arriving earlier in the evening or later at night offers more comfortable spacing and movement through the passages.
The red paper lanterns and wooden structures create a feeling of stepping back decades in time. The charcoal smoke that rises through the alley remains visible from the nearby Shinjuku Station even today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
