Dining in Asakusa: 10 Famous Traditional Japanese Restaurants

Photo by Pixta

In Asakusa, there are many famous Japanese-style (washoku) restaurants that have been around for 100, even 200 years. From staples of washoku such as unagi (eel dishes) and tempura to delicacies that even Japanese people don’t have the chance to eat often, we’ve carefully selected 10 well-known Asakusa restaurants where you can eat genuine Japanese-style meals.

1. Owariya (Soba Noodles, Tempura)

Situated between Asakusa Station and Tawara Station is the long-established soba restaurant Owariya. This restaurant is incredibly famous among locals. Not only is its soba popular, but the tempura and udon are too, and many say that you will love their food, no matter what you order.

Owariya
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 1-7-1
Price range: 1000-1999 yen
Hours: 11:30-20:30
Closed: Friday
Telephone: 03-3845-4500
Access: 4-6 minute walk from Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tobu Isesaki Line, Toei Asakusa line)
Website: Owariya (Asakusa Umai Association)

2. Koyanagi (Eel)

How about eating some genuine eel at a long-standing restaurant in Asakusa? Koyanagi is a popular restaurant that has been featured on many television programs and in the media across Japan. Its characteristic is the original sauce. This store is supported by regulars in great numbers.

Koyanagi
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 1-29-11
Price range: 2000-2999 yen
Hours: 11:30-21:00
Closed: Thursday
Telephone: 03-3843-2861
Transport: 4 minutes on foot from Asakusa Station
Website: Koyanagi

3. Edo Monja Hyotan (Monjayaki)

Monjayaki is a dish similar to okonomiyaki, as it is a savory pancake like food filled with vegetables, meat and seafood, which is grilled on a hot plate. The attraction of this restaurant's monjayaki however is the dashi stock’s delicious flavor. The interior design of Edo Monja Hyotan is also quite charming, and it has a reputation for a place where you can have a good time.

Edo Monja Hyotan
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 1-37-4
Price range: 1000-3999 yen
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
Telephone: 03-3841-0589
Access: 253m from Asakusa Station (Tobu, Toei, Metro)

4. Asakusa Umezono (Japanese Confectionery)

Umezono is an old tea house that was established 160 years ago. Our recommendation is their traditional Awazenzai, a dessert of red bean jam that is placed on sticky mochi rice cakes. You are sure to enjoy the refined sweetness and traditional flavor of these sweets.

Umezono
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 1-31-12
Price range: up to 999 yen
Hours: 10:00-20:00
Closed: two Wednesdays a month (not set)
Telephone: 03-3841-7580
Website: Umezono

5. Asakusa Imahan (Sukiyaki)

Imahan is one of the most famous restaurants specializing in sukiyaki in Japan. The quality of the meat and the secret formula of their sukiyaki sauce (*1) clearly show there is no bargaining when it comes to taste here.

The flavors of the foods from this restaurant that has stood for 120 years are cherished by plenty of people, spanning many different generations. It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that this is one of the most representative restaurants of Asakusa.

*1 Sukiyaki sauce is a seasoning made from a blend of soy sauce, sugar, and dashi (fish) stock.

Asakusa Imahan
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 3-1-12
Price range: (evening) 10,000-14,999 yen; (lunch) 3000-3999 yen
Hours: 11:30-21:30
Closed: none
Telephone: 03-3841-1114
Access: Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station (Exit A2), 0 minutes on foot
Website: Asakusa Imahan

6. Asakusa Mugitoro (Mugitoro)

Mugitoro is boiled barley and rice eaten with grated Japanese yam (called tororo). As a food of the "common people", it is a dish that Japanese people are well-acquainted with. At Asakusa Mugitoro, a well-established mugitoro shop, you can enjoy the tender and subtle flavors of mugitoro, a genuine Japanese-style dish.

Asakusa Mugitoro
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Kaminarimon 2-2-4
Price range: (evening) 8000-9999 yen; (lunch) 1000-1999 yen
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: none
Telephone: 03-3842-1066
Access: 177m from Asakusa Station (Tobu, Toei, Metro)
Website: Asakusa Mugitoro

7. Komagata Dojo (Dojo cuisine)

Komagata Dojo is a restaurant for dojo or loach-based cuisine, which has been passed down since the Edo period (1603-1868). At this shop, established over 200 years ago, they offer the unchanged deliciousness of dojo cuisine, which is by no means easy to come by these days.

In addition to the tenderness of their dojo loaches, Komakata Dojo is also well-known for the deliciousness of their dashi stock and tare sauce. How about trying this Japanese delicacy sometime?

Komagata Dojo
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Komagata 1-7-12
Price range: (evening) 3000-3999 yen; (lunch) 2000-2999 yen
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: none
Telephone: 03-3842-4001
Access: 403m from Asakusa Station (Tobu, Toei, Metro)
Website: Komagata Dojo

8. Kamiya Bar (Bar, Western Food)

Kamiya Bar is a famous store recognized as the first Western-style bar established in Japan, in 1880. Their most recommended drink is the Denkiburan, a whisky-based cocktail with a history dating back over 100 years - but the secret of the blend is still kept secret!

As for cuisine, the stews served here, which use a kombu dashi stewed for three hours, are also made from a popular secret recipe.

Kamiya Bar
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 1-31-12
Price range: 999-2999 yen
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Closed: Tuesdays
Telephone: 03-3841-5400
Access: Subway Ginza Line, Asakusa Station, Exit 3, 0 minutes on foot
Website: Kamiya Bar

9. Daikokuya Tempura (Tempura)

Tempura is a very popular dish among visitors to Japan, and Daikokuya is an old shop whose secret tempura tare sauce recipe has been passed down for 120 years. Their tempura itself is said to be especially delicious and bursting with flavor as it is exclusively fried in sesame oil. The taste of this traditional tempura is worth trying at least once.

Daikokuya Tempura
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Asakusa 1-38-10
Price range: 1000-1999 yen
Hours: (Monday to Friday, Sunday) 11:10-20:30; (Saturday and holidays) 11:10-21:00
Closed: none
Telephone: 03-3844-1111
Access: 291m from Asakusa Station (Tobu, Toei, Metro)
Website: Daikokuya Tempura

10. Asakusa Unatetsu (Hitsumabushi)

Asakusa Unatetsu is a famous eel restaurant, but our recommendation here is the hitsumabushi that is cooked shirayaki style. Shirayaki means that the eel is cooked in fired pottery.

You really can enjoy the rich taste of the eel when it is cooked this way. If you are a fan of eel dishes or seeking something slightly different when it comes to Japanese cuisine, this is a must visit shop.

Asakusa Unatetsu
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Hanakawado 1-2-11
Price range: 3000-4999 yen
Hours: 11:15-22:00
Closed: not set
Telephone: 050-5872-3046
Access: 127m from Asakusa Station (Tobu, Toei, Metro)
Website: Asakusa Unatetsu

Main image from Pixta