Izakaya restaurants are bars that serve small plates of local Japanese cuisine with a wide range of alcoholic beverages. Often the life and color of the region, izakayas are where the locals go to have fun, unwind, and spend time with their friends or colleagues after work. Themed izakaya restaurants in Japan also exist, and these restaurants are dedicated to providing an immersive or memorable experience alongside delicious local fare. Here, we delve into 5 quirky, themed izakaya restaurants in Tokyo that offer such experiences!
1. Ninja Tokyo
Ninja Tokyo is an immersive, ninja-themed restaurant that combines your dining experience with entertainment and mystery. Enter the restaurant through a maze leading through the Ninja Mansion, and be astounded by ninjas who perform martial arts demonstrations and magic tricks at the table. Together with excellent storytelling, the restaurant’s interior décor also incorporates fantastic elements like a waterfall, a pond, rocky caverns, and traditional Japanese architecture resembling a samurai’s residence. With four courses that specialise in wagyu beef, the restaurant also offers vegetarian and vegan course meals and special set meals for children. Reservations can be made online at their website.
Address: Shin-Otemachi Building B1F, 2 Chome-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0004
Open Tue-Sun: 11:30–14:30, 17:00–22:00 (Closed on Mondays)
Also read: Yakiniku: An Insider’s Guide to Japanese Barbecue
2. Rokunen Yonkumi
Have you ever watched an anime set in a school and wondered what it was like to grow up or to go to school in Japan? Well, this is one place that you can satisfy that curiosity! Rokunen Yonkumi is an izakaya Tokyo is famous for, and it recreates the atmosphere of a Japanese elementary school. Its name translates to “6th Year, 4th Class”, and the restaurant features classroom-themed décor, school lunch-style dishes, and staff who role-play as teachers. You can even dress up and take photos with quintessential school props like randosel backpacks and yellow caps during your visit. Rokunen Yonkumi has several branches throughout Japan, and it even has four separate outlets in Tokyo! Reservations to all of their outlets can be made on the restaurant’s website.
Address: (Shibuya Branch): Assorti Shibuya, 4F, 32-12 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0042
Open daily from : 17:00–23:00
3. Kiha
Kiha is a quirky, train-themed izakaya in the Ningyocho area. As a two-level corner shophouse, the ground floor features counter-style seating whereas the upper floor resembles the inside of a Japanese train car, complete with handrails, signs, benches, and overhead luggage compartments. The restaurant also displays a large collection of train memorabilia, including ticket stubs and miniature models. Patrons pay for a set amount of time at the restaurant. During that time, they can enjoy an all-you-can-drink service, which includes kappu-zake, or a single-serve glass of sake with a pull-off top. Typical izakaya food like karaage (fried chicken), braised beef, curry, and kushikatsu, and they also have 40 different kinds of dishes made from canned food!
Address: 1 Chome-6-11 Nihonbashihoridomecho, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0012
Open Mon-Sat: 11:30–14:00, 18:00–23:30 (Closed on Sundays)
Also read: Sake: How It’s Made, and Breweries in Tokyo
4. SumoLand
SumoLand is a restaurant that combines your dining experience with an immersive sumo culture exchange. Learn some sumo wrestling techniques demonstrated by former top-division sumo wrestlers, taste traditional Chanko-nabe, the soy-based hotpot stew that these famous athletes eat, and experience taking on a sumo wrestler in a fight! You can also try your hand at making mochi (glutinous rice cakes) the old-fashioned way, by pounding it in a stone bowl with a large bamboo hammer! The restaurant offers three seatings a day, and reservations can be made online up to an hour before your desired time.
Address: Takashima Ryogoku Mansion 1F, 4 Chome-32-19 Ryogoku, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0026
Open daily: 11:00–13:00, 14:30–16:30, 18:00–21:00
5. Fishing Restaurant Zauo Shinjuku
If you’re a fan of fishing, don’t let the busy metropolis of Japan’s capital fool you into thinking that you can’t go fishing in Shinjuku! Fishing Restaurant Zauo Shinjuku is an izakaya chain that features a dining area that’s shaped like a giant ship, surrounded by water. Here, you can catch your own fish from the indoor tank and then choose to have your catch grilled, fried, or even served raw as sashimi! Other menu items include a standard seafood izakaya fare, serving sushi, steamed or barbequed shellfish, seafood hotpot dishes, karaage, and fried foods. Zauo has four branches in Tokyo and plenty more across the country, and reservations can be made online on their website. This is an izakaya Tokyo food tour that is usually overlooked, and it is a good experience that provides fun for the whole family!
Address: (Shinjuku Branch) Shinjuku Washington Hotel 1F, 3 Chome-2-9 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023
Open daily from: 11:30–14:30, 17:00–22:00
Also read: Love Sushi? Here Are 10 Kinds to Try on Your Next Trip to Tokyo
Best Experience Japan Izakaya Tour
Looking for a more authentic experience? The knowledgeable locals at Best Experience Japan offer an authentic food tour that explores three izakaya Tokyo locals frequent, where you can taste some of their signature dishes. Try perfectly grilled fish, succulent skewered meats, and melt-in-your-mouth sashimi in hidden, niche locations, far away from the tourist crowds. With friendly guides and a variety of delicious foods, learn about Japanese culinary culture, local customs, and have all your questions about all things Japan answered. This exclusive experience is a fun night you won’t soon forget!