๐ฃ Tokyo-Do-Must — Only-in-Tokyo experience.
In this guide, discover how to experience Oimachi's hidden yokocho (alleyway) culture like a local. From a butcher shop turned standing bar to casual eel skewers and Chinese street food, learn the unspoken rules of Tokyo bar-hopping and explore the surviving Showa-era nightlife hidden in the shadows of modern redevelopment.
Last updated: 2026-04-19
Introduction
For a long time after the war, Oimachi developed as a "working-class town." With Nikon and railway-related factories and facilities nearby, a down-to-earth drinking district grew in front of the station to welcome people on their way home from work.
Later, like many towns in Tokyo, Oimachi was swept up in a wave of redevelopment. The area around the station gradually became more modern, and in recent years, new spots like Oimachi Tracks have emerged.
Even so, narrow alleys and small bars still remain just a stone's throw from the station. A butcher shop turned standing bar, a Chinese standing bar, and a casual eel izakaya. What you find here is not a manufactured, tourist-oriented retro vibe, but the genuine vestiges of the Showa era born from the everyday lives of working people.
After visiting the cutting-edge Oimachi Tracks, you can walk just a few minutes to a traditional yokocho (alleyway). From the new Tokyo to a slightly older Tokyo. Experiencing this brief time slip is one of the unique charms of Oimachi.
What to Try
A Butcher Shop Standing Bar (Nikuya no Kakuuchi)
"Kakuuchi" originally refers to the down-to-earth drinking style of buying alcohol at a liquor store and drinking it right there while standing. Niku no Maekawa is a rare variation of this: a "butcher shop kakuuchi." Instead of a liquor store, you buy meat deli items like menchi-katsu (minced meat cutlets), yakitori, and roast beef at a butcher shop, and enjoy drinking standing up with a canned beer or chuhai in hand.
When it comes to butcher shop staples, menchi-katsu is a must. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, it pairs perfectly with beer.
Another highly popular item at Niku no Maekawa is the roast beef. With a meaty presence that only a butcher shop can provide, it is the perfect dish to kick off a night of bar-hopping in Oimachi's alleys.
If you're walking through the yokocho of Oimachi, Niku no Maekawa is the ideal first stop. Start with a canned beer and some meat deli items, get accustomed to the atmosphere of the town, and then head off to the next standing bar or izakaya.
๐ Niku no Maekawa (Tabelog English)
A Chinese Standing Bar (Machi-Chuka Tachinomi)
Once you've warmed up at Niku no Maekawa, head over to Roraitei, located in the same Higashi-Koji alley. This place offers a rare style of dining: a Chinese restaurant standing bar.
Their signature yaki-gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) are cooked to a perfect, fragrant crisp. The piping hot meat juices inside pair perfectly with a strictly chilled, highly carbonated highball (whisky and soda).
Because you can enjoy authentic Chinese small plates—like mapo tofu and mouth-watering chicken (yodaredori)—at surprisingly reasonable prices, it's always bustling with locals.
Grabbing a quick bite, emptying your glass, and smartly moving on to the next spot is the true yokocho way.
๐ Roraitei (Tabelog English)
A Casual Eel Izakaya to Savor Every Part
When people in Japan think of "unagi" (eel), many imagine unadon—grilled eel fillets dipped in a sweet and savory sauce and served over rice. However, at this izakaya located in the yokocho of Oimachi, you can enjoy a slightly different, deeper approach to eel. Here, you can savor various parts of the eel in their entirety.
We highly recommend the kushiyaki (skewers). Not only the meat (tanzaku), but also the skin and innards are skewered and grilled, making for the ultimate easy-to-eat izakaya snack. Enjoying eel, which usually has a highly luxurious image, in a much more casual way is the true yokocho style.
Another dish you must try is the hone-senbei (bone crackers). These are eel bones slowly deep-fried with no batter, giving them a crispy, snack-like texture. You've probably never experienced eating fish "bones" before, right? It might surprise you, but the savory saltiness pairs unbelievably well with alcohol. It's a local Japanese food known only to those in the know.
Tokyo or Trip?
๐ฃ Tokyo-do-must — Only-in-Tokyo experience.
While Shinjuku and Shibuya also have famous yokocho (alleyways), many of them have already become major tourist attractions. However, Oimachi's "Higashi-Koji" and "Heiwa-Koji" are among the few remaining places in Tokyo that retain the genuine, everyday atmosphere and breathing life of local workers—offering a truly "authentic Showa-era retro" experience.
Tokyo is currently undergoing rapid redevelopment at a breakneck pace. Oimachi is no exception, with massive, ultra-modern facilities like Oimachi Tracks emerging right in front of the station. Yet, just a few minutes' walk from there, you can wander into narrow back alleys with corrugated iron roofs that have stood since the post-war era.
This intense contrast—a cutting-edge megacity existing side-by-side with a gritty, warm Showa landscape—is a special experience you can only have in today's Tokyo. If you want to time-slip into a real, unpolished "Tokyo of the past" rather than a manufactured theme park, do not hesitate to step into the yokocho of Oimachi.
Explore Nearby
Discover more authentic local spots just a short distance from Oimachi.
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๐ถ♂️ Togoshi-Ginza: Tokyo’s Longest Local Street
Just a few minutes away from Oimachi. Explore 1.3km of real Tokyo life with zero tourist traps.
๐ A Local's Guide to Togoshi-Ginza -
๐ข Traditional Oden at a Kamaboko Shop
If you enjoyed the standing style in Oimachi, you'll love this. Fresh fish cakes in savory broth.
๐ Try the Oden Set in Togoshi-Ginza -
๐ณ Tsukiji's Legendary Chashu-Egg
Think Tsukiji is only for sushi? Try this hearty, melt-in-your-mouth dish that fuels the market workers.
๐ Check out the Chashu-Egg at Odayasu
Similar Experiences
If you love the casual, retro vibe of Oimachi's yokocho, check out these other deep Japanese dining cultures.
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๐ข Yakitori: The Ultimate Izakaya Classic
Loved the skewers in Oimachi? Dive deeper into Japan's beloved chicken skewer culture with this local favorite.
๐ Guide to Tsukimi Tsukune Yakitori -
๐ฅข Monjayaki: Tokyo's Original Soul Food
Another "Only-in-Tokyo" experience. A savory, interactive, and incredibly fun dish born in Tokyo's working-class neighborhoods.
๐ Discover Tokyo's Monjayaki -
๐ Hamayaki: Retro Fisherman's BBQ
Experience the lively, retro atmosphere of a seaside tavern right in the city. Grill your own fresh seafood right at your table with a cold drink.
๐ Try Hamayaki at Isomaru Suisan
External Links
Plan your trip with these official resources for the Oimachi and Shinagawa area.
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๐ข Oimachi Tracks (Official Website)
The massive new complex changing the face of Oimachi, featuring a hotel, cinema, and a large-scale sauna facility (Sauna Metsa).
๐ Check out Oimachi Tracks -
๐บ️ Official Shinagawa City Guide (GO TOKYO)
Discover more about the Shinagawa area, including Oimachi and Togoshi-Ginza, on the official Tokyo travel guide.
๐ Explore Shinagawa
About "Taste of Japan"
Hello, I'm Yuta.
Born in landlocked Yamanashi and having lived in the gourmet city of Sendai for 10 years, I now call Togoshi-Ginza home. My frequent business trips across Japan allow me to constantly explore the diversity of regional flavors.
Why Togoshi-Ginza?
This street is Tokyo’s longest shopping arcade (about 1.3 km), but it holds a special history. It was the very first street in Japan to adopt the "Ginza" name—a tradition that later spread across the country—after receiving bricks from the famous Ginza district following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
My Wish as a Local
I am not a culinary expert. However, as a Japanese local who knows both the convenience of Tokyo and the origins of regional food, I want to share the "atmosphere" and "personal feelings" that you won't find in standard guidebooks.
The Concept: "Tokyo or Trip?"
Visiting every region of Japan in a single trip is nearly impossible. Some food experiences are worth the travel to the source, while others offer a fully satisfying experience right here in Tokyo.
This blog is a guide to help you make that choice. Based in Togoshi-Ginza, I share my honest experiences and "my personal answer" to help you maximize your culinary journey in Japan.
- ๐ Local-First: Best experienced in its home region. Worth a trip.
- ๐ข Great-in-Tokyo: A nationwide favorite or regional specialty that offers a fully satisfying, authentic experience right here in Tokyo.
- ๐ฃ Tokyo-Do-Must: A unique food culture born in or exclusive to Tokyo.