Account

Welcome

Sign in to save places, build lists, and keep your score.

Search

The 15 Best Izakayas in Japan

15 places ranked

Sections

Tap another section to add it. All sections

The best izakayas in Japan, according to the experts: the Michelin Guide, The Infatuation, and Eater have all weighed in, and their honors are what rank this list. SŌWADŌ comes out on top, and the good stuff runs deepest in Tokyo.

More Less

Shokudo Akari and Ginza Nominokoji Yamagishi hold the next two places. The Infatuation shows up on more of this list than any other guide, with the Michelin Guide next.

Eat, change section

Departments

Kinds of places

Cuisines

  1. Rank 1. SŌWADŌ

    Japanese

    The awards

    Address
    1-12-15 Hiro, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo 150-0012, Japan · Tokyo
    Online
    Website
    Save On the Way What's Around

  2. Rank 2. Shokudo Akari

    Izakaya Japanese

    Wooden poles criss-cross the ceiling of this Sonezakishinchi izakaya, recreating the bundled pine torches of Wakayama's Oto Fire Festival, which the chef still returns to attend every February. The menu runs from gingered chicken liver and potato salad to whatever the season suggests, and the grill runs on Kishu Bincho charcoal, the Wakayama hardwood the chef treats as a point of personal honor. Bib Gourmand from Michelin.

    The awards

    Address
    2F, 1-6-27 Sonezakishinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka 530-0002, Japan
    Reserve
    Make a reservation
    Save On the Way What's Around

  3. Rank 3. Ginza Nominokoji Yamagishi

    Izakaya

    An izakaya on the tenth floor of Ginza, opened by one of Kyoto's most beloved kappo restaurants, that insists on shipping its water in from the old capital. The meal starts with four set dishes, arranged with enough care to suggest kappo roots, then opens into à la carte territory: oden, baked gyoza, squid yakisoba, and curry rice or ramen to close. It runs late, which matters in a neighborhood that tends to close early.

    The awards

    Address
    10F, 7-3-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan · Tokyo
    Reserve
    Make a reservation
    Save On the Way What's Around

  4. Rank 4. Kushiwakamaru

    Yakitori Japanese

    The awards

    Address
    1-chōme-19-2 Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0051, Japan · Tokyo
    Save On the Way What's Around

  5. Rank 5. Binbiya

    Izakaya

    The awards

    Address
    1 Chome-7-26 Sonezakishinchi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0002, Japan
    Save On the Way What's Around

  6. Rank 5. Ginzaya

    Izakaya

    The awards

    Address
    Japan, 〒530-0001 Ōsaka-fu, Ōsaka-shi, Kita-ku, Umeda, 1 Chome−3−１ · Osaka
    Save On the Way What's Around

  7. Rank 7. Kiha

    Kiha is a train-themed standing bar where the decor commits harder than most commuters do. Ambient rail sounds play, empty ekiben boxes line the staircase, and upstairs there's a full replica of a train car, with conductor outfits for photos. You pay by the clock rather than the drink, so the snacks stay simple: canned sardines under cheese, karaage, fries. It's The Infatuation's pick for both Tokyo's best bars and izakayas.

    The awards

    Address
    1 Chome-6-11 Nihonbashihoridomecho, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0012, Japan
    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    Save On the Way What's Around

  8. Rank 7. Mimasuya

    Japanese

    The awards

    Address
    2 Chome-15−2, Kanda Tsukasamachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0048, Japan
    Save On the Way What's Around

  9. Rank 7. Nakame No Teppen Honten

    Japanese

    The awards

    Address
    3 Chome−9−5, Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0051, Japan · Tokyo
    Save On the Way What's Around

  10. Rank 7. Nowhere

    Vegan Izakaya

    The awards

    Address
    1 Chome-8-2 Mukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-0033, Japan · Tokyo
    Hours

    Closed today, opens Thu 5 PM

    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    Save On the Way What's Around

  11. Rank 7. Sanya Meguro

    Modern Japanese

    The awards

    Address
    3 Chome−14−6, Takaban, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0052, Japan
    Online
    Website
    Save On the Way What's Around

  12. Rank 7. Shinpo

    Izakaya

    The awards

    Address
    3 Chome-38-14 Shoan, Suginami City, Tokyo, 167-0054, Japan · Tokyo
    Save On the Way What's Around

  13. Rank 7. Toridosi

    Japanese

    The awards

    Address
    1 Chome−13−13 5, Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan · Tokyo
    Save On the Way What's Around

  14. Rank 7. Tsukada Nojo

    Southern Kyushu Japanese

    The awards

    Address
    3 Chome−25−23, Takanawa, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0074, Japan · Tokyo
    Hours

    Closed now, opens 5 PM

    Wednesday 5 PM–11 PM

    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    Save On the Way What's Around

  15. Rank 7. Tsukada Suisan

    Japanese

    By day this is a fishcake shop with trays of neatly arranged product and no particular interest in your evening plans. At 7pm it flips into a standing-room oden bar tucked into Harmonica Yokocho, where you eat simmered fishcakes off your feet and drink sake in cheap, small cups. Tell the staff when you're halfway through and they'll top it off with oden broth, which locals insist helps the hangover. Nobody has verified this, but it's warm.

    The awards

    Address
    1 Chome-1-8 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0004, Japan
    Hours

    Open now, until 6:30 PM

    Wednesday 10 AM–6:30 PM

    Online
    WebsiteInstagram
    Save On the Way What's Around

Browse a location

Current Location

Countries All countries

Metros

Eat Score

The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

    How we score →

    Drink Score

    The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

      How we score →

      Stay Score

      Four fifths of the score is the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin Key outweighs a listicle. The last fifth is where it is: the ranked places to eat and things to do around it, and how safe the country is. When you sort by what's nearby, distance from you changes the order, never the score.

        How we score →

        Do Score

        The score comes from the awards it's won, weighted by who gave them: a Michelin star outweighs a listicle. When you sort by what's nearby, distance changes the order, never the score.

          How we score →

          Best Place Score

          The Best Place Score rates the area around a point, not any one place. The places are 60% of it: the best of what's within reach, weighed by distance. The setting is the other 40%: how life goes in that country (how people rate their own lives, how long and how well they live, how safe they are) and what it's like right there (the air, and the weather). If the score looks low, we probably haven't found enough critics out here yet.

          Near Me

          Sign in to see the best places near you

          Near Me ranks what's around you, wherever you are.

          Continue with Apple Continue with Google
          Sign in with email

          New here? Create an account

          Or see the full worldwide list