It wouldn’t be a trip to Japan without a taste of sake and seafood!
A great place to try out both is at an izakaya, which is a type of Japanese pub where both the food and drink share equal focus.
There are so many different types of izakaya, and different areas to find them around Tokyo that it can be hard to know where to start.
A popular area is around Tokyo Station, where a lot of businesspeople go after a hard day’s work to load off some steam with a beer or sip of sake.
Let’s join them and take a look at five delicious izakaya near Tokyo Station serving fresh seafood and sake from around Japan.
酒場大穴 八重洲店 / Daiana Yaesu
First up for our izakaya near Tokyo Station is "酒場大穴 八重洲店 / Daiana Yaesu" (pronounced like the name “Diana“).
This lively izakaya is popular among groups and individuals alike, thanks largely to their seating options and sports streaming.
At "酒場大穴 八重洲店 / Daiana Yaesu", you can choose to sit at the counter and watch the chefs at work or the sports on-screen, sit at a table, or rent out one of their larger private booths.
The izakaya’s décor is a mix of retro and modern Tokyo to complement the bright and lively vibe.
One of "酒場大穴 八重洲店 / Daiana Yaesu"’s main specialties is their Edo-mae Sushi.
Edo-mae simply means that it originated in Edo, the former name for Tokyo, and uses fish caught from its bay.
This may in fact be the sushi you are most familiar with, as it is simply raw fish on top of vinegared white rice.
Their 5-piece sets start from 550 yen (tax included) or can be ordered individually, and are made with a small amount of rice making them great for snacking.
They also have their original cucumber and egg “anakyu-maki“, and their “gu takusan sushi“ with a mountain of different fish on rice!
When you’ve had your fill of seafood, there are also plenty of izakaya staples like fried food, ramen, egg dishes, and meat dishes.
This can all be accompanied by your choice of drink, which could be beer, a simple mixer, sake, or even Daiana’s original Highball cocktail made with fresh shiso leaf.
七代目 卯兵衛 / Nanadaime Uhei
Our next seafood specialty izakaya is "七代目 卯兵衛 / Nanadaime Uhei", a restaurant with history going back to the Meiji era (1868-1912).
While the current Tokyo location opened recently, in 2023, the family started business over 100 years ago in Japan’s northern city of Hakodate as a fish wholesaler.
So it’s safe to say that when it comes to fish, "七代目 卯兵衛 / Nanadaime Uhei" knows what they’re doing.
The izakaya still sources much of its fish from the ports of Hakodate, meaning it can offer northern flavours of yellowtail, tuna, sea bream, and mackerel.
The chefs are well acquainted with the intricacies of serving fish, so you will find that there are different dishes depending on the season, and even by day.
Though you will likely always find sashimi and sushi on the menu, the fish may be different!
For those who don’t like their seafood raw, you’ll be glad to know that sashimi is not the only option on the menu.
There are also fried and grilled fish dishes, dried and pickled seafood, and of course, non-fish options like meat stews, vegetables, and deep-fried food.
As for drinks, "七代目 卯兵衛 / Nanadaime Uhei" prides itself on its selection of sake and shochu, with different types as well as regional specialties.
But as with most izakaya, there is also an array of mixers, beers, and soft drinks, as well as all-you-can-drink options and course meals.
夢や京町しずく 八重洲店 / Yumeya Kyomachi Shizuku Yaesu
Next on our list of Tokyo izakaya is the stylish "夢や京町しずく 八重洲店 / Yumeya Kyomachi Shizuku Yaesu" (hereafter Yumeya).
While some izakaya can feel noisy and a little difficult to get used to, "夢や京町しずく 八重洲店 / Yumeya Kyomachi Shizuku Yaesu" has a bit more of a relaxed and stylish atmosphere to it.
The warm lighting, different types of table and booth seating, and overall Japanese décor makes for a fun evening out.
The food matches the Japanese setting of the izakaya with distinctly Japanese flavours.
The ranges from the luxuries of sushi, sashimi, and beef dishes to simpler healthy dishes featuring tofu and vegetables.
One of the best ways to make the most out of their delicious food is to order one of their course meals.
The course meals specialise in seasonal food, meaning you can try delicious fresh flavours you won’t find back home.
To complement this Japanese setting and the flavours that come with it, "夢や京町しずく 八重洲店 / Yumeya Kyomachi Shizuku Yaesu" also offers a number of their own unique cocktails along with their various regular izakaya drinks.
The cocktails include Japanese flavours like matcha and yuzu citrus, and are made to pair especially well with their food menu.
Try one for yourself, or go for sake, beer, or a soft drink.
虎連坊 八重洲店 / Torarenbo Yaesu
Our next stop is "虎連坊 八重洲店 / Torarenbo Yaesu", another stylish izakaya that will have you wanting to stay for more than just one drink!
You might be able to tell from the sake lining the walls, but "虎連坊 八重洲店 / Torarenbo Yaesu" takes a lot of pride in their sake selection.
They have collected different types of sake from all across Japan, and offer them by the glass, half bottle, or bottle, with over 40 different regional sakes to choose from.
They also offer a specially selected sashimi and sake set, taking out the extra work of figuring out pairings.
If you want to go a step further than the sashimi plate and sake pairing, you can do a whole course meal with specially selected sake pairings.
The course meals are highly seasonal, with small plates of fish, meat, and vegetables prepared in a variety of ways.
Their in-house sake sommelier makes sure that each drink goes perfectly with the changing seasonal dishes.
But if anyone in your group doesn't like sake or seafood, there’s no need to worry, as "虎連坊 八重洲店 / Torarenbo Yaesu" has a wide-reaching menu featuring delicious wagyu beef, premium beer, rice, and noodles, too.
音音 八重洲鉄鋼ビル店 / Oto-Oto Yaesutekkobiru
Lastly we have "音音 八重洲鉄鋼ビル店 / Oto-Oto Yaesutekkobiru" (hereafter Oto-Oto), a reasonably-priced and laid-back izakaya near Tokyo Station.
As well as making sure that you feel welcome and relaxed, "音音 八重洲鉄鋼ビル店 / Oto-Oto Yaesutekkobiru" also makes sure that over 90% of its ingredients come from within Japan, meaning that its flavours are as fresh and vibrant as can be.
This can vary from Kagawa bamboo shoots to Hiroshima oysters, and everything in between.
Their course meal options feature a selection of seasonal flavours from around Japan, but if you order individual plates instead, make sure to order their specialty, “otsukuri otakara moriawase“, which is a seasonal selection of fresh sashimi.
As for the drinks, Oto-Oto has an impressive selection of 45 well-known sake brands.
Although many izakaya will serve sake chilled, Oto-Oto believes that the best way to truly experience the flavours is to serve it warmed to 40°C.
Try a few with their all-you-can-drink plans, or simply order individually.
Explore the World of Sake in Tokyo
Here we have looked at five different izakaya that specialise in seafood and Japanese food, but around Tokyo Station there is always more to be found!
Use one of these izakaya as a starting point, but make sure to explore and have a look at our other articles to find your favourite.
Written by Cassandra Lord
After studying Japanese at university, I moved to Japan in 2018 to experience Japanese culture first-hand.
It wasn’t long until I developed an interest in Japanese cooking, and now I’m always experimenting in the kitchen, cooking anything from okonomiyaki to goya chanpuru.
That all started in Tokyo, so the city will always have a place in my heart, but now that I live in a more rural area, I have fallen in love with small towns and regional cuisine and culture.
I want to continue exploring and experiencing Japan as much as I can.