Visiting an izakaya in Japan is a must for anyone who likes good food, good drinks, and an all-round good time!
While izakaya are often referred to as a “Japanese style pub”, their styles and choice of food can vary greatly.
In Ueno, to Tokyo’s northeast, there are a lot of izakaya ranging from energetic and inexpensive to romantic and classy.
Here, we’ll take a look at four of Ueno’s popular izakaya, exploring some with different specialties from around Japan as well as some serving western food and fusion delights.
一承 上野 / Issho Ueno
One of the great things about Japanese cuisine is the sheer variety of dishes and styles that can be found in each region throughout the country.
But if you don’t have the opportunity to visit other regions, what can you do?
"一承 上野 / Issho Ueno" answers that question by bringing the delicious flavors of Kyushu right to you in Tokyo.
Kyushu is famous for its fantastic fish and meat, and unique cooking styles that have a distinct southern twist.
With 10 years of experience in Kyushu, and a further 10 years now in Tokyo, this izakaya brings in fresh seafood and ingredients straight from Kyushu’s coastal city of Itoshima.
Even the plates themselves are from Saga Prefecture, home of the famous Arita porcelain.
From sesame mackerel and seasonal vegetable tempura to offal hotpot and sirloin steak, you can try out all sorts of southern flavors at "一承 上野 / Issho Ueno".
They serve everything up a-la-carte or in luxurious courses of 8-12 dishes with two hours of all-you-can-drink.
If you like your sake, this is a great opportunity to try out specialty nihonshu and shochu from the Kyushu region, alongside a variety of cocktails and wines.
The izakaya is made up entirely of individual booths for as few as two people or as many as 56, meaning you can explore Kyushu’s specialties without distraction.
So take a seat and grab a drink, because it’s time to take your taste buds on a journey to Japan’s southern coast!
プロースト東京 / Proost Tokyo
Moving on even further from the coasts of Japan, "プロースト東京 / Proost Tokyo" specializes in food and drink from a region about as far away as it gets: Europe.
In fact, "プロースト東京 / Proost Tokyo"’s main specialty is sausages.
They are stuffed, dried, smoked, and cooked all on-site, and the proof is in the flavor.
There are over 20 different types of sausage at this stylish izakaya.
You can choose from a variety of European-style sausages like Italian Salciccia and German Weisswurst to more Japanese options like their Shiso Wurst.
Of course, it’s not all sausages; "プロースト東京 / Proost Tokyo" also has a selection of European and fusion dishes with seasonal ingredients and house flavors.
There’s a cheeseboard, risotto, meat dishes, and a whole host of delicious sides, not to mention their impressive selection of drinks.
Alongside their smoky Japanese whisky and flavorful craft beers, there’s also no shortage of red, white, and specialty wines to pair with those European flavors.
With its ambient lighting and tasteful décor, "プロースト東京 / Proost Tokyo" has a laid-back yet stylish atmosphere perfect for a date night or an elegant introduction to Tokyo’s izakaya scene.
Explore their dishes with a set course, order a-la-carte, or add on their all-you-can-drink option to make the most of this special location.
銀座ライオン 上野西郷会館店 / Ginza Lion Ueno Saigou Kaikan
For filling food and a taste of Japanese beer, look no further than "銀座ライオン 上野西郷会館店 / Ginza Lion Ueno Saigou Kaikan".
Headed by the same company in charge of Sapporo Beer, "銀座ライオン 上野西郷会館店 / Ginza Lion Ueno Saigou Kaikan" has a few branches around Tokyo specializing in the beer, particularly their own Yebisu brand.
Rather than the typical local izakaya atmosphere that can feel overwhelming for first-timers, "銀座ライオン 上野西郷会館店 / Ginza Lion Ueno Saigou Kaikan" has a slightly more familiar beer bar set-up.
A fusion of western and Japanese stylings in every way, the seating features pub-style booths as well as larger event rooms.
The menu follows suit with a variety of Japanized western dishes like Napolitan pasta and Hamburg steaks, as well as a selection of roasted meat and vegetable sides.
Of course, the pride and joy of "銀座ライオン 上野西郷会館店 / Ginza Lion Ueno Saigou Kaikan" is their beer.
Japanese beer is typically served with a frothy head, and at "銀座ライオン 上野西郷会館店 / Ginza Lion Ueno Saigou Kaikan" their bartenders take special care to make sure every glass is served with just the right amount of bubbles for a picture-perfect pint.
Their refreshing beers are served cold, and their flagship brews are Sapporo Beer Black Label, Yebisu Beer, Yebisu & Yebisu, and Yebisu Premium Black.
Each have their own distinct taste, but are relatively light and drinkable, making them good options for beginners and experienced Japanese beer drinkers alike.
とりいちず 上野店 / Toriichizu Ueno
If your main priority is experiencing a Japanese izakaya on a budget, you can’t go wrong with "とりいちず 上野店 / Toriichizu Ueno".
Alongside their typical yet tasty izakaya food, they have an inexpensive selection of Japanese drinks and all-you-can-drink options to make the most of your time.
One of the biggest reasons for "とりいちず 上野店 / Toriichizu Ueno"’s popularity is its inexpensive all-you-can-drink options.
While their regular two-hour all-you-can-drink menu is ¥990, their sours-only option starts from just ¥548 for one hour (incl. tax, requires food order).
Add this to a course menu, and it makes it easy to order to your heart’s content without worrying about how much the bill will end up being.
This is also a great place to experience traditional, no-frills Japanese izakaya food.
Some of the izakaya classics come in the form of their chicken options, like yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), karaage (marinated fried chicken), and spicy chicken.
Otherwise you can try out their fried items, sides, rice, or noodle dishes.
As for the drinks, there is a selection of inexpensive Japanese drinks starting from as little as ¥219.
While their sours and mixed drinks like their Matcha Highball and Lemon Sour take the spotlight for something lighter or sweeter, there is also a selection of beers, whiskys, and soft drinks.
Features of Ueno
These Ueno Izakaya are Just the Beginning!
These four different izakaya in Ueno are a great place to start, particularly if you have never visited an izakaya before.
However, Ueno and the rest of Tokyo are filled with tons of interesting izakaya, which can be a great way to experience a different side of Japanese culture.
After you’ve tried out one of these, why not explore further?
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.