Yokocho: OK for families?

12 comments

1. Your question is both too specific and solved by a simple phone call to those establishments.

2. Omoide is family friendly

3. I’ve only been to Omoide at night, and that “traditional” atmosphere is definitely not family friendly. Just imagine bringing your kids to a small alley lined with cramped, small bars full of drunk people. It’s probably different during lunch, if they’re even open.

   The food I’ve had were mostly grilled stuff and raw fish. I’d google for family friendly izakayas, yakitoris, yakinikus, and sushi spots.

4. Most of these yokochos are designed for drinking first, eating second.

   For at least omoide yokocho the majority were closed for lunch iirc. They are also cramped and while Japan introduced a smoking ban this year some restaurants/bars are exempted.

   Maybe harmonica alley in Kichijoji?

5. You can’t really generalize because Yokocho literally just means side street/alley. Ameya Yokocho for example is lined with stalls selling foods and goods from all over the world and has very few drinking establishments. A lot of drinking does go on in the ones you specifically mentioned, but unless you’re worried about your kids never being exposed to the existence of alcohol, they won’t be scarred for life if you take them. And consider that there is a lot of drinking all over Japan in general–if you go to Shinjuku or Shibuya or Namba, you’re going to see drunk people, bars, and hostesses whether you go down those specific streets or not. Also, Hozenji Yokocho is really very tame, and has very little eating/drinking on the actual street (although this is not true for Dotonbori/Namba in general).

6. It depends on the actual alley: Ameya Yokocho, Ebisu Yokocho or Sanchoku Yokocho in Tokyo would be fairly good lunch options. Some of the alleys, however, will be focused on evening/night customers.

   If you want to actually explore food scene, Tabelog is usually a very good option.

   Note that if you are looking to eat out with a group that includes pre-teens, you should really consider restaurants with private booths or rooms.

7. Most bars/pubs/izayaka in yokocho will not be open for lunch. The vast majority of shops open at 5PM.

   I would not say Omoide Yokocho is child friendly. It’s a drinking atmosphere. Nonbei is definitely not.

   You could look into the more sterilized/manufactured yokocho, like Ebisu or Roppongi yokocho, but I’ve never seen non-adults at either.

   But, will anyone stop you from bringing kids? Probably not. Many Omoide shops have an upstairs, tabled area and I’m sure you can find a place that will serve you; just be ready to be also rejected from some.

8. In general, it’s just a street with small, cramped izakayas/bars. If I go to one it’s because I’m going to a specific one or am bar hopping. While I have seen kids at izakayas, it’s rare, and I’m not sure the ones in such places as you mentioned would give up one of it’s 10 seats (generously put), for underage customers. Some places even demand that you order something from the menu before you sit down, which might not always be alcohol free.

   However, in all those areas that you mentioned, there are world class dining option within a 5 minute walk, at least for Osaka and Tokyo. Hozenji Yokocho, Osaka, for example: it’s just one street in an area almost entriely devoted to food (and entertainment/touristy shopping). I don’t know how traditional you expect “traditional” to be but regardless of where you go, even if it’s western food, it’s not going to be of western atmosphere nor serve actual western food.

   As other have suggested: yakiniku joints or similar are a great option. Most of the have private booths and offer all-you-can-drink-and-eat sets for the brave. Good luck!

9. Honestly, it would be a nightmare corralling a family through there. I can’t imagine that it would be an enjoyable experience in the end.

   If your kids are picky eaters at all, I also would not recommend. If you sit down somewhere, you have to order a drink and a food item, and sometimes you don’t know what those options are until they’re in front of you.

   I love it, it’s an experience and it’s insanely cultural. I just can’t imagine carting kids through one. Unless they’re in they’re teens, I’d avoid.

   The ones I’m familiar with, in Tokyo, are closed for the most part until 3-5 everyday. So you can still walk through them just to get photos and see them, and a few stalls might be open. Just avoid once they’re open.

10. Yokochos are for workers and students to get blitzed after hours. I don’t recall many (any?) being open before 5pm and they’re also not really appropriate for kids. My wife would probably look at me like I’m stupid if I suggested taking ours to a yokocho.

    If you’re dead set on it maybe try Ebisu Yokocho as that one is maybe the most family friendly one. If you get turned away there are plenty of street level options nearby (“Ginza Dori” on the other side of the station).

11. Yokochos are for workers to get blitzed after hours. I don’t recall many (any?) being open before 5pm and they’re also not really appropriate for kids. My wife would probably look at me like I’m stupid if I suggested taking ours to a yokocho.

    If you’re dead set on it maybe try Ebisu Yokocho as that one is maybe the most family friendly one. If you get turned away there are plenty of street level options nearby (“Ginza Dori” on the other side of the station).

12. Putting aside ages, these places tend to be pretty awkward to visit in groups anyway. Worth a walk through, but trying to get seated for some grilled chicken cartilage isn’t worth it in my opinion. This might not be an appealing suggestion to you, but there are always artificial ones which are very family friendly. In Osaka you have a small but fun themed food court in Tempozan Harbor – Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho. In Yokohama the ramen museum (not the cup ramen museum, that’s a very different place) the entire place is themed like a retro turn complete with small alleys, definitely fun for the kids. Namjatown in Ikebukuro is sadly half the size and majesty it once was, but the retro themed 7-chome Yokocho area is still somewhat interesting. Plus there’s rides and stuff for the kids