9 Must-Visit Traditional Izakaya in Akihabara and Kanda (2023 Edition)

1. Kanda Kohju (かんだ光壽)

If you ask for a decent Japanese sake place in Kanda area, any of them would name Kanda Kohju. They have various good dishes but we suggest “Kanda Kohju no Otooshi”, a plate of assorted sides which should be more than enough to go with your sake. It has rare brands of sake so ask a member of staff for recommendations.

http://www.kohju.net/ (Japanese Only)

2 Chome-9-7 Kajicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo

2. Santomo (ふぐと日本料理 三友)

Santomo prides itself for being a long establishment of 80 years. It serves Fugu (blowfish) and as well as various other Japanese cuisines. If you wish to try all kinds of authentic Japanese dishes while you are in Japan, this place is a ‘one-stop’ eatery which should save you from the hassles of going from one restaurant to another. Here you can have good Fugu, Unagi and Tempura- if you are a meat lover you can also opt for a tasty sirloin steak of Miyazaki beef.

http://www.3tomo.com/ (Japanese Only)

15-1 Kanda Matsunagacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo

3. Akatsuka (赤津加)

If you fancy a chic izakaya in Akihabara, make your way to Akatsuka. Founded in 1954, you won’t hear a sound of the outside world and feel as if you’ve slipped back into Showa era in no time. The place has the ambience of a local, run-of-the-mill izakaya but beware, it is a high-end eatery and may cost you dear, so try not to order too much in one go.

https://www.akatsuka.tokyo/ (Japanese Only)

1-10-2 Sotokanda Chiyoda, Tokyo

4. Sugi no Akari (杉のあかり)

Here you can enjoy dishes prepared with fresh ingredients from Toyama. The signature ingredient is Hotaruika, aka firefly squid, cooked to your choice from sashimi, tempura to shabu shabu. They also serve good dishes using rare ingredients you don’t come across elsewhere. One of them is Satoimo, root vegetable grown by water from melting snow in the mountains of Tateyama and Tsurugidake.

http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131001/13016918/ (Japanese Only)

Dai 3 Higashi Building B1 Floor, Kanda Hirakawacho 1-banchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

5. Izakaya Shingari (居酒屋 殿)

Shingari is a standing bar-style izakaya but there are stools and tables so you can sit down and relax. The place is definitely value for money with tasty food costing around 500 yen per dish. Even you order loads of drinks and food the chances are you end up spending less than 3000 yen so it’s easy on the wallet.

https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1310/A131001/13104512/dtlmap/ (Japanese Only)

2-22  Kanda Sakumacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 

6. Mimasuya (みますや)

Founded in 1905, it is one of the most legendry izakaya. They offer popular dishes from the Meiji era that are rare finds today, such as Basashi (horsemeat sashimi) and Yanagawa nabe (simmered loach, burdock, and egg in a hot pot), not to mention good varieties of sake to accompany the food.

http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131002/13000630/ (Japanese Only)

2 chome15-2 Kanda Tsukasamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

7. Manaita (まないた)

You can’t miss a shop curtain with a big writing of the eatery’s name in hiragana: “まないた”. The signature dish is grilled salmon. It tastes so good that makes some people cry for joy! The price range is on the high end though, which means the place is more like a posh koryouri-ya rather than izakaya.

http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131002/13111632/ (Japanese Only)

2 Chome 1-1 Kanda Tacho, Chiyoda-ku , Tokyo

8.Ichijiku (九) *Closed

This is a must-go place when you are in Akihabara and fancy having yakitori. You can enjoy a good night out with yakitori over a glass of sake like the locals do. We recommend grilled Seseri, the tasty and juicy part of chicken’s neck. You can also have scrummy Seseri over a bowl of rice, a dish named Seseri-don at lunchtime.

B1F Aizawa building, 17 Kanda Matsunagacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

9. Kanda Izakaya Nomuzu (居酒屋のむず)

This is where you can find foods from Yamagata with Imoni (simmered potatoes) and Tama Konnyaku (cooked konnyaku balls) to name a few. Traditional eggplant pickles from Oishida in Yamagata called ‘Pesora-zuke’ are also available and definitely worth a try. Nomuzu also serves Osaka-style Kushiage (deep-fried skewered meat, seafood and vegetables) so you can try the best of both regions.

http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131002/13102793/ (Japanese Only)

White Ekimae Building 2F, 3-18-8 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

When you are in the area the chances are you would be drawn to themed izakaya. But there are good establishments like these 9 places worth giving it a go.