Ameyoko(Ameya-Yokochō)

A very low-priced market where you can find everything from foods to miscellaneous goods

View Gallery
After the war, Ameyoko, was a place indispensable for survival even though it was called a black market. It’s the closest shopping district in Tokyo from Narita Airport.
Address
アメヤ横丁,Tokyo, Taito 上野6-10-7
Phone
(03) 3832-5053

Photos & Videos

View Gallery

About

Since there were a lot of stores selling candy there, the area was called “Ame-ya Yokocho” (Candy Store Lane). It was also called “America Yokocho” because it sold contraband goods from the US army. The two names got confusing so it’s said that the name ended up as “Ameyoko”. In the past, there were markets in Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro, but now there is only Ameyoko in Ueno. There are 520 stores selling everything from foods and products for everyday living to clothing, watches and health goods. Ameyoko is a street that has a very inexpensive image with many shops that offer products that are cheaper than usual.

Shimura

Shoten A store that sells chocolate at very cheap prices.

Niku no Ohyama

A meat shop that also directly runs a stand-up bar famous for its menchikatsu and croquettes. They go well with beer.

Daitoryou (President)

An izakaya where you can drink right from 10 in the morning. The specialty is the motsu-nikomi (stewed innards). With the feeling of a stand, it’s very easy to enter.

Center Building Underground Food Market

Selling foods not just from Japan, but also South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and many other nations, you can come across many interesting ingredients. 70% of the shoppers are foreigners.

Minatoya

It has a menu with several dozen types of donburi (rice bowl dishes). Along with the restaurant, it also manages a takoyaki stand so the lineups are very long. There is online shopping and the number of shops open 24 hours a day have increased, but as the options for consumers have gone up, Ameyoko has still stuck with the over-the-counter selling. Haggling is a matter of course. You can do your shopping without worry while enjoying the banter.

read more

Access

Take the South Exit from Ueno Station and cross the main road directly in front of you. On the other side of the road you will see many small streets that lead away from the train station. Follow any of the small streets and after a few minutes you will arrive at Ameyoko.

From Shinjuku Station to Ueno Station:
Take the Yamanote Line direct to Ueno Station (26 minutes, ¥200)

From Tokyo Station to Ueno Station:
Take the Yamanote Line direct to Ueno Station (9 minutes, ¥160)

Plan your trip to tokyo

Chat with a local tour guide who can help organize your trip.

Request a Tour

Reviews

8 years ago
Go!
we had amazing food there! Go explore the place and eat seafoods on the grill :)
read more
9 years ago
Ameyoko is a strange place
Ameyoko has a strange vibe about it. Nestled next to Ueno station, is a hoard of Pachinko parlors, clothing stores, jewelry kiosks, kebab stands, ramen joints, Izakaya's (Japanese pub) and various other stores. It can be very loud, chaotic and crazy. African men posing as African-American men may try to get you to buy "The latest fashion" which include energy drink T-shirts and other overly expensive silly things. Strange Japanese men in suits may try to lure you into "Massage" parlors, or may hold up pictures of girls while making strange gestures at you. Others may yell at you to buy kebabs. All in all there is a lot of yelling. Its a giant mish-mash of culture here in a strange Japanese way. Don't avoid it, just keep your wits about you.
read more
9 years ago
Candy Shop Alley
Ameyoko is an outdoor market of about 200 shops next to Ueno Station. Here I see loads of shoes and clothes shops mixed with Pachinko parlors and restaurants. Every store seems to have employed a person to stand outside to shout at passers-by, trying to encourage them to check out their wares. I wander the market aimlessly for about an hour, and am surprised at how cheap some of the fresh seafood is. There is a nice little market in the basement of a building that sells food products, meat, and low priced vegetables. In summary, Candy Shop Alley is incredibly busy at all times, but a nice experience. Especially good if you have big feet, as there are a few shoe shops here that sell the bigger sizes.
read more