Ameyoko(Ameya-Yokochō)

we had amazing food there! Go explore the place and eat seafoods on the grill :)

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.

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.