Ameyoko Shopping Street

Ameya-Yokocho (Ameyoko) is a shopping street centered around the approximately 600m stretch on the west side and under the elevated tracks between Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station.

About 400 various stores, including restaurants, clothing shops, and dry goods stores, gather here, bustling with many people. The sight of people gathering at the end of the year to buy ingredients for New Year's, and the bargaining between shopkeepers and customers, has become a year-end tradition, often featured in news programs and talk shows.

Getting to Ameyoko

Ameyoko is located along the railway between Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station on the Yamanote Line, with six convenient stations for access.

• JR Ueno Station / Exit the "Shinobazu Exit," go straight across the pedestrian crossing in front of you. Walk slightly to the right, and you will see the "Ameya-Yokocho" sign on your left.
• Tokyo Metro Ueno Station / Exit "Exit 7," cross the pedestrian crossing immediately on your left, walk slightly to the right, and you will see the Ameyoko sign on your left.
• JR Okachimachi Station / Exit the "North Exit," head towards the street with the Okachimachi Yoshiike Main Store Building. With the building behind you, you will find the Ameyoko sign.
• Keisei Main Line Keisei Ueno Station / Exit the "Main Exit," walk left along the road, cross the pedestrian crossing, and you will see the Ameyoko sign. Alternatively, exit "C8," go straight between "Espas Nitaku" and "Jewelry Tsutsumi." The road stretching left and right at the first intersection is Ameyoko Street.
• Tokyo Metro Ueno-Hirokoji Station, Tokyo Metro Naka-Okachimachi Station, Toei Oedo Line Ueno-Okachimachi Station / Although different lines, they are connected underground. Exit "A7," head left, proceed right at the end of the road, and Ameyoko is on the left after passing under the elevated tracks.

A Shopping Street Born from a Black Market

After World War II, unauthorized stalls and street vendors (black markets) emerged, marking the beginning of Ameyoko. Despite crackdowns for public safety, improvements were slow, leading to the creation of "Kondo Market" in the area where the current Ameyoko Center Building stands. With 80 shops gathered, clean operations began. Additionally, people repatriated from China started opening stalls around the market, forming the roots of today's Ameyoko.

Origin of the Name "Ameyoko"

Ueno Station is the railway gateway from Northern Kanto, Tohoku, and Hokuriku regions. It is said that the name "Ameya-Yokocho" (Candy Shop Alley) originated from the candy shops lined up for peddlers who procured candies (sweets) scarce in rural areas.

Another theory suggests that the name "America-Yokocho" (America Alley) came from the many stores selling surplus goods and imported items from the American occupation forces.

Unique Culture and Enjoyment at Ameyoko

Ameyoko is densely packed with stores spanning a wide range of genres, from food and clothing to military goods, sundries, and jewelry. Many stores handle rare and valuable items, giving it an aspect of a specialty shopping street. If you find unfamiliar ingredients or items of interest, feel free to ask the store staff using a local guide or translator. They should provide you with professional knowledge.

However, during the year-end, Ameyoko sees about 500,000 visitors a day, making it extremely crowded. Make sure to allow plenty of time when going shopping.

The Culture of "Bargaining"

Ameyoko is known for the catchphrase "face-to-face sales where further discounts are possible through negotiation," and you often see customers bargaining with shopkeepers. Especially at the end of the year, many stores offer surprising services to meet the expectations of people shopping for New Year's dishes and guest treats.

Such friendly interactions with close distances between shops and customers are rarely seen in Tokyo.

Delicious Shops to Visit Casually

Marion Crepes / Photo AC

In recent years, there has been an increase in restaurants catering to overseas tourists, including affordable seafood bowl shops and places where you can enjoy food while walking. You can enjoy a variety of gourmet options, such as croquettes and minced meat cutlets from the meat wholesaler "Niku no Oyama," reasonably priced takoyaki from "Minatoya Shokuhin Honten," crepes ranging from sweet to savory at "Marion Crepes," soft serve ice cream at the Japanese tea specialty store "Cha no Kiminoen," skewers, cut fruits, drinks, and more.

One of Ameyoko's specialties is the "chocolate bargain sale." Conducted by "Shimura Shoten" for over 40 years, the performance where the staff energetically toss bags of chocolates into bags is popular.

Suka Jan Jackets / PIXTA

Additionally, the "Ameyoko Underground Shopping Street" in the basement of the Ameyoko Center Building features unique stores such as "Nozawaya," selling spices from various Asian countries, "Kojimaya," a specialty store for dried fruits and nuts with over 60 years of history, and "Okuma Shokai," where you can order custom-made Sukajan jackets.