I'm Chef Fujito from REONA SUSHI. In this article, I would like to thoroughly explain the "Kanda" area where our REONA SUSHI is located. Tokyo is a place where various cultures mix, from the latest trends to long-established downtown traditions. Among these areas, "Kanda," which includes the areas around Jimbocho, Ochanomizu, and Akihabara stations, is a cultural district with a retro atmosphere despite being in the center of Tokyo. In fact, Kanda is one of the oldest historical districts in Tokyo. For 400 years, since Edo became the capital of Tokyo, it has been the center of Tokyo and a source of popular culture. That's why you can find many bookstores that have been in business for many years, as well as restaurants that have continued to serve exquisite Japanese cuisine without significantly changing their flavors for over 100 years, beloved by locals and literary masters alike.
In this article, I will introduce cultural tourist spots and restaurants where you can enjoy fine dining in and around Kanda.
Source:VISIT CHIYODA（https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/50）
The Kanda area, despite being in the heart of Tokyo, is actually a region with relatively few tourists. It could be described as an "undiscovered area." Just how central is it? It's located right next to Tokyo Station and only a 15-minute walk from the Imperial Palace. This is precisely why multiple train lines run through the Kanda area, making it exceptionally accessible: Kanda Station: JR Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Chuo Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Awajicho Station: Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Shin-Ochanomizu Station: Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line What makes Kanda charming is its retro downtown atmosphere despite being in central Tokyo. The area still preserves retro buildings and culture, lined with long-established restaurants that have maintained their popularity over the years. Compared to downtown areas like Yanaka that have become tourist destinations, Kanda is the perfect spot to experience a genuine Tokyo downtown atmosphere that hasn't yet been commercialized for tourism.
Source:VISIT CHIYODA（https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/50）
The Kanda area has been densely populated with universities for 140 years, historically serving as a center for academics and culture. Additionally, this area is home to many renowned Japanese publishing houses, with scholars, writers, and other intellectuals frequenting the neighborhood since long ago. With its rows of specialized used bookstores, Kanda exudes an intellectual and distinctive atmosphere. The food culture in Kanda has also developed due to the many intellectuals gathering in this area. There are many long-established restaurants loved by gourmets and literary masters, which continue to be cherished by many cultural figures and celebrities today.
Source:Official web site（https://www.yabusoba.net/shop/）
For a long time, Kanda has been at the heart of popular culture, lined with various types of restaurants including soba, Edo-style sushi, Japanese-Western fusion, and curry. It's an area where many long-established restaurants remain, such as a soba shop with 145 years of history and a famous Western-style restaurant with 118 years of tradition, beloved by food connoisseurs and literary masters.
REONA Sushi opened in the Kanda area because sushi, a symbol of Tokyo, was drawn to this place that has historically supported the development of Tokyo cuisine including sushi. This is truly a neighborhood that represents the origins of Tokyo's food culture.
While Kanda has many established and famous restaurants, it's actually not an upscale area. It offers a wide range of establishments, from quality restaurants that boast the finest ingredients and techniques yet are loved for their reasonable prices, to casual izakayas that feel like stepping back in time.
The restaurants in Kanda are high-caliber and fiercely competitive with one another. That's precisely why only the truly skilled establishments survive.
The charm of the Kanda area is that tourist spots are scattered within walking distance. You can fully experience it in one day while taking a leisurely stroll.
Please follow the itinerary I'm about to introduce to efficiently tour the Kanda area.
###8:00 AM Start at "Kanda Myojin" surrounded by the refreshing morning air
Source:VISIT CHIYODA（https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/151）
Kanda Shrine was established in 730 and has a long history. It's beloved as a deity protecting areas such as Kanda, Nihonbashi, Akihabara, and Marunouchi. Within the shrine grounds, deities of matchmaking, business prosperity, and warding off evil are enshrined, with bronze statues and paintings of each deity on display.
The red main gate with its intricate decorations is very magnificent and has a solemn atmosphere. When you pass through the gate and enter the grounds, you'll feel a dignified air.
In the morning, there are few worshippers, allowing you to spend time in a quiet atmosphere. Please enjoy the solemn atmosphere and the dignity of the architecture while wishing for safety on your journey that's about to begin.
According to the Kanda Guide, this shrine offers visitors a perfect introduction to traditional Japanese spiritual sites while being conveniently located for tourists exploring Tokyo's central districts.
After departing from Kanda Shrine, let's walk toward the Kanda area and stop by several tourist spots along the way. The Kanda area features buildings from various eras, including historical architecture and structures representing modern design. You can see how buildings incorporating diverse cultures blend into Tokyo's streets.
Source:Wikipedia（https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yushima_Seid%C5%8D）
After leaving Kanda Shrine, let's walk toward the Kanda neighborhood and stop at several tourist spots along the way. As Tokyo's oldest downtown area, the Kanda district features buildings from various eras, including historic structures and examples of modern architecture.
You can see how buildings that have incorporated diverse cultural influences blend into Tokyo's urban landscape.
Inside the building, bronze statues of Confucius and his disciples are enshrined. During exam season, many students visit to pray for success in their exams. Immerse yourself in the solemn atmosphere and feel the power of the philosophers who devoted themselves to scholarship.
Information: Address: Yushima Seido, 1-4-25 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Hours: 9:00-17:00 (16:00 in winter) / Main Hall open on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (10:00-closing time) Closed: August 13-17, December 29-31 Phone: 03-3251-4606 Official website: http://www.seido.or.jp/
Source:Wikipedia(https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%81%96%E6%A9%8B)
Six minutes on foot from Yushima Seido is Hijiri Bridge, where you can enjoy scenery that blends natural and urban elements. According to the Kanda Guide, this concrete bridge was built over the Kanda River in 1927 and features a solid appearance with curved aesthetics influenced by modernism.
The combination of the Kanda River and Hijiri Bridge, a legacy of the era when Western-influenced structures were first built in Tokyo, creates a beautiful photographic composition and is a popular spot.
From the bridge, you can simultaneously view the Marunouchi Line arriving and departing from Ochanomizu Station, the intersecting Chuo Line running above it, the Matsuzumicho-Over-road-Bridge with its distinctive green arches, and the crowded cluster of buildings.
Information: Address: 4-chome, Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Source:VISIT CHIYODA（https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/470）
Holy Resurrection Cathedral - St. Nikolai is a cathedral located just a 5-minute walk from Hijiri Bridge. It was built in 1891 by missionary Nikolai Kasatkin to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This building is also famous as the first church architecture in Japan to incorporate the "Byzantine style," which developed in the Eastern Roman Empire. Byzantine style is characterized by domes, marble stonework, and mosaic art.
The white walls with arched decorations throughout and the vivid emerald-green dome roof create such a beautiful visual that you might want to gaze at it for a while. The Kanda Guide recommends this as one of the most striking architectural sights in the area.
Information:
Source:Wikipedia（https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AD%A6%E6%A0%A1%E6%B3%95%E4%BA%BA%E3%82%A2%E3%83%86%E3%83%8D%E3%83%BB%E3%83%95%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BB）
The areas around Kanda and Ochanomizu are also famous for their historical modern architecture.
When you enter the Shin Ochanomizu Building and proceed to the back, you'll find an open terrace with a spacious atrium. This terrace faithfully reproduces Le Corbusier's concept of "securing open space at the foot of high-rise buildings." According to the Kanda Guide, this architectural feature makes it a perfect spot for tourists to rest during their exploration.
Other famous buildings include the "Athénée Français" French language school with its distinctively vibrant pink walls, and the Ochanomizu Square Building A, a postmodern architecture that evokes both elegance and solidity.
Enjoy the scenery of standout modern architecture while strolling through the Kanda area lined with buildings. After viewing historical architecture like Kanda Shrine and Yushima Seido, experiencing the modern architecture group of Ochanomizu will give you a sense of tracing the history of architecture.
Information:
The area around Kanda Station is also famous as a competitive lunch district. You can enjoy various gourmet options from Japanese cuisine to authentic curry made with French techniques. The Kanda Guide highlights this area as a must-visit for tourists seeking authentic Japanese flavors.
From here, I will introduce famous long-established restaurants in the Kanda area. Please enjoy the deep flavors of dishes that have remained popular for many years.
Source:Tabelog（https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131002/13000340/dtlphotolst/4/smp2/）
Kanda Matsuya is a renowned soba restaurant established in 1884. With over 140 years of history, it has been beloved by numerous literary masters. The famous historical novelist Shotaro Ikenami was known to have fallen in love with the taste of the soba and frequently visited the establishment.
The exterior and interior of the restaurant maintain the style of traditional Japanese houses, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. First-time visitors should definitely try the "Mori Soba." It's a dish where you can experience the rich flavor of the soba, excellent texture, and smooth feeling as it goes down your throat.
Information:
Source:Wikipedia（https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%8B%E3%82%93%E3%81%A0%E3%82%84%E3%81%B6%E3%81%9D%E3%81%B0）
Kanda Yabusoba is an established soba restaurant founded in 1880. It has preserved the taste that has continued since the Edo period and is still loved by many people today. The Japanese-style building located in an area surrounded by modern buildings exudes an elegant atmosphere.
At Kanda Yabusoba, the "Seiro Soba," which allows you to enjoy the taste of the soba itself, as well as side menus such as tempura using seasonal vegetables and duck breast, are popular. Please try the taste of soba that has been loved across generations.
Information:
Source:Tabelog（https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131002/13000349/dtlphotolst/1/smp2/D-normal/5/）
Shoeitei is a Japanese Western-style restaurant where hamburger steak, pork cutlets, and curry rice are popular dishes.
The first owner served as the private chef for Professor von Koeber of Tokyo Imperial University (now: University of Tokyo), and it is said that his famous student, novelist Natsume Soseki, often ate his cooking. (Natsume Soseki: A Japanese novelist who wrote "I Am a Cat," famous for the line "I am a cat. I have, as yet, no name.")
The "Western-style Kakiage" was created when the food connoisseur Natsume Soseki asked the chef to make "something different." It's a substantial dish consisting of an omelet with pork and onions that is deep-fried.
Information:
Source:VISIT CHIYODA（https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/363）
Botan is a restaurant specializing in chicken sukiyaki that was established in 1897. Various parts of chicken, along with ingredients such as green onions and tofu, are placed in an iron pot and simmered in a soy sauce-based broth.
The chicken sukiyaki, cooked in a special iron pot over charcoal fire, features tender chicken meat with a light, refreshing flavor. Be sure to enjoy every last bit by adding rice and egg to the broth that has absorbed the chicken's umami.
The building, which has been in operation for over 120 years, is beautifully maintained and offers a wonderful view of traditional Japanese architecture.
According to the Kanda Guide, this restaurant is one of the most authentic culinary experiences you can have in the area.
Information:
Source:VISIT CHIYODA（https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/376）
Bondy's origins began when the first owner traveled to France and encountered authentic brown sauce while working at a French restaurant owned by a friend. Using this sauce as a base, he created a curry sauce with sweetness and richness by simmering fruits, vegetables, and spices.
Japanese curry is made by simmering sautéed ingredients, then adding spices and curry roux for further cooking. It has a creamy texture similar to cream stew.
While curry originally comes from South Asia, it has been modified to suit Japanese tastes and continues to evolve. Today, it has become a national dish deeply rooted in everyday life.
The Kanda Guide highlights Bondy as one of Tokyo's finest curry establishments. If you're interested in curry, it's definitely worth a visit.
Information (Jimbocho Main Store):
After lunch, let's move to Jimbocho to enjoy used bookstores and Japanese-style coffee shops (cafes that offer not just coffee but also a variety of food items). The Kanda Guide recommends finding a book you like in Jimbocho, Kanda's preeminent district of used bookstores, and reading it while enjoying excellent coffee at a long-established coffee shop.
Source:Official website（https://www.yamada-shoten.com/onlinestore/store.php）
Yamada Shoten is a store that deals in ukiyo-e prints, woodblock prints, and art-related books. It opened in 1936 and has a history of about 90 years. They sell works by world-famous ukiyo-e artists such as Hokusai Katsushika and Hiroshige Utagawa, as well as pieces by artists like Taro Okamoto and Tsuguharu Fujita.
The interior creates an atmosphere reminiscent of not just a bookstore but also a gallery or museum. You can directly handle and carefully examine valuable art pieces at your leisure.
The Kanda Guide mentions that this is a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts exploring the area.
Information:
Source:Official website（http://www.yumeno-manga.com/index.html）
Yumeno Manga Bookstore is a shop that specializes in old manga books and magazines, mainly featuring Showa-era manga. The store is run by an owner who has been appraising manga-related items for over 30 years. Under the owner's discerning eye, approximately 20,000 valuable items are available for sale.
The store doesn't just offer manga books. You can also find original autographs from creators and storyboards drawn during the production process. You'll likely discover precious items that can only be found at this store. The Kanda Guide highly recommends this unique destination for manga enthusiasts looking for rare collectibles.
Information:
Source:Official website（http://atwonder.blog111.fc2.com/）
At Wonder is a bookstore that deals in books related to science fiction, mystery, and films. The bookshelves installed on the exterior walls of the building are packed with books, creating a unique landscape. Inside the store, you can also purchase vintage movie posters and pamphlets. This is a shop where you can find valuable items that aren't available at ordinary bookstores. According to the Kanda Guide, this is a must-visit spot for collectors.
There's a book café on the second floor where you can enjoy reading while having curry, cake, coffee, and other foods without reservation.
Information:
Source:Tabelog（https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131003/13011637/dtlrvwlst/B446038706/）
Trois Bagues is a café located in the basement of a building in front of Jimbocho Station. When you descend to the basement of this multi-tenant building, you'll find a relaxing space wrapped in dark lighting.
This café serves aging coffee made from green beans that have been rested and roasted over time, as well as aged bean coffee. The coffee brewed through nel drip has a bitter taste but a refreshingly clean aftertaste. The Kanda Guide suggests you spend time reading or relaxing while enjoying their famous gratin toast.
Information:
Source:Official website（https://shop.glitchcoffee.com/pages/about）
GLITCH COFFEE & ROASTERS is a popular café specializing in light-roasted coffee. As an emerging coffee shop, it attracted attention at coffee events in 2024.
The menu doesn't include blended coffee, but instead features several specialty coffees categorized by origin region. You can also compare and taste several different types of coffee side by side.
For first-time visitors, baristas will carefully explain the differences between beans. Try experiencing truly delicious coffee while conversing with the English-proficient staff. The Kanda Guide recommends this spot as an excellent introduction to Tokyo's coffee culture.
In the evening, store signs light up as izakayas and restaurants serving alcohol begin operation. Visit establishments that have been loved by food connoisseurs for many years and enjoy Japanese cuisine with drinks. You'll be amazed by the deliciousness of Japanese food created by these long-established businesses. According to the Kanda Guide, this evening food tour is particularly enjoyable for tourists seeking authentic dining experiences.
Source:Tabelog（https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131003/13000419/dtlphotolst/4/smp2/D-normal/）
Tsuruhachi is a prestigious sushi restaurant established in 1959 that serves "authentic" sushi. It's so famous that it's among the first establishments mentioned when discussing "renowned restaurants in Jinbocho." The restaurant has a rich history of training many famous sushi chefs and has made significant contributions to Tokyo's sushi culture.
They serve authentic sushi using fresh, seasonal fish. Inside the restaurant, there are cards with fish names displayed, and you order by telling them what you'd like to eat.
Their sushi, made with premium-quality fish like medium-fatty tuna, mackerel, and conger eel, is exquisite. The sushi rice has been consistently prepared with red vinegar since the founding chef's time, giving it a distinctive, mellow flavor.
Sushi pairs perfectly with sake. If you want to experience the true deliciousness of sushi, you should definitely visit.
However, as is common with historic Tokyo establishments, photography is prohibited inside the restaurant.
While the restaurant itself offers a very relaxed atmosphere, please make sure to follow the house rules.
Source:Google Maps（https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZT1sMygExcQ8XXC99）
Hishitani is a locally popular restaurant specializing in fish dishes. Above all, the owner and chefs are top-tier craftsmen who could compete with the best in Tsukiji, Tokyo's fiercely competitive sushi district, and their sushi and Japanese cuisine are simply magnificent. They offer ingredients and dishes that would cost three times as much in Ginza, but in a relaxed atmosphere at reasonable prices.
They serve various styles of fish dishes including sashimi, sushi, grilled fish, and simmered fish. Each dish uses fresh, seasonal fish and is seasoned to highlight the fish's natural flavors.
Why not try some sake while enjoying a luxurious seafood bowl or an assortment of sashimi? This restaurant offers a highly satisfying gourmet experience at reasonable prices. As it's a place where you can casually enjoy delicious fish, it's recommended to visit multiple times during your stay.
However, it tends to be quite crowded both at lunch and dinner on most days. It's best to arrive right when they open or visit a little later in the evening.
Source:Tabelog（https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131003/13022740/dtlphotolst/1/smp2/）
Kanda Tempura Hachimaki is a long-established tempura restaurant located in Jimbocho. A quintessential Tokyo-style tempura restaurant, with their signature dish being the tendon (tempura rice bowl) topped with plenty of delicious sauce.
It's also famous as a favorite spot of Edogawa Ranpo, one of Japan's representative mystery writers. The menu features tempura made with large prawns, squid, and seasonal vegetables, as well as tendon (tempura served over rice) and side dishes like sashimi.
If you sit at the counter, you can watch the chefs fry tempura right before your eyes. According to the Kanda Guide, this live atmosphere enhances the experience of enjoying freshly fried tempura.
Information:
After dinner, return to the Kanda Station area and enjoy bar hopping. The streets of Kanda are packed with many restaurants, including plenty of places serving alcohol. Here, I'll introduce three atmospheric establishments where you can enjoy delicious Japanese food with drinks.
####Mimasuya (Izakaya)
Source: Tabelog (https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131002/13000630/dtlphotolst/4/smp2/)
Mimasuya, established in 1905, is a restaurant that has been beloved by izakaya enthusiasts for many years. The Kanda Guide particularly recommends its exterior that preserves an old-fashioned charm. You'll be impressed by its retro and tasteful appearance.
Inside, there are tatami seating areas and table seats. Menu cards hang from the walls, and Japanese-style lighting fixtures are attached to the ceiling. The entire establishment has a down-to-earth, relaxing atmosphere.
Enjoy drinks along with fresh horse meat sashimi, soy sauce-based simmered dishes, and small side dishes. This restaurant offers a wonderful experience of Japanese culture.
Information:
Source:Tabelog（https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131002/13000375/）
Kanda Shinpachi is a long-established izakaya (Japanese pub) that opened in 1981. They serve various Japanese dishes, focusing on fish dishes, yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), and hot pot dishes. Among the menu items, sashimi and simmered fish are particularly well-regarded. You will be amazed by the depth of Japanese cuisine.
Additionally, they offer gourmet fish dishes loved by food connoisseurs, such as salt-grilled or simmered nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch, a premium fish), and sashimi platters using seasonal fish. Select your preferred sake from their extensive collection and enjoy how it pairs with the fish dishes.
Source:Google Maps（https://maps.app.goo.gl/wWU3L6kqeh3NGK9e8）
Owariya is a historic soba restaurant established in 1923. Its black building located in a back alley with the golden characters "Owariya Honten" (Owariya Main Store) emanates a solemn atmosphere.
Owariya offers not only soba but also a rich menu of side dishes and alcoholic beverages. The Kanda Guide recommends enjoying dishes such as dashi-infused tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet) or juicy duck meat sauté along with Japanese sake or shochu. The most delicious way to eat, which food connoisseurs absolutely follow, is to finish your meal with soba.
If you want to taste refined dishes with prominent dashi flavor, please visit this establishment.
Various major Tokyo tourist spots are scattered around Kanda.
It takes about 30 minutes on foot to Nihonbashi and about 10 minutes to Akihabara. According to the Kanda Guide, you can arrange your route by swapping morning and afternoon tourist spots based on your interests, or add other tourist attractions to customize your journey.
Source:about Chuo City（https://www.city.chuo.lg.jp/miryoku/imamukashi/nihonbashi.html）
Nihombashi, like Kanda, is a town that has flourished as a downtown area of Tokyo. Among the modern buildings, you'll find long-established department stores and individual shops that have been in business for many years.
"Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store," Japan's oldest department store, was designated as a national historic building in 2016. The solemn lion statues in front of the entrance are also famous as a meeting spot.
Throughout Nihombashi, dignified buildings remain everywhere, with Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store leading the way. Nihombashi is definitely an area where you can experience both tradition and modern culture, and the Kanda Guide recommends enjoying it alongside the Kanda area.
Source:Official website（https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/enjoy/post-02/）
Tokyo Dome City is a mixed-use amusement facility located about a 27-minute walk (or approximately 12 minutes by train) from Awajicho Station. You can enjoy attractions such as a Ferris wheel and roller coasters, as well as events featuring popular anime.
Spa LaQua, where you can enjoy hot springs well up from underground and various types of saunas, is my recommended spot to relax your tired body. At night, you can see the beautiful illuminated nightscape of Tokyo Dome and the amusement park.
Source:VISIT CHIYODA（https://visit-chiyoda.tokyo/app/spot/detail/499）
On the JR Yamanote Line, Akihabara Station and Kanda Station are adjacent to each other. Part of Akihabara has an address called "Sotokanda."
There are clusters of shops selling electronic products, stores handling anime and manga, game centers, and buildings where you can experience Japanese pop culture, such as maid cafes. Unlike Kanda, which values its traditional atmosphere, Akihabara is a town where you can enjoy a lively ambiance.
The fact that even within the same Kanda area, different scenery spreads across each district is what makes Tokyo uniquely interesting. The Kanda Guide points out that this diversity is one of the special charms of exploring this area.
How was it?
Kanda is a neighborhood beloved by us Tokyo residents and also the heart of Tokyo's food culture, especially for sushi.
It's not yet overrun with tourists, making it a wonderful area where you can calmly enjoy cultural experiences like browsing antique books and savoring excellent food.
Please take the time to explore the Kanda area if you're staying nearby.
Of course, we also look forward to welcoming you at REONA Sushi!
