Omoide Yokocho 新宿西口 思い出横丁

A tiny alley overflowing with grilled chicken and cold beer

You might have trouble finding Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho at first. This tiny alley barely fits two people across and is discretely snuggled between two other storefronts.

Look for the dimly lit green sign, smoky stalls, and red lanterns. Duck inside to find an abundance of yakitori joints, offering cheap chicken skewers and beer, with each eatery only seating five or six patrons each. Squeeze into a seat and try your luck ordering a selection of skewers and lager. If all goes well, you’ll soon be full of food, drink, and local cheer.