Omoide Yokocho (“Memory Lane”) is a small warren of yakitori and ramen restaurants located just north of Shinjuku Station more commonly known as “Piss Alley” in English. It has become another one of Tokyo’s slightly off-beat tourist attractions, but despite the extra custom tourists bring, vendors are particularly unfriendly to those wielding cameras so if you want to take pictures of the stalls you are going to have to do so surreptitiously; otherwise expect to be met with a stern “No photo!” almost immediately. Unlike Golden Gai, this one is mainly lines of yakitori restaurants.
Location
Omoide Yokocho, 1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0023« Google Maps »
Getting there
From the West Exit of JR Shinjuku Station: walk north on the right hand side of the road with the Keio Department store on your left; turn right when you see UNIQLO on the corner and you will see the green neon sign to Omoide Yokocho. From the East Exit of JR Shinjuku Station: walk along the left hand side by the rail tracks and go through the underpass; Omoide Yokocho is immediately on your left when you come out the other side.