Togoshi Ginza: Explore the Homey Streets of Tokyo

Tokyo is the largest city in the world with 13 million people living in an area just about the size of Los Angeles county, that means it’s twice as dense as LA.

Naturally, the city has more residential areas than the flashy business areas like Shibuya or Shinjuku. And what is more quintessential to a residential area than a local market street where everyday people would go grocery shopping and grab a few munchies along the way. Well, here’s a perfect spot for those who’d like to get an everyday Tokyoite experience.

Togoshi Ginza is a 1.3km shopping street located in southern Tokyo. It should not be confused with Ginza, which is the highend shopping street located in central Tokyo, although Togoshi Ginza gets its name from it.

The shopping street has over 400 businesses of various kind along it. It is the ultimate go-to spot for any daily shopping, as well as some souvenirs. However, the biggest attraction of all are the numerous restaurants and stands that serve food to be eaten on the streets.

There are dozens of spots where you could buy food and eat on the streets. One of the most popular ones is the yakitori, where the master would roast the chicken in front of the streets. It fills the streets with a savory smell of roasted chicken dipped in special yakitori sauce.

Another great thing about these streets is that there are restaurants which put out stools and tables for people to eat. Here is one taiyaki place which serves drinks as well as a variety of munchies. During summer, they also serve shaved ice, which is an absolute lifesaver during the hot and humid summer in Tokyo.

The busy streets during the day turns into a restaurant district at night. Although many of the family owned businesses close at this time, there are still a lot of fun in this town. There are ramens, izakaya, Italian food, you name it. Togoshi Ginza might not be the most famous spot for tourists to visit, but it’s a surely fun place to spend a few hours just strolling.