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Best Things to Do in Nakano at Night (Nightlife)

A town that combines a friendly downtown atmosphere with the convenience of the city

Updated: September 1, 2024

Here are some of the best places to enjoy a night out in Nakano.

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Tourist Spots

1. 中野レンガ坂

Nakano Renga-zaka Fashionable street paved with bricks

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Nakano

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Restaurant area

Nakano Renga-zaka
Nakano Renga-zaka

Nakano Renga-zaka, or Brick Hill, is a stylish street that extends from the south exit of Nakano Station, paved with bricks as its name suggests. The area is dotted with cafes, restaurants, and boutiques, creating a modern and creative atmosphere. It’s a popular photo spot where the brick buildings and lush greenery blend beautifully. For tourists, it’s a recommended place to discover a new side of Nakano’s charm.

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3 Chome Nakano, Nakano City, Tokyo 164-0001

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2. 中野三番街

Nakano Sanbangai A lively street with many restaurants, taverns, and small bars

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Nakano

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Restaurant area

Nakano Sanbangai
Nakano Sanbangai
Nakano Sanbangai

Nakano Sanbangai is a commercial area located near the north exit of Nakano Station, lined with a variety of eateries, izakayas, and small bars. It comes alive from evening to night, serving as a social hub for locals. Tourists can enjoy diverse cuisine and experience the local izakaya culture, making it a perfect spot to interact with local people.

Map IconAddress

5-58 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo

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3. 昭和新道商店街

Showa Shindo Shopping Street Shopping district with a retro atmosphere

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Nakano

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Shopping street Restaurant area

Showa Shindo Shopping Street
Showa Shindo Shopping Street

Showa Shindo Shopping Street, located near Nakano Station’s south exit, is a retro shopping street that evokes a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of Japan’s Showa era. It features a collection of small eateries, izakayas (Japanese pubs), and quaint shops, bustling with the daily lives of locals. For tourists, it offers a chance to enjoy the charm of an old-fashioned Japanese shopping street, providing a unique contrast to modern Japan.

Map IconAddress

5 Chome Nakano, Nakano City, Tokyo 164-0001

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4. 東中野 銀座通り

Higashi-Nakano Ginza Street Realistic Japanese shopping streets

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Nakano

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Shopping street Restaurant area

Higashi-Nakano Ginza Street
Higashi-Nakano Ginza Street
Higashi-Nakano Ginza Street

Higashi-Nakano Ginza Street is a shopping street located near Higashi-Nakano Station, known for its charming local atmosphere. The street is lined with restaurants, cafes, and specialty shops, and serves as a place for local residents to do their daily shopping and dining. The area retains a retro feel, with stores that evoke the Showa era, and you can experience the vibrant spirit of a traditional shopping district.

For tourists, it offers a chance to enjoy the authentic scenery of a Japanese shopping street that hasn’t been commercialized as a tourist destination.

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3 Chome-1-19 Higashinakano, Nakano City, Tokyo 164-0003

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5. 中野お酒の美術館

Nakano Museum of Alcohol Unique museum dedicated to Japan’s rich drinking culture

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Nakano

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Bar

Nakano Museum of Alcohol
Nakano Museum of Alcohol
Nakano Museum of Alcohol

The Nakano Museum of Alcohol is a unique museum dedicated to Japan’s rich drinking culture, covering the history and production processes of sake, beer, shochu, and more. The museum features a diverse range of exhibits on various alcoholic beverages and even offers a tasting corner, allowing visitors to deepen their understanding while enjoying different drinks. It’s an ideal spot for tourists to experience Japan’s rich alcohol culture and enjoy local drinks, especially for those who appreciate alcoholic beverages.

Map IconAddress

1F Recorto Nakano, 5 Chome-60-10 Nakano, Nakano City, Tokyo, 164-0001 Japan

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Official Site Nakano Museum of Alcohol

Tokyo's Local Cuisine

1. 江戸前寿司

Edomae Sushi Sushi made with fresh seafood from Tokyo Bay

Edomae Sushi is made with fresh seafood from Tokyo Bay and is a symbol of Tokyo’s sushi culture. The artisanal skills of the sushi chefs are evident in the nigirizushi and makizushi, and the high-end sushi restaurants in Tsukiji Market and Ginza are particularly famous.

2. ラーメン

Ramen Various ramen from all over Japan

Tokyo is teeming with a wide variety of ramen restaurants. You can enjoy a variety of soups, such as soy sauce, salt, miso, and tonkotsu (pork bone). Tokyo’s ramen is especially popular among tourists because of its unique style and abundance of toppings.

3. うな重

Unaju Grilled broiled eel on a bed of rice

Unaju is extremely popular. Unaju is a dish consisting of grilled broiled eel on a bed of rice. In particular, unajyu served at long-established restaurants that have been in business since the Edo period offers a traditional taste.

4. もんじゃ焼き

Monjayaki Famous Teppanyaki Cuisine

Monjayaki is a teppan-yaki dish famous in downtown Tokyo, especially in the Tsukishima area. Ingredients such as cabbage, seafood, and meat are mixed into a thin batter and grilled on a teppan grill. It is a homey and familiar dish for locals, as they enjoy grilling it by themselves.

5. ちゃんこ鍋

Chanko-Nabe One-pot meals eaten by sumo wrestlers in their rooms on a daily basis

Chanko-nabe is a nabe dish served at the famous sumo stables in the Ryogoku district of Tokyo. It is nutritious and hearty, with plenty of meat, fish, and vegetables. Chanko-nabe is known as a dish used by sumo wrestlers to improve their physical strength.

6. 油そば

Aburasoba A kind of ramen without soup

Aburasoba is a type of ramen with no broth, a dish in which noodles are tossed with sauce. In Tokyo, there are many restaurants specializing in this dish, and with a wide variety of toppings, it is a fun way to customize the dish to your own taste.

7. 天ぷら

Tempura Fried dishes with fresh seafood and vegetables

Tempura in Tokyo is a deep-fried dish made with fresh seafood and vegetables and characterized by the Edo-mae technique. Its crispy texture and simple seasoning that makes the most of the flavors of the ingredients are appealing.

8. 深川めし

Fukagawa-meshi Rice cooked with clams

Fukagawa-meshi is a dish that originated in the Fukagawa district of downtown Tokyo. Typical dishes include rice cooked with clams and rice topped with miso soup with clams. This dish began as a fisherman’s dish and is still loved by the locals today, a simple yet delicious dish that shows the bounty of the sea.