Authentic Japanese Pub
Eat, Drink & Feel at Home in Tokyo
A real izakaya — smoky, loud, and full of life.
Cold beer, fresh skewers, and the soul of Japanese night culture.
About Us
Where Tokyo Unwinds at Night
Since 1987, Yamato Izakaya has been the place where salarymen, students, and now visitors from around the world come to shed the day and connect over food and drink. We haven’t changed much — and that’s exactly the point.
No gimmicks. No Instagram-only dishes. Just honest Japanese pub food, cold draught beer, and an atmosphere that can’t be manufactured.
Every skewer takes twelve minutes. We never rush.
Our yakitori is grilled over binchotan charcoal — the same white charcoal used in Kyoto’s finest restaurants — at a carefully controlled distance from the heat. Too close and the outside burns before the inside is done. Too far and you lose the char. It takes years to learn the distance. Our head cook has been doing it for 28 years. Order the tsukune. Thank us later.
What We're Known For
Yakitori Selection
Chicken skewers over binchotan charcoal. Salt or tare sauce. Thigh, breast, skin, liver, heart.
¥180 – ¥320 / skewer
Chicken Karaage
Double-fried thigh meat marinated in soy, ginger, and garlic. Served with kewpie mayo and lemon.
Sashimi of the Day
Whatever arrived this morning from Tsukiji. Sliced thick, plated simply. Ask what’s freshest tonight.
Salted Edamame
Boiled in heavily salted water and finished with flaky sea salt. The mandatory first order.
Pork & Cabbage Gyoza
Handmade daily. Crispy bottoms, juicy filling. Six per order — double up if there are more than two.
Dashimaki Tamago
Rolled omelette infused with dashi stock. Pillowy, slightly sweet, and utterly Japanese.
¥520
Drinks
What to Drink
Draft Beer
Sapporo and Suntory on tap. Always cold, always fresh. The heart of any izakaya evening.
Sake
Eight varieties from across Japan — from dry Niigata junmai to fruity Kyoto ginjo. Hot or cold.
Shochu & Whisky
Japanese whisky highball, imo shochu on the rocks, or mugi shochu mizuwari. Ask for what suits your mood.
Non-Alcoholic
Oolong tea, yuzu soda, and seasonal soft drinks. You don’t need to drink alcohol to belong here.
The Atmosphere
Loud, warm, and a little smoky. Perfect.
An izakaya is not a restaurant. You don’t come to be served — you come to belong. Tables are close. Voices are loud. The smoke from the grill drifts through the room and clings to your jacket, and you won’t mind at all. This is the sound and smell of Tokyo after dark, and there is nowhere on earth quite like it. Come once and you will understand why it is impossible to leave early.
How to Enjoy an Izakaya
01
Start with drinks
Order drinks immediately — it’s customary. Say “toriaezu nama” (draft beer first) and you’ll fit right in.
02
Order gradually
Don’t order everything at once. Small dishes arrive as they’re ready. Keep ordering as you go — that’s the izakaya way.
03
Share everything
All dishes are meant to be shared. Order a variety and try everything. There are no individual portions here.
04
Stay a while
Nobody rushes you out. A good izakaya evening lasts two to three hours minimum. Settle in and enjoy.
English menu available. Staff happy to explain any dish or drink.
A Night at Yamato
What Guests Say
★★★★★
This was the best meal of our two weeks in Japan — and it cost less than ¥3,000 per person. The yakitori was smoky and perfect, the beer was ice cold, and the staff were incredibly welcoming despite the language gap.
Ben T. — United Kingdom
★★★★★
We stumbled in not knowing what to expect. The English menu was a lifesaver. We ended up staying for three hours, trying almost everything. The karaage is genuinely the best I’ve ever had.
Mei L. — Hong Kong
★★★★★
As someone who travels to Tokyo for work twice a year, Yamato is my first stop every time. It’s loud, chaotic, and absolutely perfect. There is no better way to understand Japanese culture than sitting at that counter.
David M. — USA
Visit Info
Find Us
| Address | ○-○○ Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo |
| Hours | Mon–Sat: 5:00 PM — 2:00 AM Sun & Holidays: 4:00 PM — 12:00 AM |
| Closed | New Year holidays (Dec 31 – Jan 2) |
| Reservation | Recommended on weekends. Walk-ins welcome on weekdays. |
| Budget | Approx. ¥2,500 – ¥4,000 / person (food + drinks) |
| From Station | Shinjuku Station East Exit — 5 min walk |
Reservations
Pull up a Stool. Tonight.
Weekend tables fill up fast. Reserve ahead or arrive early — we keep counter seats for walk-ins every night.
Yamato Izakaya Sample Website
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