Top 10 Must-Visit Izakayas and Bars in Ginza for 2025: Unforgettable Dining and Nightlife Experiences
When it comes to one of Japan's leading luxury shopping districts, it's Ginza. Ginza is a place where high-end department stores have been lined up for over 100 years, and it's a prestigious location that has flourished as the center of fashion in Tokyo and as a district where gourmet cuisine gathers.
I love Ginza. My pleasure every time is that there are many restaurants where you can fully enjoy dishes that shine with the craftsmanship inherited from history and tradition.
This time, I will introduce 10 establishments from Ginza Best Izakaya & Bars 2025, featuring recommended izakayas in Ginza that boast one of the highest levels in Japan, and bars where you can enjoy a retro yet luxurious atmosphere!
Table of Contents
-6 Recommended Izakayas in Ginza that Boast One of the Highest Levels in Japan
-Recommended Bars in Ginza for Foreigners - 4 Selections
-To fully enjoy Ginza before returning home, try joining a tour with a local guide!
6 Recommended Izakayas in Ginza that Boast One of the Highest Levels in Japan
Godaigo Ginza
Source:Official website
The first place I'd like to introduce is Ginza Godaigo. It's a place where you can enjoy "oden," a traditional Japanese common people's dish, to your heart's content.
Oden is a traditional Japanese dish that has been passed down since ancient times, where vegetables and meat are simmered in dashi broth (a broth based on the umami of bonito flakes, commonly used in Japanese cuisine).
When you pass through the noren (traditional curtain), you'll find a calm interior that seems to have stored the traditional Japanese atmosphere for many years. What I've especially loved since childhood is the daikon radish that's soaked with flavor all the way through. Along with its soft and gentle texture, the dashi broth gradually seeps into your mouth, warming both your body and heart!
If you've enjoyed various gourmet foods during your travels, why not experience this gentle taste of Japanese tradition?
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Address: 1F Corridor Street, 108-103, 7-chome Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: 11:30-14:30, 17:00-23:00
Closed: None
Phone Number: 03-5537-0301
Official Website: https://daiwa-j.com/brands/godaigo/ginza/
Ginza Shimada
Source:Tabelog
Next, I recommend Ginza Shimada. Known as a historic famous restaurant, this establishment is renowned as a long-established Japanese restaurant.
When you enter the narrow street off the main street, Shimada quietly stands with its entrance. This restaurant, located in a somewhat hidden spot, is the premier place where you can leisurely enjoy Japanese cuisine in a calm atmosphere.
My recommendation is "everything!" I'd like to say, but what I especially want you to try is the beef cutlet that luxuriously uses Yamagata Prefecture marbled wagyu beef. You'll surely be surprised by the thickness of that beef! And when you bite into that thick meat, a crispy texture, soft sensation, and the moderate sweetness and acidity of the homemade sauce spread throughout!
If you love savoring the juiciness of meat, you'll definitely be satisfied.
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Address: 1F Takasaka Building, 8-2-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku
Business Hours: 16:00-22:30
Closed: Sundays
Phone Number: 03-3572-8972
Website: https://www.oreno.co.jp/restaurant/shimada
Ginza Nominokoji Yamagishi
Source:Tabelog
Next, I'd like to introduce Ginza Nominokoji Yamagishi. The beautiful storefront and elegant interior will invite you into the world of refined Japanese cuisine. My pleasure every time is also watching skilled chefs cook right in front of me.
This restaurant's specialty is the Uni Dog, which luxuriously uses sea urchin. Even though it's called a "dog," its appearance is closer to a seaweed roll. On top of large seaweed is rice, and a large amount of sea urchin! Its freshness and the taste that seems to melt when you put it in your mouth is nothing short of a new experience.
I recommend this to you if you're thinking, "Since I came on a trip, I want to taste something I've never eaten before!"
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Address: 10F Ginza Takagi Building, 7-3-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: 18:00-26:00
Closed: Sundays
Phone Number: 03-5537-3510
Website: https://salon91.com/store/yamagishi/
Uokin Honten
Source:Tabelog
The third place I'd like to introduce is Uokin Honten. It's a long-established restaurant that has continued to preserve its traditional taste since its founding. The signature menu items here are assorted sashimi and fresh oysters. The taste is exquisite and the appearance is beautiful, so you'll enjoy taking photos.
Among such gem-like seafood, what I especially recommend to everyone is crab! The "Horsehair Crab Stuffed in Shell" is fresh and delicious horsehair crab carefully shelled and served stuffed in the crab shell. It's an easy-to-eat recommended dish even for those who haven't eaten much crab or who aren't good at shelling crab.
If you love seafood, please visit. It's a restaurant that will make you feel happy when you go!
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Address: 1F/2F/3F/B1F Daini Fuji Building, 3-18-3 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: Weekdays 15:00-23:00, Weekends 13:00-23:00
Closed: None
Phone Number: 03-3431-1785
Website: https://uokingroup.jp
Ginza KAN
Source:Tabelog
Ginza KAN is also a renowned establishment that I strongly recommend. This is one of the Ginza Best Izakaya & Bars 2025 that stands out for its exceptional quality.
Basically, they generously use seasonal ingredients at their peak, and the chef provides creative and inventive dishes. With attentive service, this is recommended for those who want to experience a high-class izakaya for adults.
This restaurant has gentle and refined seasoning throughout, and my foreign friends were delighted when I took them there. The many beautiful dishes served one after another in the omakase course meal are like works of art that showcase the careful craftsmanship of the artisans.
My favorite is the sushi. The beautiful presentation is also visually enjoyable. The tuna is especially delicious, and its melting texture made me feel happy.
Among renowned establishments, KAN has established its own unique position, so please be sure to visit.
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Address: 7F Ginza Belvia Building, 2-4-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: 17:00-22:30
Closed: None
Phone Number: 03-3562-7557
Website: https://www.instagram.com/ginza_kan?igsh=MXI0MGx3eWluNjB2ZA==
Ginza Toriko
Source:Tabelog
And lastly, I recommend Ginza Toriko. At this restaurant, you can enjoy creative chicken dishes and yakitori. In other words, you can enjoy many Japanese chicken dishes.
The yakitori is made with chicken raised exclusively for this restaurant. Additionally, the wonderful attention to detail in changing both the seasoning and grilling level according to each part is impressive.
The numerous yakitori dishes that combine both tenderness and unique texture will bring you the best experience. However, I also want you to try the oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl). I ate it between enjoying the yakitori, but it was so delicious that I ordered another one after my meal!
This is recommended for you who want to fully enjoy Japan's unique chicken cuisine!
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Address: 5F Nishi-Ginza Building, 6-3-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: Weekdays 17:00-23:00, Saturdays 17:00-22:30
Closed: Sundays
Phone Number: 03-3562-7557
Website: https://www.instagram.com/ginza.toriko?igsh=M3R2MndtcWIxaXE2
Recommended Bars in Ginza for Foreigners - 4 Selections
From here onwards, I will introduce 4 carefully selected bars in Ginza, representing the Ginza Best Izakaya & Bars 2025 selection.
Bar Orchard Ginza
Source:Tabelog
The first one is Bar Orchard Ginza.
While you might expect sophisticated adult cocktails from a long-established bar, what comes out are colorful cocktails that luxuriously use fruits such as grapefruit and strawberries.
The cocktails packed with fruit and filled with the bartender's ideas are a must-see! Additionally, there are unique ideas in the serving containers as well.
When I went, they served drinks in baby bottles and flower pots! They are so adorable that you won't be able to stop taking photos!
Please enjoy the numerous cocktails that can only be enjoyed here!
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Address: 7F Sanraku Building, 6-5-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: Weekdays 18:00-0:00
Closed: Sundays
Phone Number: 03-3575-0333
Website: https://www.instagram.com/barorchardginza?igsh=MWVmcXlrNHZxdTZ1cw==
LITTLE SMITH
Source:Official website
LITTLE SMITH, characterized by its creative interior, is also my recommendation. The oval-shaped counter, which is a feature of this bar, and the space that creates an open feeling with high ceilings despite being underground, exude a one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
And the biggest point of this bar is that there is no menu. The bartender listens to the customer's preferences and thinks up and creates the best cocktail on the spot! What menu comes out depends on your order. You too will be excited by the bartender's creativity!
In this calm space unlike any other, you can savor a one-of-a-kind cocktail in the world. If you want to thoroughly experience the work of a professional, please be sure to visit.
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Address: B2F KN Building, 6-4-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: Weekdays 18:00-3:00
Closed: Sundays
Phone Number: 03-5568-1993
Website: https://littlesmith.jp
Lupin
Source:Yahoo! Travel
Lupin is another place you should definitely visit, exuding a unique beauty that blends Western and Japanese styles. As a popular bar, you may have to wait a bit to enter, but it's well worth it. Every cocktail is simple yet profound, with wonderful quality that has been loved for many years.
When I entered the door of the bar, I found myself in a space that conveyed the accumulated richness of time spent by countless adults.
When I ordered a classic cocktail like a Moscow Mule, the balance of sweetness and acidity was superb. It was a taste where I could truly appreciate the skill precisely because it was so simple. The ability to leisurely enjoy your drink in a calm space that evokes Ginza's history is unique to this establishment.
Spending the end of a fun day of travel at a bar like this will become a beautiful memory of your trip.
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Address: Tsukamoto Real Estate Building Basement, 5-5-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: Weekdays 17:00-23:00
Closed: Sundays and Mondays
Phone Number: 03-3571-0750
Website: http://www.lupin.co.jp
STAR BAR GINZA
Source:Official website
The last place I'd like to introduce is Star Bar Ginza. When you enter the bar, you'll find vintage spirits beautifully lined up!
What I want you to taste here are the cocktails made by bartenders who have upheld the bar's traditions. The cocktails made by the owner, who is also the president of the Japan Bartenders Association, are exceptional.
This bar pays special attention even to its ice. The dedication to using three different types of ice matched to each cocktail's flavor is unique to this establishment!
Even if you've "experienced many famous bars around the world," you'll surely be satisfied by the masterful drinks made with the bartender's attention to detail, starting from the ice itself. Just note that conversations between strangers are not allowed inside the bar!
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Address: MODERNS GINZA B1F, 1-5-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: Weekdays 17:00-23:00
Closed: None
Phone Number: 03-3535-8005
Website: https://www.starbar.jp
To fully enjoy Ginza before returning home, try joining a tour with a local guide!
Finest Quality Sushi & Tempura Dining Experience in Ginza
If you want to enjoy the streets of Ginza, I recommend requesting a local tour. This tour, guided by someone well-versed in the local area, takes about 2.5 hours and visits sushi and tempura restaurants in Ginza, where you can enjoy supreme flavors and drinks.
Among the many long-established restaurants lining Ginza, you'll even visit first-class establishments that have earned Michelin stars!
When I visited a sushi restaurant, the beautiful handling of fresh fish prepared right before my eyes was so captivating that I couldn't help but watch intently.
They say that ingredients cut by top-class professionals have a different texture on the tongue, and it's absolutely true. You'll be enchanted by the smooth texture and soft, delicate mouthfeel!
You'll also visit a tempura restaurant. Tempura is a fried dish where seafood and vegetables are coated with special batter and deep-fried! There are various types, and I especially recommend the gently flavored sweet potato and shrimp, which lets you fully enjoy the ingredient's natural taste.
Tempura fried at a first-class restaurant has an irresistible crispy texture and perfect frying that brings out the quality of the ingredients! If you love fried food, I really want you to experience this crispiness.
This was an extremely valuable tour where you can enjoy only the finest establishments selected from the guide's diverse knowledge, so please give it a try! These experiences showcase why Ginza features among the Best Izakaya & Bars 2025 destinations.
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Meeting Place: Lion Statue at Ginza Mitsukoshi
Tour Area: Tokyo, Japan
Start Time: 16:30
Wagyu Beef & Sake Pairing Foodie Tour in Ginza
This is a tour where you can enjoy pairing wagyu (Japanese beef) and sake. It's a small group tour lasting about 3.5 hours. It's a delightful plan that offers the highest-ranked Japanese "A5 grade" wagyu beef and suggests the best sake to pair with it!
When I went, the meat sizzling on the iron griddle was visually enjoyable, and I took lots of photos. Of course, the taste was also exceptional! The tender texture and overflowing meat juices were irresistible. Additionally, you can enjoy dessert at a bar or cafe, so I got to experience Ginza's cuisine in a condensed form!
Even if you're a gourmet who has savored fine dining on various travels, you'll surely be satisfied with the taste of high-quality beef! Discovering these culinary gems is what makes Ginza one of the Best Izakaya & Bars 2025 destinations for food lovers.
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Meeting Place: Shinbashi Station
Tour Area: Tokyo, Japan
Start Time: 17:00
