Ameyoko
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101)
Wed 2008/07/02 21:32
If you fancy seeing some market life in Tokyo then there's probably no place better than Ameyoko.
Ameyoko is a 400 meter long market that stretches between JR Okachimachi and Ueno station on the Yamanote line.
"Ameyoko" [アメ横[あめよこ]] is short for the full name of the market which is "Ameya Yokocho" [アメヤ横丁[あめやよこちょう]]
Many moons ago, American soldiers used to come here to sell their bits n pieces to make a few yen on the side.
One of the origins of the name "Ameya" is said to come from "AMEricans" and "YA" meaning "shop" = American shop.
Another explanation of the original meaning of "Ameya" is said to come from many shops in the market that sold sweets. "Ame" meaning "sweets" and "ya" meaning shop.
Many moons ago, American soldiers used to come here to sell their bits n pieces to make a few yen on the side.
One of the origins of the name "Ameya" is said to come from "AMEricans" and "YA" meaning "shop" = American shop.
Another explanation of the original meaning of "Ameya" is said to come from many shops in the market that sold sweets. "Ame" meaning "sweets" and "ya" meaning shop.
Ameyoko has many places to fill ones stomach at reasonable prices.
Many fresh fruits...
Dried foods n sweets...
Grandad not for sale...
Fresh seafood.
A hawker stall in Japan is known as a "Yatai" [屋台[やたい]] - basically a cart where food is cooked in the open air. Yatai are commonly found in markets like Ameyoko and at festivals like the ones I showed you before in Azabujyuban.
I wish Yatai were more popular in Tokyo as it would be very convenient grabbing a bite to eat.
I love to eat out at Hawker stalls and am looking forward to making my next trip to Malaysia and Singapore again soon. Will stuff myself full of Popiah, Kuay Tiao noodles, Hokkien noodles, Loh bak, Siew Yook rice and Hainan chicken rice. Although the last time I went was a few years ago - not sure if hawker stalls are still around or not.
Are open air food stalls popular in your region?
I wish Yatai were more popular in Tokyo as it would be very convenient grabbing a bite to eat.
I love to eat out at Hawker stalls and am looking forward to making my next trip to Malaysia and Singapore again soon. Will stuff myself full of Popiah, Kuay Tiao noodles, Hokkien noodles, Loh bak, Siew Yook rice and Hainan chicken rice. Although the last time I went was a few years ago - not sure if hawker stalls are still around or not.
Are open air food stalls popular in your region?
Compared to 30 years ago, the amount of shops selling fresh seafood has declined to be replaced by shops selling sporting goods. Have no idea why the transition was seafood to sporting goods ^^;
You can also pick up a load of cheap T-shirts.
Keep your eye on the roads that lead off the main Ameyoko market as they lead into buildings filled with smaller shops.
Leather goods and clothing.
One thing that you wont find in Ameyoko are fake brands and opensource DVDs - unless you know the right people to ask. Fake brands and opensource goods readily available in your region?
One thing that you wont find in Ameyoko are fake brands and opensource DVDs - unless you know the right people to ask. Fake brands and opensource goods readily available in your region?
More fresh seafoods.
Seafood anyone?
More seafood.
This girl wants you to eat her balls.
The balls are filled with anything that you want - a light/medium snack to have between meals.
Yep we have kebabs too.
How about picking up some Katsuo as a present for your nephew - 500 yen each.
See food.
There are shops underneath Ameyoko in the Ameyoko Chika Building where one can buy a load of oriental food stuffs.
Its like another dimension under here - you are walking and then all of a sudden the smells, language and lighting change - you are in China.
Apart from the Chinese stores here, there are a few stores in Ikebukuro and Shinjuku that sell Chinese food stuffs too.
There are many stalls that sell snacks n fruits so you may want to plan to go there on an empty stomach.
The Japanese traditionally don't sit outside restaurants to eat but Ameyoko has a few places with tables n chairs outside.
If you see somebody clapping outside a shop, its not because they think you dress well but because its a traditional way to attract customers.
Eating out in the open air popular in your region too?
More fresh fruits.
Many of my gaijin comrades have made it over to Ameyoko - is/was on your visit list?
At the other end of the market at Ueno station.
Are there markets that you can recommend to your fellow comrade who is visiting your region?
Are there markets that you can recommend to your fellow comrade who is visiting your region?
One question that I often get is "Is Christmas celebrated in Japan?"
One in two mi...(more)
Mon 12/01 13:29 comments (157)
UPDATE: Sorry - you can enlarge the photos in this article now - t'was a bug on this end...(more)
Sat 06/28 14:36 comments (147)
Student, Spiral Warrior
Looks a lot like the markets around here. The T-shirts are a big similarity, as well as the food carts/stalls.
(ID #228066) Posted on 2008/07/02 21:59
full time student, 60% of the time.
Fish lady looked kinda cute, I'd have to buy some :)
(ID #228068) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:03
Director/代表取締役
Fish lady? ^^;
(ID #228389) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:29
Part human, part student, 100% loser
A Ameyoko looks like a place where you can get alot of grub to eat... LOL, 30 years ago many people like eating but now they're doing sports to slim down... Maybe? "This girl wants you to eat her balls. " That just sounds so wrong but feels so right LOL Eating out is a pretty common thing here... I think? Enjoying a scrumptious meal while breathing in fresh air is the way to enjoy life~
(ID #228069) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:04
Zen in Zjhentohlauedy Home Planet. aka. somewhere in the Philippines (Registered on 2008/06/10 23:11)
Student of LIFE!
For someone who loves to explore different cuisines what better place than a market! :D I definitely must go there someday!
(ID #228070) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:05
Dont worry M'sia here still have the hawker centres that you like.
(ID #228074) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:13
Director/代表取締役
Thats great news!
(ID #228390) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:29
Yep, there is still an abundance of hawker stalls almost anywhere you go. Though most of them are situated in coffee shops and some in a food court like building.
(ID #229882) Posted on 2008/07/04 20:18
Don't worry Danny~Hawker still will always be here in Malaysia.Especially Penang XD
(ID #228080) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:24
Don't worry Danny~Hawker stall's will always be here in Malaysia.Especially Penang XD
(ID #228081) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:24
Director/代表取締役
looking forward to it. Hmmm. Must fix that echo bug.
(ID #228391) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:30
Everything
Something like that is pretty foreign to where I live here in the USA. It is funny how certain things transition, fish to sporting goods.
(ID #228085) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:28
Ive been there - i kinda stumbled upon it by accident while exploring Ueno. Nice place - i couldnt believe the diversity and WTF-ness of all the seafood they sold! Nice pics - makes me wish i was back there!
(ID #228086) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:29
Videogame Magazine Editor
Nice find! I'll recommend this area to my friends when we go down to Tokyo this October. I've always liked visiting market places, especially with their variety of local food and spices. :D
(ID #228094) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:46
Fake brands and DVD eh.. Here still got, but the place that sells them dwindling by a lot these recent years, but I know two or three places
(ID #228095) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:46
Malaysia is known to be one of the worse countries to be infested with pirated goods ^^
(ID #229883) Posted on 2008/07/04 20:19
Medical Research and Design
Whoa, I had no idea Ameyoko existed before. It looks pretty hustle-and-bustle marketplace, which is really cool. Funny you had the poll up if it's on my visit list because it wasn't before but it sure as heck is now XD.
(ID #228098) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:50
Oh~ My brother went to Ameyo when he went to Japan, he bought loads of sweets. He said it was like any other market in London though :/ London has LOADS of markets(http://www.londonmarkets.co.uk/ for a complete list), the most famous being Covent Garden market(very multi-cultural, sweet shops from around the world(pocky~), clothes, even Print Clubs like the ones in tokyo!) Camden Market(for the weirdest stuff you'll ever find, punk clothes, gothic lolita clothes, art, food from around the world etc etc) Portobello Road Market(all kinds of rare stuff, antiques, music, instruments, art) Anyone in London should visit any of those 3 ^^
(ID #228099) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:51
Director/代表取締役
I was going to mention the ones I remembered. Remembered camden but not what they sold.
(ID #228392) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:32
First time I went to Japan, we went to Ameyoko. I remember that Kebab shop in the photos. I was surprised they even had kebabs in Japan! I also bought strawberries to eat from one of the fruit markets. Markets in Sydney are quite dodgy because there's lots of crappy quality or even fake brands, some with unreasonable prices etc. Generally I don't like markets in Australia. Too expensive. Did you go into the big toy store nearby?
(ID #228100) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:52
Director/代表取締役
Must have missed that toy store ^^;
(ID #228393) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:32
student
Ok... Ameyoko will be on top of my list for food... When I feel like I want to spend a day eating which I'm sure will happen...then I'll visit there. Open air food stalls can only be seen here during events, such as Food Festivals. Large variety of multi-cultural foods can be seen for sale. I'd say that eating outside is not very common, but it can be seen here and there. Nothing to recommend here really...
(ID #228102) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:54
We have lost of restaurants with open-air seating but food carts are rare around here. Those balls looked good. You can get lots of fake T-shirts and opensource dvds at the Chinese markets. But thes are more strictly controlled nowadays.
(ID #228103) Posted on 2008/07/02 22:56
website designer (currently assist. graphic designer)
Food~ sweets~ mmm~ :q Definitely on my visit list, which is filling up quite nicely Danny, stop posting about nice places to visit or I'm going to go broke in the first week xP~ There's Market City near Central Station in Sydney (depends on how you classify near though), right in front of Chinatown =D. I'll be documenting my next city trip so I'll include photos of the market there too (though I wouldn't consider it as diverse as Ameyoko). There are markets elsewhere, but I haven't visited any of them, though I know www.bondimarkets.com.au is pretty good for fashion, I should ask my friend when we're going, she's currently working in the fashion industry and ought to at least check it out ^^;
(ID #228108) Posted on 2008/07/02 23:04
Student - Network Engineering - CCNA
I'd eat her balls, if you know what i mean man, Australia's such a boring place. The only place around that has outdoor stalls would either be in Chinatown or The Rocks in Sydney. And i live a good hour (by train) from the CBD. ;_;
(ID #228109) Posted on 2008/07/02 23:07
Student and Miku Guardian
I shall put this on my travel list when I visit Japan.. Looks interesting to go to.. Singapore still have some roadside market in certain areas, even though the country has shopping centres.. Some of them do sell their goods at cheaper price if you bargain with the shopkeeper.. ^^ I still do not get it about the transition from seafood to sporting goods..
(ID #228113) Posted on 2008/07/02 23:12
There's also Uecho which splits away from Ameyoko but are more focused on ordinary shops: http://picasaweb.google.com/senorquentinos/Tokyo2008/photo#5210226810764710674 There is also a small "supermarket" place that has a lot of sweets and such for a good deal. My sister horded in a huge amount of gums enough for me to feel heavy to carry just that bag around (my purpose in Ameyoko was apparently similar to that of a donkey)
(ID #228116) Posted on 2008/07/02 23:16
Gotta put this on my visit list. There are a lot of market like this in Indonesia but not many in Canada as far as I know.
(ID #228128) Posted on 2008/07/02 23:42
Horror☆Star
Dear Danny, if you were to plan your visit again to Malaysia (K.L. or Penang), please MUST drop me a mail. I'll be glad & honor to sponsor your period of stay at Times Square Hotel, K.L. (Subjected to T & C ^ ^). Can't wait to meet you in person.
(ID #228139) Posted on 2008/07/03 00:10
Director/代表取締役
sponsor my period of stay ? ^^; @.@?
(ID #228394) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:34
Engineering research
the line "subjected to T&C" seemed more あやしい lol
(ID #228568) Posted on 2008/07/03 12:46
yea maybe you have to share the same room with him??
(ID #228824) Posted on 2008/07/03 17:59
Afro-ed Student
Maybe even the same bed...
(ID #230075) Posted on 2008/07/05 01:48
Full-time student へへ
you know that restaurant in the background at the last pic, there was a documentary about that place just before it closed down. i think they were running it for 50 years or so until... i guess no heir. you must like ameyoko alot! you seem to go there often ;-)
(ID #228141) Posted on 2008/07/03 00:16
hmm cart food. here you gotta be a bit careful about cleanliness....but there are those commercialized versions. Markets here are a different story. But for experience for gaijins...Greenhills would be a start. A foreigner would have to be a bit more courageous dealing with other local markets because ambience, security ,etc. etc. are really different :P
(ID #228172) Posted on 2008/07/03 01:17
We used to have tons of push car vendors(hawkers) years ago. Now that I think about it, I really can't remember when the last time I saw one was. Used to be tons of Hot Dog stands around but now I'm drawing a blank. They may be still popular in New York though. Alot of restaurants have patios and beer gardens for people to sit outside and eat. Though the food is always cooked inside.
(ID #228200) Posted on 2008/07/03 01:50
Gamer, the hardcore kind
Aww, I so wanted me a granddad bargain T_T ...but I wouldn't say no thanks to a helping of that girl's balls though (thanks for that, Danny <_<) In my part town there's a relatively big market every month or so. Lots of food stalls and stuff. And it's always popular to eat outside here (not counting cold and rainy days).
(ID #228205) Posted on 2008/07/03 01:54
Now I can add another place to my go to list when I go to Japan. It seems like a nice place with all these open shops and such. That's a lot of seafood.
(ID #228214) Posted on 2008/07/03 02:05
The closest thing we have to yatai here are icecream trucks that visit in the summer. I'm not really sure how they stay in business since they don't seem to be THAT busy. Probably doesn't pay that well. Oh yah, there are lots of yatai at carnivals and sporting events, but I never go to those so that's why I forgot ^^;
(ID #228223) Posted on 2008/07/03 02:15
Online Shop
I would always hear the station name Okachimachi on my way to Akihabara and thought the name was funny sounding and never knew such a gem place was there, doh! There are lots of open air food places in Korea and I would always enjoy eating from there during my stay there. Not so many open air food places here in USA since people drive rather than walk around here.
(ID #228225) Posted on 2008/07/03 02:19
Singapore has alot of such places too albeit much smaller and there are mostly found deep within the residential areas.
(ID #228227) Posted on 2008/07/03 02:21
Director/代表取締役
Thanks for sticking my feed on your blog - I just activated yours. Makue sure your feed is registered in your dannychoo.com profile settings.
(ID #228395) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:38
Thanks danny
(ID #249054) Posted on 2008/07/27 23:17
Student and full-time otaku
Interesting to see, but not really on the visit list. Too much sea food for my taste. Never knew abou the clapping-for-customers though
(ID #228254) Posted on 2008/07/03 03:07
The environment looks similar to chinatowns minus red big banners and lantern
(ID #228260) Posted on 2008/07/03 03:14
when i'm in tokyo i ever go on that place. It's one of the tokyo's places where u can think "wow i'm in Asia!"
(ID #228263) Posted on 2008/07/03 03:25
おたくと大学生。
looks like the place to go. i shall put it on my list
(ID #228272) Posted on 2008/07/03 03:48
Ameyoko was on the list last time I went, but ran out of time. Will definitely go next time.
(ID #228291) Posted on 2008/07/03 04:34
Never made it to Ameyoko. Was too attracted by the flashing lights of the big city. Are vendors in the Ameyoko Chika Building mostly Chinese or Japanese? Most Japanese restuarants here are run by Chinese. Open food stalls are around, but not city wide. You can grab a donair or hot dog around the downtown area for lunch. Pirated DVDs are hidden from sight, but available. After your Haruna Ai post Danny, I have no temptation to eat any girl's balls.
(ID #228298) Posted on 2008/07/03 04:43
Director/代表取締役
LOL. Mostly run by Chinese folks down there.
(ID #228396) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:38
Director/代表取締役
The chika building I mean and not the balls.
(ID #228397) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:39
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
man, I miss popiah sooooo much, please help me have a few extras when you're in SG :P I don't like the heat and humidity in asia tho =_=;
(ID #228300) Posted on 2008/07/03 04:45
Director/代表取締役
I thought Vancouver had good Chinese food?
(ID #228398) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:39
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
Food is okay in vancouver but I haven't run into popiah just yet! My mom makes a mean one back in singapore hehe lots of prep work tho ^^;
(ID #228401) Posted on 2008/07/03 08:43
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:30)
might I ask what Popiah is? ^^
(ID #228685) Posted on 2008/07/03 14:19
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:30)
did a google search: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popiah my grandmother calls them lumpia tsai. ^^ lol. consider me enlightened.
(ID #228700) Posted on 2008/07/03 14:42
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
oh gawd :P I drooling lol!
(ID #228725) Posted on 2008/07/03 15:17