Tokyo Station: Character Street, Food & Free Night Views
Tokyo Mate
Are you looking for things to do, eat, and see around Tokyo Station? With just this guide, you can completely conquer Tokyo Station, from Character Street to ramen hotspots, ekiben (train bento), and the stunning Marunouchi night views.
1. First Avenue Tokyo Station (Tokyo Station Ichibangai)
Connected directly to the Yaesu Exit, First Avenue Tokyo Station is a shopping and gourmet paradise. Even without exiting the station completely, you can spend hours enjoying everything here.
① Tokyo Character Street 📍
A must-visit heaven for anime and character fans! Official shops for Japan’s representative characters like Pokémon, Ghibli, Jump Shop, Chiikawa, and Kirby are all gathered in one street.
Pokemon Store & Pokemon Card Station
A holy land for Pokemon fans! You can buy limited edition goods found only at Tokyo Station and verify genuine Pokemon cards.
➡️ [See Details] Tokyo Station Pokemon Store & Pikachu Pokemon Card Review
② Tokyo Ramen Street 📍
A battleground for Tokyo’s most famous ramen shops! From heavy tonkotsu to refined shoyu ramen, you can taste the “Best 8” ramen shops of Tokyo all in one place without having to travel around the city.
➡️ Tokyo Ramen Street Best 8, Complete Guide & Review
③ Tokyo Okashi Land (Sweets Land)
You can meet the flagship antenna shops of Japan’s three major confectionery companies: Glico, Morinaga, and Calbee. The biggest attraction here is tasting “freshly made snacks” right out of the factory oven! You must try the freshly fried potato chips and fresh almond chocolate.
④ KALDI COFFEE FARM 📍 & Cafe Kardino 📍
An all-day cafe and Italian/wine bar operated by KALDI. Morning, lunch, tea time, and dinner times are clearly divided, and in the evening, reasonable wine and tapas are their strength. There’s also a Tokyo Station KALDI store nearby where you can buy souvenirs and snacks, so be sure to stop by!
2. Enjoy Inside the Ticket Gates (Pre/Post Train Tips!)
🚨 Note: The places below are special areas available only to those who have entered the ticket gates using a Shinkansen or JR train ticket!
① Ekibenya Matsuri 📍
A place where you can find over 200 types of ekiben (train bento boxes) from all over Japan in one spot. Why not check out the visually stunning Tokyo Station bentos featuring regional specialties and pick your favorite for your Shinkansen trip? It opens early in the morning, making it great for breakfast too. 🍱
② Gransta Tokyo (Inside Ticket Gates)
Part of Gransta extends spaciously inside the ticket gates. Here you can buy special desserts or souvenirs sold only as “Tokyo Station Limited” items, making it the perfect place to buy last-minute gifts.
Marunouchi Night Views & Attractions
① KITTE Marunouchi 📍
KITTE is a shopping and dining complex located right in front of the Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Exit, located in the preserved and renovated former Central Post Office building. It’s directly connected to Tokyo Station underground, making it easy to visit even on rainy days, and is an essential course for lunch, cafes, and buying gifts.
Dining: On the 5th floor, there is the famous Hokkaido revolving sushi restaurant "Nemuro Hanamaru KITTE Branch 📍." Since the waiting times are famous for being long, I recommend getting a numbered ticket in advance.
➡️ KITTE Restaurant, Nemuro Hanamaru Revolving Sushi Waiting Time & Reservation Tips
Free Observatory (Night View Spot): The rooftop garden on the 6th floor is the best free observatory where you can view the Tokyo Station nightscape most beautifully. Spend a romantic evening watching the trains come and go against the backdrop of the red brick Marunouchi station building. 🌃
➡️ Tokyo Station KITTE Christmas Tree & Free Observatory Review, Train Geek’s Essential Course
② Marunouchi Building & Shin-Marunouchi Building
The landmark of Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Exit. Directly connected to Tokyo Station from the basement.
Brunch Cafe: THE FRONT ROOM 📍 opens early in the morning, making it a great Tokyo Station cafe to enjoy a hearty breakfast with French toast before starting your trip.
➡️ Tokyo Station Breakfast, French Toast Restaurant THE FRONT ROOM Review
Free Observatory: Hidden free observatories on the 5th and 35th floors are great for admiring the sunset and night view.
➡️ Tokyo Station Sunset Spot, Marunouchi Building Free Observatory Review
The newest complex tower located directly in front of Tokyo Station Marunouchi Central Exit.
Night View & Dining: The outdoor terrace at ‘Marunouchi House’ on the 7th floor is a romantic place where you can enjoy dinner or cocktails while looking directly at the Tokyo Station night view. The atmosphere on Friday and Saturday evenings is especially good.
➡️ Dinner with Tokyo Station Night View, Shin-Marunouchi Building House Open Terrace Review
③ Marunouchi Oazo 📍
A complex commercial facility in front of Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit. It houses the flagship store of the mega-bookstore Maruzen 📍, so you can enjoy books, stationery, galleries, and a book cafe all at once.
④ Wadakura Fountain Park Starbucks 📍
A special Wadakura Fountain Park Starbucks located near the Imperial Palace. You can enjoy coffee with the night view of the park through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making it popular as a Tokyo Station night view cafe.
➡️ Tokyo Station Night View Cafe, Wadakura Fountain Park Starbucks Review
⑤ Marunouchi Naka-dori 📍
Marunouchi Naka-dori is a beautiful tree-lined street stretching from the Marunouchi Building to Yurakucho Station. Lined with luxury boutiques, galleries, and terrace cafes, it’s great for shopping while strolling.
Marunouchi Brick Square’s 📍 cozy garden and open-air plaza with a fountain are perfect for a quiet walk and rest.
Dining: On the B1 floor, there is "Manten Sushi 📍", known for its excellent value-for-money omakase using carefully selected seasonal ingredients.
Especially in winter, the “Marunouchi Illumination” takes place, dyeing the entire street in champagne gold light, offering a fantastic night view. ✨
If you need the latest information on the 2025 Disney Collaboration and Christmas Market, check out the latest post below!
➡️ 2025 Marunouchi Illumination Latest Info (Disney, Market Summary)
➡️ Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Christmas Illumination, Moana Collaboration
Essential Tip for Travelers: Tokyo Station Luggage Storage (Coin Lockers)
Before enjoying the attractions of Tokyo Station, you’ll want to get rid of your heavy luggage, right? Tokyo Station luggage storage is easy thanks to Japan’s largest scale coin locker facilities.
Location: Coin lockers are installed in a total of 43 locations: 13 inside the ticket gates and 30 outside.
Caution: Since the station is very large and there are many lockers, it is highly recommended to take a photo of the location where you stored your bags. Be aware that coin lockers outside the Yaesu side ticket gates are managed by different entities, so the numbering system can be complicated.
➡️ [Link] Check Tokyo Station Coin Locker Status and Locations
🙋♀️ Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
Q1. What are the business hours for Tokyo Character Street? A1. Most shops are open from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM. However, some stores may differ, so checking the official website before visiting is most accurate.
Q2. Where is the best free spot to see the Tokyo Station night view? A2. I highly recommend the Shin-Marunouchi Building 7th Floor Terrace and Marunouchi Building 5th Floor Terrace. Both places offer the most beautiful composition of the red brick station building, the symbol of Tokyo Station.
Q3. Can I just enter the Tokyo Station ticket gates if I have a JR Pass? A3. Yes, if you have a valid JR Pass, you can show it to the station staff to enter the ticket gates and freely use “Ekibenya Matsuri” or “Gransta Tokyo”.
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