Tachinomi (Standing Bar)
"Tachinomi is a standing bar (no seats) where salarymen drink cheap beer, sake, or highballs and eat simple snacks (grilled fish, edamame, yakitori, oden) after work. It's often cash-on-delivery (pay as you order), making it scam-proof and authentic. Tachinomi are concentrated near major train stations (Shimbashi, Ueno, Yurakucho) and under train tracks. It's loud, smoky, male-dominated, and quintessentially Tokyo working-class culture."
Logistics
Affordable
Vibe
Gritty, authentic
Duration
30-60 minutes
Best For
Solo dining
The Backstory
Tachinomi emerged in post-war Tokyo near train stations as cheap drinking spots for laborers and salarymen. Standing (tachi) kept turnover fast and costs low. By the 1960s-70s, tachinomi became fixtures under train tracks (gaado shita). The format survives because it's cheap—beer is ¥300-500, snacks are ¥200-500. It's nostalgia for Showa-era (1926-1989) Tokyo.
Local Secret
"Pay as you order (cash-on-delivery system). Order by shouting your order to the staff—'nama biiru!' (draft beer), 'oden!' (hot pot items), 'yakitori!' (grilled chicken). Stand at the counter or tall tables. It's mostly middle-aged men in suits, but foreigners are welcome. The atmosphere is rough and honest. Leave when you're done—no lingering. Shimbashi and Yurakucho have the best clusters."