South Korea in Japan

Posted on 10/26/2021 Last updated on 12/21/2021

Over the past few years, the culture of South Korea has become more and more in demand throughout the rest of the world, including neighboring Japan. Many people get hooked on its dramas, music and even food. If you ever wanted a little taste of SK but in Japan, then this is the article for you!

For those looking for a little glimpse of Korean culture right in Tokyo, there’s a place that can grant your wish. It’s located on Tokyo’s west side right between the bustling areas of Takadanobaba and Shinjuku. The place is Shin Okubo Korean Town, located in the Okubo area. You can easily access it from Shin-Okubo Station, only few stops up from both Shibuya & Ikebukuro (and as mentioned, right next to Shinjuku).

Korean Town is the go-to place if you’re looking for merchandise related to K-Pop, K-Dramas, or just some tasty Korean food. You can also find various skincare products (another of the country’s famous exports) and you can might even bump into some aspiring Korean idols.

Korea Town offer wide variety of foods, from traditional delicacies, street foods, barbecue and many, many kinds of chicken. The latter is best paired with the mixture of Beer and Soju.

I would personally recommend KangHoDong Chicken 678, named after one of the Korea’s most famous comedians. A very cool place, they serve some good fried chicken in different flavors of your choice.

Definitely make sure to try yangnyeom chicken. It has a sweet and spicy flavor. Even if you are not a big fan of Korean food, give this place a try. You’re almost guaranteed to find something you’ll like.

Aside from the food, there’s plenty of shops featuring merchandise from K-Pop or other idols. If you like BTS, Twice, BlackPink and etc, Korean Town will be heaven for you.

As for skincare products, there are many brands you can only find in Shin Okubo (well, outside of South Korea itself that is!)

Whether you’re from South Korea and looking for a little taste of home or an avid fan of all things Korean, Shin Okubo Korean Town is one to add to your bucket list of places to visit. It makes for a good place to pair up when you’re also going to say, Kichijoji or another location in western Tokyo. Make sure to bring money, and go there with an empty stomach!

Photo Credits:

Top photo: Ryan Kwok on Unsplash

Images previously cited by this article: ” Shin-Okubo Station ” by Eye-Fi, (CC BY-NC 2.0), no changes or alterations made.

Additional images previously cited in this article: 1 2 3