Things to Do in Akasaka, Tokyo: Our Favorite Cafes, Shrines, and Restaurants
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When planning our latest trip to Tokyo, we decided to stay somewhere different.
Over the years we've stayed in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, and several other popular areas. While we still love those neighborhoods, we wanted something a little quieter this time around.
That's what led us to Akasaka.
After spending three days exploring the area, we completely understood why more travelers are recommending it. Akasaka feels central and convenient, but without the overwhelming crowds you'll find in some of Tokyo's most famous districts.
If you're wondering whether Akasaka is worth visiting or staying in, here are our favorite things to do in Akasaka, Tokyo.
Why We Chose to Stay in Akasaka
One of the biggest reasons we picked Akasaka was its location.
It's easy to reach popular areas like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Omotesando, and Ginza, while still feeling noticeably calmer and less touristy.
Akasaka Akanesai (赤坂茜彩)
You'll still see plenty of locals, office workers, and neighborhood cafes, which gave us a more authentic Tokyo experience than some of the busier areas we've stayed in recently.
One thing to know before booking your hotel: Akasaka has hills.
The name Akasaka roughly translates to "Red Hill," and you'll definitely notice the elevation changes while exploring the neighborhood. Fortunately, we found the hills manageable and never felt overwhelmed by them.
Akasaka view from Hie Shrine
Akasaka neighborhood at night
Where We Stayed in Akasaka
For this trip, we stayed at Mimaru Tokyo Akasaka.
The location worked perfectly for us because nearly everything we wanted to see was within walking distance.
The staff also provided excellent recommendations for local restaurants and cafes, which helped us discover several places we may have otherwise missed.
Akasaka Mimaru Hotel Entrance
We booked the Tatami Room
Map of Our Favorite Places in Akasaka
We spent three days exploring Akasaka and marked all of our favorite cafes, restaurants, shrines, and attractions on the map below. Many of these locations are within walking distance of each other, making Akasaka a great neighborhood to explore on foot.
Best Cafes in Akasaka
Ueshima Coffee House
One challenge we often encounter in Japan is finding breakfast early in the morning.
Many cafes and restaurants don't open until 9:00 AM or later.
That's why we loved Ueshima Coffee House.
Entrance to Ueshima Coffee House
It opens at 6:30 AM and offers a full breakfast menu rather than just coffee and pastries.
Our breakfast sets included toast, eggs, mini salad, bacon, and coffee. It was the perfect way to start a day of exploring Tokyo. The seating was very cozy as well.
Morning set menu
Cozy seating at Ueshima Coffee House
Simple and Delicious Breakfast Morning Set
Bun Coffee
Located near our hotel, Bun Coffee is ideal if you're looking for a quick grab-and-go coffee.
The space is tiny, but the coffee was excellent and made for an easy stop before heading out for the day.
Bun Coffee
To-go Coffee
Waiting for our Coffee
Tokyo Little House
This was one of our favorite discoveries in Akasaka.
Tokyo Little House is located inside a preserved historic home surrounded by modern buildings.
Part cafe, part museum, and part accommodation, it offers visitors a glimpse into Tokyo's past while serving excellent coffee.
Tokyo Little House Exterior
Crystal People watching
Ordering Counter
Inside you'll find:
Historical books
Vintage displays
Traditional architecture
A unique atmosphere that feels completely different from the surrounding city
If you're looking for a memorable coffee experience in Akasaka, this is one of the best places to visit and the staff are extremely friendly here.
Matcha latte + Cookies
Aoyama Flower Market Tea House
This may have been the most beautiful cafe we visited during our stay. Filled with flowers and plants, the entire space feels like a greenhouse.
Surrounded by plants
If you're looking for a relaxing place to enjoy breakfast, tea, or coffee, this cafe is worth adding to your itinerary. It’s also located conveniently next to Akasaka Station, making it a perfect, hassle‑free way to start your day if you’re planning to hop on a train.
Felt like a Greenhouse
Delicious Breakfast Entree
Visit Hie Shrine
No trip to Akasaka would be complete without visiting Hie Shrine.
The shrine has become increasingly popular because of its beautiful red torii gates, which remind many visitors of Kyoto's famous Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Walking Down Hie Shrine
hie Shrine Entrance
Other end of Hie Shrine
What we liked most about Hie Shrine is that it offers a similar experience without the overwhelming crowds. We did have to wait our turn to snap a few photos, but the line was thankfully very minimal.
You can:
Walk through the red torii gates
Take photos
Explore the shrine grounds
Enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding city
And if you're not in the mood to climb stairs, you'll be happy to know there's a convenient escalator that carries visitors up to the shrine. We actually really enjoyed this stretch of the walk. The sweeping views of the cityscape along the way were absolutely gorgeous.
Japanese ema (絵馬)
View of Akasaka from hie Shrine
Explore the Harry Potter Area
One of the biggest surprises in Akasaka was discovering how much Harry Potter-themed entertainment exists around Akasaka Station.
Akasaka Train Station
You don’t have to be a huge Harry Potter fan to find this fun themed area worth exploring. We thoroughly enjoyed wandering through this station every time we headed back to our hotel. If you’ve watched the movies, it’s a special spot where the entire neighborhood comes alive with the playful magic and atmosphere of Harry Potter. We enjoyed snapping photos and stepping into a whimsical Harry Potter style theme park (minus the theme park entrance fee, of course!).
The "Hogwarts" Staircase
Akasaka Sacas complex
Even if you're only a casual fan, it's worth checking out.
The area includes:
Harry Potter displays
Exclusive merchandise
Photo opportunities
The Harry Potter Store
Theater attractions
Time Turner statue
The Sorting Hat
The Harry Potter store recently reopened its doors and during our visit, many of the items featured seasonal cherry blossom designs that were exclusive to Japan. Of course, we fell for the adorable pink sakura-themed merch and bought a handful of items.
Harry Potter Shop
Harry Potter Cookies
Visit Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Betsuin
This was one of our favorite discoveries during the trip. Unlike many shrines that emphasize traditional architecture, Toyokawa Inari is especially famous for its numerous fox statues. Scattered throughout the grounds are rows of fox figures, each bearing different symbolic meanings and subtle variations.
Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Betsuin Entrance
Foxes Everywhere!
From the outside the shrine appears quite massive, but once we began exploring it revealed a surprisingly intimate atmosphere. Every time we turned a corner we stumbled across another visually interesting detail that made wandering the site feel endlessly rewarding.
Fox holding a child
Row of omikuji
Experience Traditional Japanese Sweets at Toraya
If we had to pick one place that surprised us most during our stay, it would be Toraya.
Toraya is one of Japan's most famous traditional confectionery brands, specializing in wagashi (Japanese sweets). The Toraya Akasaka flagship store is a modern architectural masterpiece designed by architect Hiroshi Naito, and it’s truly breathtaking. The clean lines, thoughtful use of materials, and serene atmosphere create a space that feels both contemporary and timeless.
Toraya Akasaka Flagship Tea Room
We didn’t make a reservation for their tea room, so our chances of getting a table were uncertain, but because we visited on a rainy weekday, we actually got seated right away. When we were shown to our table, it felt like we’d been given a special VIP spot: a cozy, private dining area where we could relax and enjoy our meal in peace.
Our Cozy dining area
What we expected:
A quick snack stop
What actually happened:
We spent nearly three hours there
The experience includes:
A tea room serving seasonal Japanese sweets
A souvenir shop
A free gallery detailing the company's history
seasonal Special - sakura Mochi
Crystal loving her matcha latte
During our visit, the cherry blossom themed sweets and matcha drinks were particularly popular. Crystal declared it the best damn matcha latte she has ever had in her life and that says a lot, because she’s a true matcha latte connoisseur.
After enjoying our delicate Japanese desserts, we wandered downstairs to the shop to pick up a few souvenirs. Everything is presented so beautifully and thoughtfully that it tempts you to buy almost everything. Our little sister chose a handful of sweet mementos, and because it was raining, the staff took extra care to wrap her paper bag in a protective plastic cover. Now that’s what we call truly top‑notch customer service.
Toraya Gift Shop
Toraya Monaka sweets
Toraya's special "Senri no Kaze" yokan
Then we headed down one more flight of stairs to their gallery. And wow. The architecture down here was absolutely stunning. We had the entire place to ourselves and couldn’t believe this little gem wasn’t flooded with people. We learned quite a bit about the long history of Toraya and came away with a deeper appreciation for the craft and artistry behind traditional Japanese sweets.
Gorgeous staircase leading to the Tea Room
Exploring the Gallery
Even if you aren’t a fan of traditional Japanese desserts (like Crystal), Toraya is still worth visiting for the cultural experience alone. The basement gallery’s interior space was fascinating in its own right, and the souvenir store added another layer of interest with detailed information and history about the ingredients used in their sweets and explanations of what makes them so unique.
Gallery Basement
Best Restaurants in Akasaka
Sumibiyaki Usagiya
This small underground yakitori restaurant ended up serving some of the best grilled chicken skewers we had during our trip. We stumbled upon it on a whim while searching for a place to eat near Toraya. We were starving and didn’t want to walk far, so the cozy, off-the-beaten-path spot felt like a perfect find.
The atmosphere feels wonderfully local, intimate, and genuinely authentic. We arrived just as they opened, so we practically had the whole place to ourselves for the first half hour or so.
Cheers to Izakayas and Yakitoris
Sometimes stepping into these underground izakaya can feel a little intimidating because they’re such authentic local spots, but we were pleasantly surprised to be warmly welcomed.
Just be aware that English support is limited here, so having a translation app ready can be really helpful. Fortunately, we all speak and read fluent Japanese, so we didn’t have any issues placing our orders. Many of the dishes we ordered were slightly omakase style, so it was often a pleasant mystery what we were going to be served.
Sumibiyaki Usagi
Chargrilled Yakitori
Umaya
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Umaya is a beautifully renovated traditional three-story wooden house with charming details and a calm, inviting atmosphere. This was by far one of our favorite lunch spots during the trip. After a couple of unsatisfying lunches, we were really looking forward to a meal that we would genuinely enjoy.
Umaya Restaurant Entrance
We hadn’t made a reservation (which is recommended), so we went in with little hope of getting a table, but to our surprise we only had to wait about ten minutes. Maybe it’s the time of year or perhaps we were just lucky, but every place we feared we wouldn’t be able to get into turned out to be fine.
The restaurant is unique because it’s renowned for its association with a famous kabuki actor, a tidbit we discovered while waiting for our table.
We removed our shoes before stepping inside to go upstairs
our table on a tatami with a garden view
The food served here is hearty Japanese comfort dishes, exactly the kind of meals we especially crave whenever we visit home. I (Candy) was so happy to see that they had tonjiru (pork and vegetable miso soup) on the menu. It’s one of my favorite comfort foods on chilly days and instantly felt like a warm, familiar hug.
Highlights include:
Traditional Japanese interiors
Tatami-style rooms
Garden views
Excellent set meals
Private and high end feel without being stuffy
Pork Katsu Entree
Tonjiru Entree
Nikujiru Gyoza no Dandadan
If you're craving gyoza, this is absolutely the place to go. We both LOVE gyoza and were so happy to stumble upon this charming little joint while walking back to our hotel. Before we found it by chance, we’d been in our hotel room searching the internet for gyoza spots and, oddly, this place never appeared in our results.
We’re so glad we got our gyoza fix here. They offered a wide variety of different gyoza dishes, each more tempting than the last. There was a bit of a line forming outside the entrance, but the wait was no more than ten minutes.
The restaurant felt lively and friendly, packed mostly with locals, which always feels like a good sign. The menu focuses on all things gyoza and beer, making it a relaxed, delicious choice for a casual meal after a day of sightseeing.
inside dandadan gyoza
delicious gyoza
Is Akasaka Worth Visiting?
Absolutely.
What we loved most about Akasaka was the balance.
It offers:
Easy access to major Tokyo attractions
Excellent restaurants
Great coffee shops
Cultural sites
Fewer crowds
For travelers who want a more relaxed Tokyo experience while still staying central, Akasaka may be one of the best neighborhoods to consider.
A cozy Yokocho (side street) in Akasaka near our hotel
More Tokyo Travel Guides
If you're planning a trip to Tokyo, you may also enjoy:
These guides are based on our real experiences traveling throughout Tokyo and Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Akasaka is a district located directly in the center of Tokyo, about 2-2.5 miles southwest of Tokyo Station.
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Absolutely! Akasaka is an excellent practical base for exploring Tokyo. It offers a perfect blend of high-end dining, excellent public transit connections, and a calm, upscale atmosphere away from the overwhelming tourist crowds.
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To locals, Akasaka is Tokyo’s "grown-up playground." Tucked between the government hub of Nagatacho and the nightlife of Roppongi, it blends high-end dining and historic shrines with a sophisticated neighborhood feel.
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No. Akasaka is a more central location whereas Asakusa is further east. Akasaka is also more modern whereas Asakusa is more traditional Japan.
