Shin-Okubo Koreatown

In short

Shin-Okubo Koreatown is Tokyo's largest Koreatown, spreading out around JR Shin-Okubo Station. Lined with Korean restaurants, Korean cosmetics shops, and K-pop idol merchandise stores, it offers the chance to enjoy trendy Korean gourmet food and shopping. In recent years, shops from other Asian regions have also increased, making it an internationally diverse neighborhood.

• ​Three Streets​​: Many shops are concentrated around Okubo-dori Street in front of the station, Shokuan-dori Street to the south, and Ikemen-dori Street, which connects the two.
• ​Street Food Touring​​: You can visit stalls and eateries offering popular Korean food, such as Korean barbecue, cheese dakgalbi, and visually cute sweets.
• ​Town's Journey​​: What was once an Edo-period town of the Teppo Hyakuningumi (gun corps) has become known as a Tokyo tourist destination through the Korean Wave boom.

History and Highlights

​Shin-Okubo Koreatown​ is Tokyo's largest Koreatown, located around Shin-Okubo Station, just one stop from Shinjuku Station. It is lined with Korean and ethnic restaurants, food supermarkets, and more.

The local place name of Hyakunincho originates from the Edo period's "Teppo Hyakuningumi." The Hyakuningumi were ashigaru (foot soldiers) tasked with defending the west of Edo, and they were granted group residences in Okubo. Life was not easy, so they cultivated azaleas in the fields behind their residences, and Okubo became renowned as a famous spot for azaleas.

Shin-Okubo Station opened in 1914. Because Okubo Station already existed about 300 meters to the west, "Shin" (meaning "new") was reportedly added to name the station.

Originally, there were many residents of Korean descent in the area, but not enough to be called a Koreatown. In 1981, a restaurant said to be a famous Korean eatery began operating on Shokuan-dori Street, after which other Korean restaurants began lining up nearby. Following the 1988 Seoul Olympics, travelers and international students from South Korea rapidly increased. In 2004, the drama Winter Sonata was broadcast on NHK's terrestrial television, sparking a massive boom, and Shin-Okubo came to be known as a "Tokyo tourist destination." Since then, through the K-pop boom, it has also gained strong support among younger generations.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Three Streets​​: Many shops line Okubo-dori Street in front of JR Shin-Okubo Station, Shokuan-dori Street to the south, and Ikemen-dori Street, an alley connecting the two. Korean grocery stores line Shokuan-dori Street.
• ​Touring Korean Street Food​​: There are shops offering popular Korean food such as Korean barbecue, cheese dakgalbi, and visually cute sweets. As there are also many street stalls, you can enjoy strolling while eating. Korean cosmetics and K-pop idol shops also line the streets.
• ​An Internationally Diverse Neighborhood​​: Many shops are run by "newcomers" who arrived from South Korea and opened their businesses in their own generation. In recent years, shops representing Asian regions other than Korea have also increased, making it an internationally diverse neighborhood.

Tips for Exploring

It is within walking distance from Shinjuku Station. If you first walk down Okubo-dori Street, pass through Ikemen-dori Street, and emerge onto Shokuan-dori Street, you can cover all three streets in one walk. From Shin-Okubo Station, walk about 600 meters east along Okubo-dori Street and turn right to find Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Park. Kabukicho Ichibangai-dori Street is about 660 meters to the south.