This rooftop in Kabukicho is a hidden oasis where all diners will feel welcome.
Japan is well set up for solo travellers, with counter seating at restaurants and private karaoke booths being some of the ways that parties of one can have a good night out while enjoying their own company. However, there are still some places in Japan that might seem like too high a hurdle for a solo traveller to clear, with one of them being rooftop beer gardens.
Our reporter Yuuichiro Wasai found himself in this position recently, when he was in the mood to visit a beer garden he’d heard about, but wasn’t able to line up free time in his schedule with any of his friends before the end of summer. Rather than miss out on this very quintessential Japanese summertime experience, he decided to bite the bullet and headed up to the beer garden himself.
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he started to feel a little anxious at the prospect ahead of him, because beer gardens tend to be a lively, convivial experience usually enjoyed by groups of friends. However, as he looked around, he began to feel more comfortable, as he realised that the place had just the right mix of casual flair and bustling activity that helped him blend into the crowd.
Though he’d feared that his solo beer garden trip might be a hellish experience, this place turned out to be heaven, quite literally, as it’s called “Tenku no Machi – Shinjuku Asia Yokocho”, which is translated into English as “City of Heaven Asian Yokocho“.
▼ “Yokocho” means “alley”
Reaching for a menu before taking a seat, Yuuichiro browsed through dishes like carbonara and churrasco, and an international selection of beers, including Heineken and Zima, all of which didn’t seem to match up with the place’s “Asian Yokocho” moniker, but the options looked delicious so he wasn’t complaining.
The table Yuuichiro was shown to initially had only menus for individual dishes and drinks but he later learned that all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink plans are also available. He wasn’t here for a long beer-guzzling feast, though, so he was happy to order individual dishes, and he felt that the venue offered good value considering its location.
▼ One of the biggest draws here is the view.
This building is in Kabukicho, adjacent to the building with the giant Godzilla head, so it’s an exciting place to sit and experience the area from a different angle.
With the streets of Kabukicho stretching out below, Yuuichiro felt like he’d discovered a hidden gem in Tokyo, unknown to the people below. The night view from the rooftop is so impressive that it’s easy to forget you’re dining alone, and although there’s a 330-yen (US$2.06) seating charge – seating charges are pretty much standard for drinking establishments like this one in Japan – Yuuichiro felt it was worth the money.
After ordering a draft beer (780 yen for a medium mug) and a churrasco platter (1,580 yen), his total came to less than 3,000 yen, which he felt was good value.
▼ The beer was cold and refreshing and the food was excellent.
Though he seemed to be the only solo customer in the beer garden, Yuuchiro says he didn’t feel uncomfortable. He didn’t feel like anyone was looking at him either, as the customers around him were either deep in conversation or focused on the night view, so being alone didn’t attract much attention.
▼ The tables are spacious and comfortably separated, so he wasn’t rubbing shoulders with anyone, making him feel like he was in his own VIP section.
▼ He felt so comfortable that he even made another order, this time for a plate of fresh spring rolls (880 yen), so he could enjoy the night view for longer.
With great views, cold beer and good food, this is a place where all diners will feel welcome, whether they’re in a big group of friends or dining alone. Combined with the energy of the city around you, and the sense of openness created by the beer garden itself, this rooftop oasis has just the right vibe to make solo dining an easy hurdle to clear.
Restaurant information
～Tenku no Machi～ Shinjuku Asia Yokocho (Shinjuku Tenku Beer Garden 2026) / ～天空の街～ 新宿アジア横丁（新宿天空ビアガーデン2026）
Address: Tokyo-to Shinjuku-ku Kabukicho 1-21-1 Daini Toa Kaikan rooftop
東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-21-1第二東亜会館屋上
Open: 11 a.m.-5 a.m.
Website
Photos ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]