Japanese Winter Food in Tokyo: Warming the Soul One Dish at a Time
Winter in Tokyo has a calm beauty. The air turns crisp, the skies clear up, and the city lights make the atmosphere warmer against the cold. On the surface, it’s a season of quiet streets and bundled-up commuters. But for locals, winter is also the best time to eat.
As the temperature drops, Tokyo’s food scene changes, steaming pots of soup appear in izakayas, yakiimo trucks return to the streets, and the smell of oden fills the air around Tokyo.
If you’re visiting Tokyo in the colder months, here are some of the best traditional Japanese winter food to try, all guaranteed to warm you up from the inside from a local's point of view.
1. Nabe (Hot Pot): The Classic Winter Gathering Japanese Dish
Nabe, or hot pot, is Japan’s go-to winter meal. It’s simple: a pot of simmering broth filled with meat, tofu, and seasonal vegetables, cooked right at the table.
You can find different styles all over Tokyo:
- Chanko Nabe (Ryogoku): The famous “sumo stew,” (sumo stew is commonly eaten in large amounts by sumo wrestlers to help them gain weight) thick, hearty, and full of protein.
- Yose Nabe: A light Tokyo-style hot pot that mixes seafood, chicken, and vegetables.
- Sukiyaki: Beef cooked in a sweet soy-based broth, dipped in raw egg which makes a comforting, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
💡 Local Tip: At the end of your nabe meal, don’t forget to add rice or noodles to the leftover broth for “shime”, a satisfying final round.
Recommendations in Tokyo:
- Chanko Tomoegata (Ryogoku): an authentic sumo-style nabe restaurant.
- Nabezo (Shinjuku): a modern, easygoing spot with multiple soup bases to choose from.
2. Oden: The Taste of Tokyo’s Winter Streets
Oden is one of the most beloved winter dishes in Japan. It’s a mix of ingredients like daikon radish, tofu, fish cakes, and eggs, all slowly simmered in a soy and dashi broth.
You would see it everywhere in winter from old-style izakayas to convenience stores. It’s light, filling, and full of umami flavor.
Recommended ingredients to try:
- Daikon (radish): juicy and tender.
- Egg: simple but flavorful after hours of simmering.
- Chikuwa & Hanpen: soft fish cakes that soak up the broth beautifully.
💡 Local Tip: Add a small dab of karashi mustard: that spicy heat pairs perfectly with the gentle flavor of the broth.
Where to try:
- Otafuku (Asakusa): a long-running oden restaurant with an old Tokyo atmosphere.
- Konakara (Ebisu): cozy counter seating with excellent oden and sake pairings.
- 711 (Everywhere): 7-Eleven offers surprisingly good oden, with rich broth and quality ingredients. If you don’t have time to sit down for a proper meal, their oden is a reliable and tasty option.
3. Yakiimo (Roasted Sweet Potato): Winter’s Street Snack
Yakiimo, or roasted sweet potato, is the most nostalgic winter snack in Japan. You may hear the yakiimo truck calling out through neighborhoods, a sound many locals associate with childhood winters.
The potatoes are roasted slowly over hot stones until the skin is crisp and the inside is golden and sweet. No toppings needed, just hold it in your hands and eat it warm.
Where to find:
- Local Super Market: They have the yakiimo oven, you can get the fresh and hot yakiimo.
- Local trucks in Koenji & Nakano: Keep an ear out in the evening, they still drive around the local residential streets.
💡 Local Tip: Pair your yakiimo with hot green tea or amazake (a warm, non-alcoholic fermented rice drink). It’s simple, traditional, and perfectly Japanese.
4. Nikujaga: Home-Style Winter Comfort
Nikujaga literally means “meat and potatoes,” and it’s one of Japan’s most iconic home-cooked dishes. Thinly sliced beef and vegetables are simmered in soy sauce, mirin, and sugar until the flavors come together in a sweet-savory broth.
It’s not flashy, but it’s deeply comforting, a dish that represents Japanese home cooking at its best.
Where to try:
- Small Izakayas: Small, traditional spots often have nikujaga as a daily special.
💡 Local Tip: If you’re visiting an izakaya on a cold night, ask the chef for their warmest dish. Chances are that they’ll suggest nikujaga.
5. Zenzai & Oshiruko: Warm Red Bean Desserts
When the air turns cold, Japan’s desserts turn warm as well. Zenzai and Oshiruko are sweet red bean soups served with mochi (sticky rice cake). They’re not too sugary, but it’s just enough to comfort you after walking through Tokyo’s chilly streets or visiting a temple in winter.
The difference:
- Zenzai: Has whole red beans and a thicker texture.
- Oshiruko: Smooth, blended, and lighter.
Where to try:
- Toraya: Traditional sweets and refined zenzai. I personally have been going to this Japanese sweet place since the childhood.
- Asakusa’s tea houses: Small shops around Sensoji Temple often serve warm red bean soup in winter.
💡 Local Tip: Sit near the window with your bowl and enjoy the calm. It’s one of the best ways to slow down and feel Tokyo’s quieter winter rhythm.
6. Ozoni: The New Year’s Soup
Every Japanese household starts the year with ozoni, a soup that includes mochi, vegetables, and a delicate dashi broth. In Tokyo, the broth style is clear and lightly seasoned, symbolizing a fresh beginning for the new year.
Although it’s traditionally eaten in January, some restaurants and ryokan serve it throughout winter for travelers who want to experience this taste of Japanese culture.
Where to try:
- Asakusa & Nihonbashi restaurants: Many long-running establishments offer ozoni as part of their seasonal menu.
💡 Local Tip: If you’re in Tokyo around New Year’s, visit a shrine early in the morning and then enjoy ozoni for breakfast. It's a beautiful Japanese tradition to start the year.
7. Atsukan (Hot Sake): Tokyo’s Winter Drink
Winter in Tokyo wouldn’t be complete without atsukan, or hot sake. Served in small ceramic cups, it’s the perfect drink to pair with oden, grilled fish, or even just quiet conversation at a small bar.
When warmed gently, sake becomes smoother and more aromatic, creating the kind of slow, cozy moment that defines Japanese winter nights.
This is the reference image explaining the sake with the different temperatures. If you know it, you may be able to start a conversation with locals.
Where to try:
- izakaya: Most izakaya offers the atsukan during the winter season. However, it is not the winter-only alcohol, you can order it in other seasons.
💡 Local Tip: Ask for sake to be warmed “nurukan” (around 40°C). It brings out a subtle sweetness without overpowering the flavor.
Winter in Tokyo isn’t just about the cold, but it’s about finding warmth in small moments. A bowl of oden shared at a counter, the steam rising from a nabe pot, or the simple comfort of holding a roasted sweet potato on your walk home.
Each dish embraces the winter season of Tokyo. So, if you’re visiting Tokyo this winter, don’t just look for illuminations or snow, look for the steam, the scent, and the flavors that make this city feel alive, even in the cold.
Looking for the best way to experience Tokyo in winter?
Join a tour with TOMOGO! and discover all these cozy dishes. From oden to nabe and roasted sweet potatoes, that bring warmth and flavor to the season.
