SHIN-OKUBO: Tokyo's Korean District
Vibrant Center of Korean Culture
- Shin-Okubo on Wikipedia
- Location on Google Maps: Shin-Okubo, Tokyo
A Blend of Korean Culture and Cuisine
Shin-Okubo, Tokyo's Korean district, unfolds around its namesake station in the central Shinjuku ward. Popular with Tokyo's youth, this neighborhood is brimming with Korean restaurants and shops that enliven the streets day and night. It's also a place of diversity, frequented by people from all over Asia and the Middle East.
The Evolution of Shin-Okubo
Originally a poor area with a bad reputation, Shin-Okubo gradually improved its image thanks to various immigrant communities settling in this central but forgotten district of Tokyo, revitalizing it:
- In the 1980s, South Korean workers mainly settled in Shin-Okubo, giving rise to the predominant Korean population seen today.
- In the 2010s, the area attracted foreign residents from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. A Muslim community emerged with, for example, several stores selling halal food, concentrated in the maze of Islam Yokocho.
- A small Chinese neighborhood (Little Chinatown) is also found in Shin-Okubo.
Korean Food, K-pop, and K-beauty
Korea Town runs along Okubo-dori and Shin-Okubo-dori streets, easily accessible on foot from the north exit of Shin-Okubo Station, after crossing the railway tracks. Visitors can enjoy:
- Korean cafes and restaurants, with many street food stands to taste hotteok-filled crepes, bibimbap, and Korean barbecue. Spicy food is predominant, with a lot of melted cheese and primarily chicken and pork meat. At the Seoul Ichiba food market, you can shop for daily groceries and buy delicious kimchi, fermented and spicy cabbage;
- Stores selling pop culture merchandise, linked to the famous K-pop wave and its idol groups, as well as Korean drama shows. Brands like Idol Park and K-Star Plus offer an assortment of CDs, DVDs, posters, cards, or accessories featuring fans' favorite artists;
- K-Beauty cosmetic shops, reflecting the importance of the skin care and makeup product market in South Korea.
Nightlife and Entertainment
As evening falls, the signs light up, and the neighborhood remains lively at night, with bars open until late, as well as love hotels on the fringes of Kabukicho.
