Hibiya Walking Guide — Three Long-Standing Spots Under the Tracks

Around Hibiya Station there are 3 walking spots, ranging from a Showa-era coffee house to a motsuyaki grill and an izakaya tucked under the railway tracks. All three sit within Yurakucho in Chiyoda City and are walkable from both Hibiya Station and Yurakucho Station. [Motsuyaki Tounton](/en/spot/0e4314f0-5682-4be7-91a7-4fe5599d68ed) opened in 1953 and [Benishika Coffee House](/en/spot/1bcd8611-a9af-450c-8a89-3d54be91169b) in 1957, so two of the three have been running for around 70 years.

A suggested order: start with pizza toast at [Benishika Coffee House](/en/spot/1bcd8611-a9af-450c-8a89-3d54be91169b) in the daytime, move to a few skewers at [Motsuyaki Tounton](/en/spot/0e4314f0-5682-4be7-91a7-4fe5599d68ed) in the early evening, and finish at [Matsuso](/en/spot/26809180-5ead-495f-99f8-50c772b724ed) under the red lanterns.

Benishika Coffee House

Founded in 1957, this long-standing coffee house is the birthplace of pizza toast. The original pizza toast piles rich cheese onto thick-cut bread and costs 1,150 yen on its own. The "Devil's Flame" at 2,500 yen sends brandy flames dripping down a lemon peel, and the lights in the shop are dimmed when someone orders it. It is close to the Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre, at 1-6-8 Yurakucho, Chiyoda City (Matsui Building 1F).

Motsuyaki Tounton

Founded in 1953, this motsuyaki shop has spent more than 70 years under the railway tracks. Skewers grilled over binchotan charcoal are 210 yen each (ordered from two per type), and the tare sauce is a secret blend kept topped up over the years. Solo drinkers are pointed to the five-skewer pork assortment at 1,050 yen; add the beef motsu stew at 680 yen and you are still comfortably fed. On Saturdays and Sundays you can drink here from midday. Address: 2-1-10 Yurakucho, Chiyoda City.

Matsuso

An izakaya under the JR tracks, marked by a red lantern. It runs on a cash-on system where you leave your payment in a basket, so there is no waiting around to settle up. The three-skewer yakitori assortment is 850 yen, and there are also house-made gyoza with Aomori garlic and nukazuke pickles. Address: 2-1-20 Yurakucho, Chiyoda City — the same block as Tounton.

A closing tip

All three spots are in Yurakucho, Chiyoda City, and because two stations serve the area, you can arrive at one and leave from the other. The pricing is easy to read: 210 yen a skewer, 850 yen for three yakitori, 1,150 yen for pizza toast. Ordering a little at each place keeps the cost per stop light — starting with the 1,150 yen pizza toast at Benishika is a gentle way in.