Ningyocho Imahan
This legendary sukiyaki restaurant began in 1895 and proves that age is no barrier to quality.
Restaurant Details
The sukiyaki institution has lived many lives since it opened in 1895, initially operating as a gyunabe — beef hotpot — store in Honjo, Tokyo. After recovering from the Great Kanto Earthquake, it spun off into a new flagship store in Ningoycho in 1952 and rebranded as “Imahan,” a name now synonymous with sukiyaki legend in the city.
Nowadays, Ningyocho Imahan sports a dual identity within its noren-draped, two-story heritage building. The restaurant occupies a corner lot on the former site of a famous rakugo comedy venue from the Meiji and Showa era. The first floor serves teppanyaki-style kuroge wagyu under the name Kisentei, while shabu-shabu and traditional cuisine take center stage on the second floor. At its core, Ningyocho Imahan is all about its stellar-quality beef: kuroge wagyu seared beautifully on an iron pot, simmered in a soy-sauce-based broth called “warishita,” and dipped into a raw egg yolk. Their shabu-shabu features beef cooked in a gently-flavored broth, complemented by ponzu sauce made with oranges, kelp and bonito flakes and a house-recipe roasted sesame dipping sauce.
In the evening, there’s a warm glow that comes from within Ningyocho Imahan. History comes to life through its sukiya-style architecture and design. Diners slide onto tatami-matted floors into the low-set tables. Traditional light fixtures hang from the wooden coffered ceiling, bathing the space in golden-hued light.
Across the street, there’s a delicatessen where diners can take out Imahan's fresh fried sukiyaki croquettes.
Ningyocho Imahan Access Info
Ningyocho Imahan is a 1-minute walk from Ningyocho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibuya Line or a 3-minute walk from Suitengumae Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line.
Ningyocho Imahan Phone Number
Ningyocho Imahan Business Days
Ningyocho Imahan Address
2-9-12 Nihonbashiningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0013, Japan
Ningyocho Imahan Cancellation Policy
Cancel your reservation at least 5 days before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Restaurant location
Over 14 million residents call Tokyo home. Functioning as Japan's economic and cultural center, it's no surprise the metropolis often appears at the top of travelers' bucket lists. Here, you can find everything from traditional tea houses to futuristic skyscrapers.
We strive to be as accurate as possible and keep up with the changing landscape of Japan’s food and travel industries. If you spot any inaccuracies, please send a report.
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 |
3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
10 meals
COURSE MENUShabu-Shabu Tsukada Shibuya Scramble Square
Right next to Shibuya Station, this shabu-shabu restaurant gives diners each their own individual hotpot. Some of Japan’s finest wagyu, including Matsusaka and Kobe, are served alongside each other as tasting comparisons.
COURSE MENUShabu Shabu "Let Us" Shibuya Center Gai
A fully customizable shabu-shabu hotpot experience in the middle of Shibuya. Eight different soups and 29 mouthwatering sauces to choose from mean that every hotpot is unique. A free flow of wagyu beef and all-you-can-drink plans round things out.
SEAT RESERVATIONShabu Zen Shibuya
Experience a quintessential Japanese dinner at the renowned Shabu Zen in Shibuya, where you can indulge in all-you-can-eat shabu shabu and even try the revered wagyu.
COURSE MENUShabushabu Okaka Shinjuku
By adding bonito flakes just a fraction of a millimeter thick at the last possible second, the specially-prepared dashi broth at Shabushabu Okaka Shinjuku receives a bright burst of flavor—a perfect match for creamy kurobuta shabu-shabu pork.