Why You Can Just Walk In
This is a city hall.
Not a food court.
Not a tourist spot.
Yet you can walk in, go downstairs, buy a ticket,
and eat—without being asked anything.
For most travelers, that alone is the experience.
You Can Just Walk In**
What It’s Like Inside
The cafeteria is in the basement.
There are no signs inviting tourists.
No English menus.
And on the day of the visit, not a single foreigner.
Instead, there were seniors, local workers, and people dressed casually—
very different from the official attire upstairs.
No one checks who you are.
No one looks twice.
You simply buy a ticket and proceed.
Ordering and Flow
You buy a meal ticket first.
Hand it over,
and your food is prepared right there.
No numbers.
No announcements.
It feels closer to a standing noodle shop than a government facility.
Wait one or two minutes, and your tray is ready.
Everything is self-service:
- Chopsticks
- Tea and water
- Pickles and condiments
After eating, you return the tray to the shelf.
📸 Process（動線説明）
Ticket. Tray. Seat.
What to Eat (Expectation Check)
The Sakura Set (¥790) comes with ramen and curry.
- The ramen is a full portion.
- The curry is somewhere between a mini and a full plate.
Together, it’s filling enough.
The ramen tastes like a classic Showa-era bowl—
simple, familiar, and not meant to compete with specialty shops.
The curry, however, was genuinely good.
Other options included:
- A set menu for ¥690
- Katsudon for ¥700
- Curry rice ¥530
- Ramen ¥500
- Hamburg Bento ¥600
Food samples were placed directly in front of the ticket machine,
making choices easy even without reading Japanese.
The Hamburg Bento comes in a proper bento box.
Rice, soup, shredded cabbage, hijiki, tamagoyaki, gyoza, chikuwa tempura, and shumai—
all included.
Ordinary food, done efficiently.
Seating and Atmosphere
All seating is at tables.
The space is wide and surprisingly relaxed.
No rush.
No crowding.
Staff members—about five or six—were efficient and polite,
with clear greetings and a friendly tone.
It felt functional, but not cold.
Practical Notes
- Location: About a five-minute walk from Ueno Station
- Who can enter: Anyone
- Language: Japanese only
- Payment: Ticket machine
- Time: Fast—ideal for a quick lunch
This is not a hidden gourmet spot.
The food is ordinary.
The setting is plain.
But walking into a city hall cafeteria—
and being treated as just another person in line—
is quietly memorable.
Sometimes, the most “local” experience
is simply being allowed inside.
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