Who knew a tempura restaurant could inspire waits up to 3 hours long? But that’s just testament to how good the food is at Kaneko-Hannosuke in Nihonbashi. If you’re keen on some great tempura and have time to spare, you should go. Just get there as early as possible.
Kaneko-Hannosuke - image © Florentyna Leow
Tokyo has no shortage of delicious tempura restaurants. But few can be said to inspire the same fervour and willingness to wait for a meal as Kaneko-Hannosuke in Nihonbashi. It’s so popular, in fact, that on especially busy days people have been known to wait for up to 3 hours in line. This isn’t always the case, of course – if you get there early enough, you might only have to wait 45 minutes. That’s what you get with just 20 seats in a restaurant.
Kaneko-Hannosuke - image © Florentyna Leow
There’s just one dish on the menu at Kaneko-Hannosuke. That’s the Edomae Tendon, or Edo-style tempura rice bowl. Picture a mound of aromatic white rice. Heap deep-fried conger eel, shrimp, squid, and a square of seaweed. Add a deep-fried egg. Yes, egg tempura exists, and with the most perfectly crispy batter to boot! Drizzle the whole bowl with a gorgeous sweet-salty secret sauce.
Kaneko-Hannosuke - image © Florentyna Leow
This is as good as it gets for just JPY950. Time spent waiting notwithstanding, the cost-performance here is superb.
Kaneko-Hannosuke - image © Florentyna Leow
Here’s a tip from a Tokyoite: if you don’t want to wait and you’re willing to sacrifice the experience of actually dining in the original Kaneko-Hannosuke restaurant, try grabbing a tempura bento box to go. It won’t be exactly the same, but it’s a very decent approximation of having it freshly cooked to order.
For more Tokyo tempura choices, see our Best Tempura in Tokyo page.
English name:
Kaneko-Hannosuke
Japanese name:
金子半之助
English address:
1-11-15 Nihombashi-muro-machi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0022
Japanese address:
〒103-0022 東京都中央区日本橋室町1-11-15
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 11am-10pm
Saturday, Sunday and national holidays: 10am-9pm
Price:
Non-smoking section:
Completely Non-Smoking
Reservations:
No Reservations
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 1-minute walk from exit A1 of Mitsukoshimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Hanzomon lines.
Telephone:
+81-3-3243-0707
Website:
Official website (English)
Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Kaneko-Hannosuke on TripAdvisor.
Near To Here:
Kaneko-Hannosuke is located in Tokyo's Toyko Station and Marunouchi area. See our complete list of things to do in Tokyo's Toyko Station and Marunouchi area, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
More Tokyo Restaurant Recommendations:
See all tempura restaurants we recommend on our Best Tempura in Tokyo page and get the complete list for all cuisines on our Best Tokyo Restaurants page.
Where Is This Place Located?
See this place on the Truly Tokyo Google map:- Open the Tokyo map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
