Is there an "AmericaTown" in Tokyo?
 

Living in Los Angeles, as well as several other self-proclaimed "Cosmopolitan" cities, I can easily identify certain areas where persons of like ethnicity congregate. China Town is right on the other side of the four-level. Korea Town is on Wilshire. Want great Armenian food, off to Glendale, etcetera.

I am guessing that the same holds true in Tokyo. When I am over there in April and I get a desire to eat, drink and speak American where do I go? I realy don't want to spend my whole two weeks in such place, but a few hours one day might help.

Thanks in advance,
Andrew

There are Denny's scattered around if you are really desperate for that 60s American experience, but I don't know of any specific ethnic section in the Tokyo area except I hear that there is a Korean concentration around Okubo station (close to Shinjuku) and there is a Chinatown in Yokohama.

The closest thing to a foreigner (upscale) "ghetto" might be the Hiro-o area, but there are still plenty of Japanese there. Also maybe around Roppongi. I also view Harajuku as a lot like Rodeo Drive.

However, you won't have ANY problem finding American eats and drinks in all parts of town. As far as speaking American, I guess you can always post on FT!

Ginza might also be considered Rodeo-like. Window shopping and all.
As the above said, roppongi is pretty close to America-town, though gaijin-town might be more appropriate, as you'll find countless American-speaking Aussies there.

No "americantown" or congregation neighborhood that is distinctivly from english speaking countries.

There are many bars/pubs operated by expats (not neccessarily all american) can be found around tokyo, not all concetrated in one section..

Food, Outback steakhouse, TGI fridays, Denny's, KFC, of course abundunt amounts of Mcdonalds and Starbucks Coffee.

In Roppongi you'll probably run into more people from english speaking countries (again not neccessarily american) especially during nightlife hours.

I would say Roppongi Hills gets as close as you will get...but it still feels Japanese. Many places over there are western (Grand Hyatt, Atelier, LVuitton, etc), but none are quintissentinally American.

Ginza might feel somewhat American, as might many of the department stores (Mitsukoshi, Matsuya). The Apple Store in Ginza (and probably the others too) definately feels American.

I'm not sure about this, but might West Shinjuku (where the Park Hyatt is) feel a little like NYC? It won't get you the total feeling, but the style of buildings might help.

You can easily get American food in any western hotel - if you desperately want something, the Grand Hyatt has a high level of food quality.

I'd say enjoy Japan - one of the great things about it is that it is totally "western" and developed, yet still quite different from the USA. If you really are that desperate, though, try the hotels.

Just curious, but what would you guys rate as the best American restaurant in Japan?

Sure, there is an America Town in Tokyo! ^

LOL ^ :D

There's an Amerika Mura in Osaka

http://www.quirkyjapan.or.tv/osaka.htm
&
http://www.tokyoclassified.com/tokyo...ntravelinc.htm

Am I the only one who thought of "The Simpsons go to Japan" on seeing this title? Here are two nuggets of joy from the episode:



"Homer: Whew. All that seizin' made me hungry.
Lisa: Me, too! Let's go to an authentic Japanese noodle house.
Homer: The toilet recommended a place called Americatown.
Lisa: Dad, we didn't come halfway around the world to eat at "Americatown".
Marge: I'd like to see the Japanese take on the club sandwich! I bet it's
smaller and more efficient.
TV: We now return to "Battling Seizure Robots".
[The four Simpsons all have seizures]"

"Americatown is themed with a random assortment of United States politics and pop culture. Each table is shaped like a state. The Simpsons sit at Massachusetts.

Homer: I can't believe they stuck us at Taxachusetts! [points to table] Hey, you know, I once knew a man from Nantucket.
Bart: And?
Homer: Let's just say the stories about him are greatly exaggerated.
Waiter: Howdy gangstas! I'm average American Joe Salaryman waiter.
Bart: These prices suck! 10,000 yen for coleslaw?
Lisa: Don't you serve anything that's even remotely Japanese?
Waiter: Don't ask me; I don't know anything! I'm product of American education system. I also build poor-quality cars and inferior-style electronics.
Homer: [cackles] Oh, they got our number!"

http://www.snpp.com/episodes/AABF20

Club sandwiches in Japan can be pretty good! ^ But I would love to know one place that does those and accompanying fries/coleslaw etc. better than average.

I have heard very good things about the New York City Grill at the Park Hyatt. I think it's American, but it may be more continental. I've never eaten there; I try to eat solely Japanese food in Japan (with the exception of breakfast in the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, where their western is better than their Japanese).

Oddly, Royal Host does a good club sandwich....too bad there are too few fries :( .........

There are always a wealth of boutique places, but if I am understanding the Q correctly, then I would have to say an across the board good American food place is not an option here. To me, American food that stands out world wide are breakfasts (cafe, diner) and lunches (deli, sandwiches, etc.). Price is a function of "Realness" and here you will not find that in a restaurant. You can get very satisfying cheesesteaks at Legends and decent burgers at Roti (probably the best in town IMHO). If you want good American food, go to an international supermarket, stock up on fixings, and have a few friends over and make it yourself. If staying at a hotel, you are here for such a short time that if you need a fix, you can it at one of the above places, Roti especially, and then I highly recommend waiting until you get back Stateside for American quality, portions, and prices. Give some of the local cuisine a whirl,, and then head to some of the fusion places run by some astonishingly good Japanese chefs whose base cooking style and ingredients are Japanese yet who have infused other countries' touches to create some of the best "new" food of which international travellers can avail themselves.

Mike

Thanks for the detail. I think that at some point we will just want to sit down and grab a burger and a beer. I will look up Roti. Do you have an address/district/subway stop to use as a a locator?

I second the Roti part. They make some of the best burgers in the world, forget town. To me, only second to the sadly gone Division 16 in Boylston St. in Boston. One moment of silence for the Div, if you please.