2026 Ho Chi Minh City Japan Street Guide: lantern alleys, two izakayas, and nighttime walking reminders

If you come to Ho Chi Minh City's First District and want to step briefly into an alley hung with lanterns, Japanese signage, and the aroma of izakayas on a tropical Vietnamese night, Japan Street (Saigon Japan Town/Little Japan) is worth adding to your itinerary; it is not a closed tourist pedestrian street but a cluster of Japanese restaurants, izakayas, small bars, cafés, and Japanese-style shops that gradually formed around Lê Thánh Tôn, Thái Văn Lung, and the surrounding alleys. [1][2]

The best approach for first-time visitors is to arrive between 17:00 and 20:30; while it's still light you can clearly see wooden doors, Japanese signs, and alley routes, and after dark the red lanterns gradually light up and the whole area shows its most "Little Tokyo" feel; there is no admission fee, a simple walk of about one hour is sufficient, and if you add photos and an izakaya dinner allow two to three hours. [1]

Where is Japan Street? Start by exploring from the two entrances

What is commonly called Ho Chi Minh City's Japan Street is mainly located between 15B Lê Thánh Tôn and 8 Thái Văn Lung in the First District; on your first visit you don't need to keep circling every alley—enter from the Lê Thánh Tôn side, walk slowly along the lanterns, wooden doors, and Japanese signs, and exit from the Thái Văn Lung side; to locate it directly, search "Saigon Japan Town" on Google Maps. [1]

Search Saigon Japan Town on Google Maps

The charm here is not large attractions or photo props but the urban feel of "walking while deciding what to have for dinner"; motorbikes and delivery vehicles pass through the alleys, so when taking photos or checking navigation on your phone, stop near the storefronts and do not stand in the middle of the path.

Japan Street at night: lively, but know where you want to go first

After dark, bar staff at the entrances and ends of Japan Street may invite passersby in for a drink; in most cases it's just greeting and an introduction, though occasionally it may be more proactive, with staff gently holding a patron's arm or approaching to solicit—this approach may not suit every traveler, but compared to some of Bangkok's larger bar streets with more open and intense nightlife, Japan Street is generally more restrained and remains a mixed neighborhood of Japanese restaurants, izakayas, and small bars.

If you only want a meal or a casual drink, the simplest rule is: when you see a place you might like, check the menu, prices, taxes, service charges, and minimum spend at the entrance; if you don't want to go in, smile and say "No, thank you" and keep walking—do not feel obliged to enter because you've been approached, and there's no need to argue; there are indeed some adult-oriented venues near Japan Street, such as Cherry; if that's not part of your plan, simply skip them and focus on enjoying the restaurants and street scenes.

A few small reminders for nighttime walks: carry only necessary cash, keep your phone and bag on the inside of your body; if you need to check a map, stop beside a storefront first; for the return trip, it's recommended to go back to a better-lit main street where vehicles can easily stop before calling Grab. [1]

Japan Street dinner recommendation 1: Torisho — a two-story yakitori izakaya

If you want your first meal to be comfortable with a Japanese izakaya atmosphere, Torisho within the Japan Street area is recommended; the restaurant has two floors of dining space, suitable for sitting down to enjoy skewers, slowly ordering some snacks with drinks, paired with beer, sake, or shochu.

Torisho's signature is Japanese charcoal-grilled skewers (yakitori), with options from meats to vegetable skewers; the official menu also lists sushi, sashimi, udon, and ramen, so choices are not limited to drinking; the interior follows a Showa-era izakaya style, with wood and warm tones that suit travelers who want a familiar Japanese meal during their trip in Vietnam. [3]

• Suitable for: couples, friends, or family travelers who want a comfortable sit-down dinner with a drink or two.
• Recommended order: start with a mixed skewer platter, then pair it with edamame, fried items, or other small dishes for drinking; groups can order several dishes to share.
• Google Maps: Torisho
• Reminder: Opening hours and closed days may change; please check Google Maps or the official website for the latest notices on the day you go.

Japan Street dinner recommendation 2: IZAKAYA TEN — a lively after-party option on the left side of the main entrance

If you look into Japan Street from the main entrance, on the left is a livelier, louder izakaya — IZAKAYA TEN (TOKYO DRINKING STYLE); this place feels more like a lively after-party for friends' gatherings, suitable for travelers who like to eat, drink, and chat.

The menu commonly includes skewers, fried chicken, takoyaki, and edamame paired with sake and beer; Google Maps shows a rating of 4.3／5、超過 1,300 則評價，平均消費約為每人 200,000 至 600,000 越南盾；evenings usually operate until late, but exact times should be confirmed on the day's page. [4]

• Suitable for: groups of three or four friends having dinner, those who want to experience a livelier Japanese drinking culture, or people who want to order several rounds of skewers and snacks.
• Recommended order: mixed skewers, karaage, edamame, takoyaki, plus a draft beer or sake; to save budget, set a per-person limit for food and drinks first.
• Google Maps: 8d1 Thái Văn Lung, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh
• Reminder: This place is busier than Torisho; if you want to chat quietly, choose an earlier time slot or go to Torisho instead.

For your first visit to Japan Street, you can plan it like this

It is recommended to arrive around 17:30; enter from the Lê Thánh Tôn side, take a few photos of the wooden doors and lantern alleys while there's still twilight, and after dusk when the lanterns light up, choose one of the two izakayas for dinner; for a more complete dining experience, go to Torisho first; if you prefer a lively late-night izakaya atmosphere, choose IZAKAYA TEN.

• 17:30: Enter from the Lê Thánh Tôn side and first take photos of the alleys and lanterns.
• 18:30: Choose Torisho for a more complete dinner, or go to IZAKAYA TEN to experience a livelier izakaya atmosphere.
• After 20:30: If you only want to walk, return to the main street and call Grab; if you want to continue the night, choose only open-type bars with clear menus, prices, and service charges.

Treat Japan Street as a "twilight walk + Japanese dinner" activity rather than feeling you must stay until late night — you'll enjoy it more that way.

Also in the First District, reserve a quiet relaxation time during your trip: Win Royal Spa

Japan Street's nights are suitable for eating, drinking, and walking; in your Ho Chi Minh City itinerary, don't forget to set aside time to truly rest your body—located in the First District, Win Royal Spa offers Vietnamese-style hair washing, full-body massages, and foot relaxation services, ideal after intensive sightseeing, shopping, or long-haul flights.

If you choose the Royal Vietnamese hair-wash package (120 minutes), you can enjoy a full end-to-end Vietnamese hair-wash experience along with hot stone and essential oil services; the spa also offers free luggage storage, which is especially convenient for travelers who have just checked out, are heading to the airport late, or are traveling with large bags.

• Opening hours: 09:00 - 23:00
• Address: 48 Lê Thị Hồng Gấm, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh (Win Royal Spa)
• Thoughtful services: free luggage storage provided; you can book treatments in advance according to your schedule.

Information source

[1] Lanytrip: Ho Chi Minh Japan Street Guide

[2] Vietnam Airlines: Saigon Japan Town guide

[3] Torisho official website

[4] IZAKAYA TEN (TOKYO DRINKING STYLE) Google Maps

Information updated to August 2026; restaurant opening hours, menus, prices, and the status of neighborhood shops may change, so before you depart please refer to official notices from the establishments or Google Maps information for the day.