These are the McDonald’s, which are all over Tokyo, we’ve sampled in our travels to Japan's capital city.
You might be asking why out of all the Tokyo restaurants we’d eat at a McDonald’s, and then review it. Here are a few reasons we go to McD’s while abroad.
We also have posts for bars, cafés, cheap eats, medium priced and high end restaurants.
Also check out our other Tokyo posts.
Shibuya
This is a great spot for a quick bite and fun people watching.
Probably the most famous spot for people watching is Shibuya Crossing. You probably have seen this crossing in a movie or documentary.
Pedestrians scramble across Shibuya Crossing
The main intersection in Shibuya is called a scramble, because all traffic stops and then pedestrians cross in every direction all at once. It’s tightly organized chaos in which to watch or participate.
Looking out onto Shibuya Crossing
The McDonald’s in Shibuya is small, but like so many McDonald’s in Tokyo, there is an upstairs you walk to and you eat your food. If you get a window seat, you can take it all in.
We put a sticker on for Texas!
This McDonald’s is popular with tourists. It’s so popular, in fact, it has a map where people can pin their hometowns.
You can find English all over Tokyo, especially in the McDonald's
You won’t have any trouble ordering here. If it’s obvious you’re Westerner, the staff will flip the menu from Japanese to English before you have a chance to ask. You’ll also recognize most of your favorites from home as a picture. We had no trouble ordering and enjoying a quick lunch break.
TCAT
If you want a quick bite either before you go to Narita or when you arrive, there is a McDonald’s in TCAT, or Tokyo City Air Terminal, located in Nihonbashi. Depending on where you are in TCAT, you can ask anybody where the restaurant is. And there are many signs to follow. TCAT is large, but the Japanese with who I spoke were incredibly friendly and helpful.
Is this the most familiar sign in the world?
Like other McDonald’s I’ve been to in Japan, this one is incredibly friendly. You probably won’t have to ask for an English menu—they’ll turn it over for you or give you a new one. Many of the same standard meals are available here as they are in the United States, including a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. You’ll see some Japanese items not on the American menu, but you’ll still find plenty of old favorites. Enjoy!
Asakusa
If you visit Asakusa, you might want a familiar meal at McDonald’s.
Take a rest from all that noren shopping
This restaurant is close by. When we went to Bengara to go shopping for noren, we stopped for a snack.
Kuramae
This is a standard McDonald’s but off the beaten path. It’s another good one for people watching.
Kuramae is great for shopping for handmade gifts—and eating
Kuramae is located between Asakusa and Asakusabashi. We found it because we had to transfer between train lines, and this time we ended up exiting to the street to walk a couple of blocks to the new station. There are many handicraft businesses in Kuramae, so there’s lots to shop for.
Minami Shinjuku
This McDonald’s is very close to Shinjuku Station.
This McDonald's is near one of the busiest train stations in the world
We wanted a cheeseburger, fries, and Coke Zero after touring the Shinjuku area. This is one of several McDonald’s in the area, but we liked how close this is to Shinjuku Station.
McDonald's as street food?
Here you order outside on the sidewalk, and then take your food up to the second or third floor to eat. You’ll find many school kids there but there’s enough seats for everyone. Of course, we sat and ate by the window, seeing more of the Shinjuku experience.
Akihabara Showa-dori
For an IT guy, Akihabara is the place to go to check out the latest technology. The Japanese are always on the cutting edge of technology. It’s fun to see what the American marketplace might see in the months or year ahead. However, doing research in Akihabara can work up an appetite!
An ice-cold McShake will help after looking at advanced electronics all day
This restaurant has an English menu, and the staff speak English. You’ll recognize the basic menu. It’s nice to get a bite before or after your Akihabara shopping trip.
Burger King Akihabara Showa-dori
Okay, it's not a McDonald's. But if you prefer a Whopper over a Big Mac, this one's for you.
You don't see this kind of ads for American Burger Kings
Yes, I’ve been to Akihabara more than a few times. Madeline and I went to this Burger King on one of our visits to Akihabara. We got off the Tokyo Metro’s Hibiya Line and walked toward Electric City and found this close to McDonald’s. You can get a Whopper meal or simply a cheeseburger that reminds you of home.