Japanese department stores are everywhere in Tokyo- usually each train/subway station is connected to at least one. Surprisingly, it’s a really good place for hungry people since it always have a huge food court. In Japan there is no place for McDonald’s or KFC in food court- it’s one or two floors full of restaurants, usually with long queues of people waiting to enter the best of them.


There’s really not much to be said about food courts- they exist and they have a huge variety of food. Maybe not cheap ramen and sushi, but some affordable interesting restaurants and cafes. What’s the best is that every place serving food in Japan has a display of plastic models with prices just outside of the shop, so that everyone can see what exactly they are buying. The models are very detailed and showing exactly what a meal looks like- to the point that the actual plate will consist the same amount of meat pieces.

What makes this places so good for lunch break? First, they are usually very close to stations so it’s not a far walk from wherever people are heading. Second, the mentioned meals models- people not speaking a word of Japanese can simply take a photo with their phone and order by showing it to the waitress. Third, there’s a huge variety of food in one place- Japanese food, Western food, dinner meals, light salads and soups, breakfast meals, sweets- everything one could want.

So, instead of writing a long review of this places, let me just show you. Here are some photos from Shinjuku’s Lumine Est food court, located in Shinjuku JR station.

Slappy Cakes

Happy Pasta

The Station Grill

Komeraku

Paellan Peaces

Egg & Spuma

B.B.B.

Curry Kitchen Venus

Venus

Ubu Cafe

Ochoboha