Azabu Kawakamian — Attraction in Tokyo

Stylish soba restaurant in Azabu. Originally from Karuizawa prefecture, the Azabu location doesn’t disappoint in showing both the high quality and traditional flavor of soba from Nagano, and the “bougie” vibes from Azabu-Jūban. To access the restaurant you need to go downstairs where, at the entrance, you also see the outdoor seating area. Even though it’s “outdoors” it’s more like a comfortable garden since it’s facing the streets. The interior had a stylish vibe with dark wood and jazz in the background.

• RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST IF YOU DON’T WANT TO LINE UP. It’s VERY popular; great for date nights, group dinners, all-round Japanese cuisine. • English menu available. • Recommended: seasonal dishes, Soba with walnut dipping sauce, s Stewed Duck soba and “Smashed” duck meat (more like a roastbeef)...

Good soba, open till 4 am (!) But the best part is all the little salads & great side dishes. The menu is quite extensive so there is no real obligation to eat soba noodles. Even if things look 10-20% more expensive than other izakaya or soba places, prices are actually reasonable given that portions are quite large; most plates (roughly 8-12$) can easily be shared between 3+ ppl. Often fully booked, a very popular date place. If you have no reservation, don't try coming here any time before 21:45 pm. Interior is casual, love the...

I have been to this restaurant many times over the years and always loved it — which is why last night’s experience was such a shock.

After finishing work, I went to the restaurant for dinner. Google Maps showed it was still open for another hour, so I headed there looking forward to a quiet meal. As I approached the entrance, a waiter suddenly burst out, shouting “closed!” and gesturing me to leave — no greeting, no explanation, just an abrupt and aggressive dismissal.

I tried to show him the Google listing that clearly stated the restaurant was still open, but he only shouted louder, repeating “closed” and “last order.” It was humiliating. I’ve never felt so unwelcome — to be shouted at like that, in front of others, simply for trying to come in and spend money.

Even if there was a language barrier, the tone, the body language, the sheer hostility were unmistakable. I left feeling genuinely shaken and deeply disappointed. For a place I had once loved, it was an awful way to be...