If you thought Tsukiji market was the freshest fish you could find, in enters Zauo, which means “sit and fish” and is a very unique restaurant where you are given fishing gear and get to catch what you want to eat. It’s one of those quirky places you just have to go for a cool Japanese experience and is one of the most popular restaurants in Japan, for both locals and tourists. Kids love it, the idea of fishing inside a restaurant captivates them and the adults have some time to enjoy a nice meal.
Zauo Shinjuku restaurant
The Zauo Shinjuku ざうお 新宿店 location is located in the first floor of Shinjuku’s Washington hotel in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo and is quite easy to reach by foot in around ten minutes from JR Shinjuku Station South exit . Inside you will find a large wooden boat full of dinning tables, surrounded by salt-water tanks full of fish. After you are seated in the boat or in one of the side rooms just off from the tank. you have the option of catching your own fish or ordering from a menu. There is a menu available in English as well if you do not understand Japanese.
The Zauo Shinjuku server gives you a fishing rod and bait (there is a small charge for the bait) and show you to the right fishing tank, depending on what you feel like eating. Each tank has a mixture of different fish to make fishing more random, but each of the tanks have more of one species than others so have a greater change of catching the fish you want. The most popular fish are the sea bream, red snapper, and horse mackerel. More pricey varieties like saltwater eel, shark, lobster or Japanese sea snail can also be caught though unless you have a very generous host or expense account it is going to make for a very expense meal catching these ones. One catch is once you hook a fish and bring it in, you can’t return it, so be prepared to dine on a unexpected delicacy!
Once you manage to catch a fish usually the staff will give you a rousing song and cheer and then you can decide how you want it cooked, sashimi, sushi, or deep fried. You can also order side dishes as well like chicken karage, sukiyaki, hot pots, salad, deep fried octopus, etc. Presentation of the dishes are a work of art though your fish may still be twitching if you order it sashimi style!
Meals at Zauo Shinjuku can get pricey and it is advised you either call ahead and book a table (or have your hotel concierge do it) or get there early.
Hours are : Monday – Friday – Lunch: 11:30 to 14:30, Dinner 17:00 to 23:00 , Saturday & Sunday & Holidays from 11:30 -to 23:00
Address is Shinjuku Washington Hotel 1F, 3-2-9, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023. Phone 03-3343-6622
photo by:
Thierry Draus
