Restaurant · Nishi-Shinjuku

Zauo Shinjuku 釣船茶屋 ざうお 新宿店

Catch your own dinner: diners sit inside a giant wooden boat and fish from a pool, and the kitchen turns whatever you hook into sashimi, tempura or grilled dishes. A kids' favourite and a staple of 'weird Tokyo restaurants' videos.

About

Zauo's Shinjuku branch is built around a huge indoor fishing pond with a full-size wooden boat in the middle, where you can sit, drink and eat while casting a line. Rods and bait are rented at the table; when you land a fish (sea bream, flounder, horse mackerel, sometimes lobster or abalone in the tanks), staff ring a drum and shout in celebration, then ask how you want it cooked, sashimi, salt-grilled, simmered, or as tempura. Fish you catch are charged at a lower 'caught' price than fish ordered from the menu. It's touristy and lively but the seafood is fresh, and it's one of the best rainy-day family outings in Shinjuku.

Highlights

• Seats on a full-size wooden boat floating in an indoor pond
• Fish for sea bream, flounder and more, then choose how it's cooked
• Celebratory drum and shouts from staff every time someone lands a catch
• Lower price for fish you catch yourself than for fish you order
• Fresh sashimi, tempura and grilled fish from the tanks

Tips

• Reserve a boat seat online, it's the most fun spot
• Set a budget: each catch is charged, and enthusiastic kids add up fast
• Sea bream (tai) is the easiest to catch and great as sashimi
• Lunch on weekdays is quieter and cheaper

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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