Kuru Kuru Wanko

Part conveyor belt sushi, part traditional soba experience, all fun. Kuru Kuru Wanko in Shinjuku Ward’s lively Kabukicho district takes two of Japan’s most famous traditional-yet-novelty foods and combines them to great success. Instead of sushi going round on Kuru Kuru Wanko’s conveyor belt, it’s the iconic tiny bowls of Iwate’s famous wanko soba — a regional delicacy with over 400 years of history. Wanko soba is arguably Iwate Prefecture’s most famous export. Made famous by countless YouTube videos and documentaries, the most unique thing about wanko soba isn’t the texture or shape of the noodles: it’s the portion. Wanko soba is served in portions of only a mouthful each, meaning that a typical meal of wanko soba can result in a single guest consuming hundreds of bowls. This time, instead of the noodles being instantly replenished by a waiting staff member, diners are invited to take bowls of noodles off a conveyor belt as they whiz past. There are no seats; guests will want to be on their toes — literally — to have the best chances of snatching their noodles. Guests have 40 minutes to eat as much as they can with each order. Visitors will even get a commemorative photo afterwards to remember their time by — so make sure to stack as many finished bowls as possible for a more impressive photo, and bragging rights. Needless to say, Kuru Kuru Wanko has fast become one of Kabukicho’s most popular attractions, even though it only opened in 2022. Those in the area looking to see the iconic Godzilla head, the iconic Kabukicho Ichibangai Arch or visit one of Kabukicho’s many bars should drop by Kuru Kuru Wanko for a fun and novel experience.