Pubs & Bars · Practical guide
Miraizaka Japan Guide for Tourists: Legendary "Glove" Fried Chicken Thigh, Jim Beam Highballs & Neo-Izakaya Fun
Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Category | Dining / Neo-Traditional Japanese Izakaya (Neo-Taishū Sakaba), Fried Chicken & Highballs (Miraizaka Official Website) |
| Store Count | Approximately 90–110 locations nationwide across major urban nightlife quarters and station plazas throughout Tokyo/Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, and Kyushu, operated by Watami Co., Ltd. (Store Locator) |
| Ordering Style | Comfortable booth and table seating; order all drinks, chicken dishes, and hot pots via tabletop multilingual digital touchscreen tablets; signature chicken cut table-side by staff with culinary shears; settle bill at cashier upon exit |
| Membership Required? | No reservation or membership required (100% walk-in casual dining) |
| Approximate Price Range | Midday lunch sets (at select stores) ~¥800–¥1,200; evening dinner/drinks ~¥2,000–¥3,500; signature Bone-in Glove Fried Chicken ~¥999–¥1,199; Jim Beam Highballs from ~¥299–¥399; evening table starter (Otoshi - unlimited fresh cabbage) ~¥330–¥390; all tax-included (as of October 1, 2026; subject to revision) |
| Payment Methods | Cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA), electronic money (iD, QUICPay), and smartphone QR code payments (PayPay, 楽天ペイ, d-barai, au PAY, WeChat Pay, Alipay) |
| Multilingual Support | Tabletop ordering tablets feature multilingual language toggles (English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean) with high-definition color photos |
What it is
Miraizaka (ミライザカ), created by restaurant giant Watami Co., Ltd., represents the modern evolution of the classic Japanese tavern into a vibrant "Neo-Traditional Pub" (Neo-Taishū Sakaba). Taking its name from the vision of "climbing the slope toward a bright future," Miraizaka was created to combine the nostalgic energy of Showa-era drinking culture with modern cleanliness, healthy organic vegetables from Watami's own eco-farms, and incredible pricing. The undeniable superstar of Miraizaka is the Honetsuki-Momo Ippon Gurobu-Age (Bone-in Chicken Thigh Fried Like a Baseball Glove): a colossal, whole bone-in chicken leg from premium Japanese Seiryu-Wakadori (clear-stream young chicken), marinated in secret ginger dashi and fried to golden, crackling perfection. Brought piping hot to your table, a staff member uses heavy stainless steel kitchen shears to snip the juicy meat right in front of your eyes!
How to order
Dining at Miraizaka is high-energy, fun, and effortless:
- Enter and take a booth: Step inside. Energetic staff will greet you and guide your party to a comfortable wooden booth or table.
- Evening Otoshi starter with UNLIMITED CABBAGE: Staff will present you with a damp hand towel (oshibori) and the famous Miraizaka Otoshi (seating appetizer, ~¥330–¥390): a bowl of crisp, sweet organic raw cabbage with rich savory dipping sauce. The best part? *Cabbage refills are 100% FREE and UNLIMITED (Okawari Jiyū)*!
- Switch tablet to English: Pick up the tabletop touchscreen tablet and tap "English" at the top corner.
- Order drinks first (Super Cheap Highballs!):
- Jim Beam Highball (ジムビームハイボール): Miraizaka's signature libation; ice-cold, ultra-carbonated, and famously affordable (~¥299–¥350).
- Mega Jim Beam Highball: Served in a giant heavyweight beer mug!
- The Premium Malt's Draft Beer: Cold golden Japanese draft beer.
- Fresh Fruit Sours & Soft Drinks: Lemon sours, green tea, and sodas.
- Order the Signature Glove Fried Chicken:
- *Bone-in Thigh Glove Fry (骨付モモ一本グローブ揚げ)*: Deep-fried until crackling crisp on the outside, bursting with savory chicken juices.
- *Bone-in Thigh Glove Grill (骨付モモ一本グローブ焼き)*: Teppan-grilled variation basted in sweet-and-savory garlic soy tare glaze.
- Watch the table-side cutting ritual: When your sizzling chicken arrives on a wooden board, the server will take a pair of culinary shears and skillfully cut the golden chicken thigh into bite-sized pieces right at your table!
- Order popular sharing dishes:
- Watami Organic Farm Salad: Crisp organic greens grown on Watami's own certified sustainable farms.
- Sizzling Iron-Plate Gyoza Dumplings: Plump pork and garlic potstickers.
- Motsu Nabe Hotpot: Rich beef offal hotpot cooked live on your table burner.
- Assorted Yakitori Skewers: Charcoal-grilled chicken skewers.
- Track bill & checkout: Tap "Bill" on your tablet to view your live receipt. When finished, tap "Checkout", take your table number clip to the front register, and pay via cash, credit card, Suica, or smartphone QR codes.
What to order first
Dishes below reflect core brand staples officially featured on the Miraizaka Official Website and verified row records:
- *Signature Bone-in Chicken Thigh "Glove Fry" (名物 骨付モモ一本グローブ揚げ)*: Prepared from Japanese Seiryu-Wakadori chicken; a massive whole chicken thigh shaped like a baseball glove, fried to a crackling crisp and snipped table-side (~¥999–¥1,199 tax-included as of October 2026).
- *Bone-in Chicken Thigh "Glove Grill" (骨付モモ一本グローブ焼き - ガーリック)*: Sizzled on cast iron and glazed with rich, aromatic sweet garlic soy sauce (~¥999–¥1,199).
- *High-Carbonation Jim Beam Highball (強炭酸ジムビームハイボール)*: Ultra-refreshing bourbon highball with dense carbonation that cuts through the rich chicken juices (~¥299–¥350).
- *Organic Farm Caesar Salad (有機レタスのシーザーサラダ)*: Sweet, crunchy organic lettuce harvested from Watami's dedicated organic farms (~¥590–¥690).
- *Teppan Sizzling Gyoza (鉄板焼餃子)*: Crispy-bottomed pork dumplings served hot on an iron skillet (~¥450–¥550).
Payment & practical info
- Pricing & Value: Outstanding price-to-portion value; a feast of giant fried chicken, gyoza, salad, and multiple highballs typically costs only ¥2,000–¥3,200 per person.
- Cover Charges & Free Refills: Dinner includes a modest izakaya table appetizer fee (Otoshi, ~¥330–¥390), which includes unlimited free refills of crunchy organic cabbage and savory miso dip.
- Payment Methods: Accepts Japanese Yen cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners Club, UnionPay), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA), electronic money (iD, QUICPay), and mobile QR codes (PayPay, Rakuten Pay, WeChat Pay, Alipay).
- Atmosphere: Lively, modern, and cheerful. Decorated with bright warm wood, Showa-retro signage, and comfortable cushioned booth seating.
- Non-Smoking Environment: Clean, modern air filtration and smoke-free dining sections make it comfortable for families and international travelers.
Good to know / Common mistakes
- Eat the Glove Chicken hot: The crispy skin is at its absolute peak texture the second the server finishes cutting it with scissors. Dive in immediately while it is sizzling!
- The unlimited cabbage hack: Raw Japanese cabbage paired with savory garlic miso dip is the ultimate palate cleanser between bites of fried chicken. Don't hesitate to ask for free cabbage refills (Kyabetsu okawari) on the tablet or to staff!
- Mega Highball value: If you plan on drinking more than one drink, order the "Mega Size" highball—it delivers double the drink volume for a tiny price increase.
- Fry vs. Grill: If you love ultra-crispy skin, order the Glove Fry; if you prefer sticky, sweet, caramelized garlic sauce, order the Glove Grill. Better yet, order both to share!
- No tipping: Tipping is never accepted. Settle your bill at the front desk.
FAQ
Q1: Why is the chicken called "Glove"? The chicken thigh is carefully scored and splayed open into four sections before cooking, resembling the shape of a baseball catcher's mitt or glove (Gurobu). This allows the heat to cook the meat evenly and creates maximum crispy surface area!
Q2: What is special about Seiryu-Wakadori chicken? Miraizaka sources specially bred young chickens raised on pristine mountain water (Seiryū) and plant-based feed, yielding meat that is remarkably tender, juicy, and free from any gaminess.
Q3: Can I order in English on the tablet? Yes! The digital ordering tablets feature full English, Chinese, and Korean language interfaces with full-color photos for every single dish and drink.
Sources
- Miraizaka Official Website: https://miraizaka.com/ (Verified: 2026-10-01)
- Watami Co., Ltd. Corporate Portal: https://www.watami.co.jp/ (Verified: 2026-10-01)