Tokyo Metropolitan Police conducted raids on eateries in the Ameyoko district of Ueno on May 5, 2026, for operating without permits on public roads [1, 2].
The crackdown targets a widespread trend of illegal street vending that has persisted since the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities said these obstructions jeopardize public safety by blocking the passage of emergency vehicles, including ambulances and police cars [1, 2].
Police officials said that they had previously issued guidance and warnings to 1,290 eateries [1]. The raids were executed against shops that ignored those directives and continued to occupy the streets. The police are now focusing on improving the road environment to ensure that pedestrians and vehicles can move safely through the busy market area [1].
Local representatives expressed support for the enforcement actions. Hirohisa Mizutani, an executive director of the Ueno District Neighborhood Association Federation, said he wants the town to be a place where both visitors and residents can spend time comfortably without obstructing traffic [1].
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Department Public Relations Office said they are implementing measures to improve the road environment and asked nearby shops to cooperate in creating a space where pedestrians and vehicles can pass safely [1].
“1,290 eateries had previously received guidance and warnings from police.”
This escalation from warnings to house searches signals a shift in Tokyo's tolerance for the informal economy that grew during the pandemic. By prioritizing emergency vehicle access over commercial flexibility in the Ameyoko district, the Metropolitan Police are asserting that public safety and urban mobility override the traditional, loosely regulated nature of this historic market.
