10 Best Sushi Restaurants in Tokyo - Your Japan (2024)

It is undeniably true that Japan is the heaven for sushi lovers because it is the place of origin for sushi. If you’re travelling to Tokyo for a japanese food adventure, these sushi restaurants in Tokyo are definitely your best choices!

Table of Contents

Sushi Saito

Sushi Saito is being rewarded with three Michelin stars continuously for 5 years. It was founded by Takashi Saito that primarily serves sushi. It is being described as “the best sushi restaurant in the world” by Chef Joël Robuchon, who got the most Michelin stars in the world. It has several branches around the world, such as Malaysia and Hong Kong. In order to ensure the freshness and quality of food, Chef Saito would go to Tsukiji market daily to purchase the ingredients.

Different from other sushi restaurants that seek innovation, Chef Saito tends to preserve the traditional style of sushi. This is because Chef Saito was once being judged by his customers, who told him that he should not make innovative changes to the sushi. Chef Saito is well known for making Edo-style sushi, where he prefers a smaller cut of fish, blended with sea salt and milder red vinegar in his rice. Besides, his tuna sushi, abalone, octopus, eel and purple sea urchin are also popular among the customers.

Due to Sushi Saito’s great reputation and limited space in the restaurant, it is super difficult to get in. Thus, it’s recommended to make reservations few months before going there in order to successfully secure a place.

Location: 1-4-5 Roppongi 1F Ark Hills South Tower, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Lunch 12:00~14:00, Dinner 17:00~23:00 (Closed on Sundays)

Kyubey

Kyubey is founded by chef Hisaji Imada in 1935, who was well-known for being the creator of gunkan-maki. He was also the first person who used uni(sea urchin) and ikura(salmon roe) as one of the ingredients in making sushi.

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Kyubey’s sushi was so delicate that it’s been ordered twice by President Obama when he visited Japan. Another thing to mention is chef Takashi Saito has once worked in Kyubey Ginza to hone his skill when he was still a newbie in the sushi world. Kyubey is suitable for you if you seek to walk-in instead of making reservations!

Location: 7-6, Ginza 8-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Hours: Lunch 11:30~14:00, Dinner 17:00~ 22:00 (Closed on Sundays and Holidays)
Website: http://www.kyubey.jp/en

Tsugu Sushimasa

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The highlight of Tsugu Sushimasa is the strong taste of vinegar in the rice. Different from the usual Japanese restaurants, Tsugu Sushimasa focus more on the texture of rice because they believe that rice is the essence of all the sushi.

Their secret of making good rice is by using Aakazu brewed from the sake lees instead of the normal rice vinegar, which has a stronger taste and gives the rice a brownish appearance. In Japanese, the word Tsugu means success or inherit, which explains that Tsugu Sushimasa has been passed on for three generations.

If you’re not a fan of sashimi and raw fish, Tsugu Sushimasa is definitely your choice because it serves sushi topped with grilled fish and seafood.

Location: 8 Arakicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Hours: 18:00~2:00 (Closed on Sundays)

Ichibancho Teruya

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Ichibancho Teruya is a traditional sushiya where you can sit at the counter to witness the process of chef preparing the sushi. In Japan, this special service is only available if you can speak Japanese. Surprisingly, you can get an opportunity to witness the process of sushi preparation in Ichibancho Teruya even if you can’t speak Japanese.

This is because Chef Teruya can use English to communicate with the customers as he was grown up in New York. Chef Teruya excels in preparing nigiri, where the sushi is being topped by raw fish and seafood. If you’re looking forward to get a counter seat, be sure to make reservations beforehand because there are only 8 counter seats in the restaurant.

Location: 15-15 Ichibancho SA Bldg B1F, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.
Hours: Monday to Friday Lunch 11:30~14:00, Dinner 16:00~22:30. Saturday 11:30-14:00 (Closed on Sunday)

Masuda

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In 2017, Sushi Masuda was being rewarded for 2 Michelin Stars. Chef Masuda’s main motto in serving dishes is to ensure the freshness or the ingredients. Thus, Chef Masuda chooses the best fish that is specially caught daily and is particular about the texture and moisture of the rice and other ingredients. Not only that, all the sushi is served at a controlled temperature to ensure a perfect blend of the texture and tenderness. Masuda has been popular since the visit of President Obama. Thus, you’re recommend to make reservations before going there.

Location: B1F,5-8-11, Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Lunch 12:00~14:00, Dinner 17:30~22:00 (Closed on Sundays)
Website: http://sushimasuda.jp/

Sushi Fujita

Sushi Fujita is located near the Higashi-Ginza Station. Since it’s always visited by foreign visitors, its staff can speak fluent English. Sushi Fujita provides a wide variety of choices, which include specially made sushi, two chef courses and several a-la-carte dishes. The rice here is specially added to taste with homemade sauce and the tamagoyaki is also a must-eat dish.

Location: 1F, Niiyama Bldg., 3-13-5, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Hours: Lunch 11:30~14:30, Dinner 17:30~23:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)
Website: http://fujita-sushi.com/

Sushi Dai

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Needless to say, Sushi Dai’s ingredients are the freshest of all due to its excellent location at the Tsukiji area. Sushi Dai is especially well-known for its Edo-style sushi, which results in the long queue in front of its restaurant. Since Sushi Dai has moved to a new place, it now provides stools for its customers rather than standing in a long queue at the old location.

Each set of sushi meals merely cost around 2,000-3,000 yen while the Omakase (chef course) which that consists of nigiri sushi, a roll, eggs, and a bonus sushi costs around 4,000 yen. The freshness of food plus the good value of price would definitely make you feel worthwhile for the long queue!

Location: Toyosu, 6 Chome−5−1, Koto City
Hours: 10:30 a.m. ~4:00 a.m. next day, Monday to Saturday; 11:00 a.m. ~10:00 p.m. on Sundays and national holidays
Website: http://www.tsukiji-sushidai.com/shop/honkan.html

Ginza Sushi Kanesaka

Sushi Kanesaka is a Michelin star restaurant located in the Ginza district. Its interior is being traditionally decorated, which gives customers a feeling of travelling back time to the ancient period. The interior design is so artistic that it is decorated with flowers in flower vases of the Muromachi period.

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Sushi Kanesaka primarily serves Edo-style sushi, which is Japanese authentic sushi with fresh ingredients bought daily from the Tsukiji Market. The signature dish here is the cooked swordfish with Japanese radish where it is tender and buttery without covering the freshness of the swordfish. Although the cost is a bit pricey, but the wonderful merge of top-notch Japanese rice and the fresh ingredients would definitely make it worthwhile.

Location: B1/F Misuzu Bldg, 8-10-3 Ginza Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Hours: Lunch 11:30~13:00, Dinner 17:00~22:00
Website: http://www.sushi-kanesaka.com

Asakusa Sushi Ken

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Asakusa Sushi Ken is the first restaurant in Tokyo that serves Halal sushi, which means Muslim visitors can also savour the sushi there. The ingredients for making sushi changes according to the seasonal changes. Chef recommendations include the broiled large toro (tuna belly) sushi, boiled live prawn sushi, omelet sushi and pickles roll.

Location: 2-11-4 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo.
Hours: Lunch 11: 30~16: 00, Dinner 16: 00~23: 30 Monday-Saturday; Lunch 11: 30~15: 00, Dinner 15: 00~22: 00 on Sundays and national holidays
Website:http://www.asakusa-sushiken.com/

Sushi Take

One of the highlights of sushi take is the chef is a female. It is completely different to the male chefs that we usually see in the Japanese restaurants. Her knife skills are trained to perfection and she excels in serving silver fish and shellfish. The advantages of eating here are the affordable price and the easily made reservations.

Location: 7-6-5 Ginza Ishii Kishuya Bldg 4F, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 17:00~23:00 (Closed on Wednesday)

All in all, it’s better to make reservations before going to these sushi restaurants because some are really difficult to get in!

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10 Best Sushi Restaurants in Tokyo - Your Japan (2024)

FAQs

10 Best Sushi Restaurants in Tokyo - Your Japan? ›

Sushi Saito (鮨さいとう) has often been called as the best Sushi restaurant in Japan. It has been rewarded with 3-stars by Michelin for 5 years and has the highest rate on Japanese gourmet website Tabelog. The restaurant is located in Roppongi area. Be fascinated by chef Saito's simple yet perfect sushi dishes!

What is the most famous sushi place in Japan? ›

Sukiyabashi Jiro

Where has the best sushi in Japan? ›

Sushi Saito (鮨さいとう) has often been called as the best Sushi restaurant in Japan. It has been rewarded with 3-stars by Michelin for 5 years and has the highest rate on Japanese gourmet website Tabelog. The restaurant is located in Roppongi area. Be fascinated by chef Saito's simple yet perfect sushi dishes!

What is the famous sushi market in Tokyo? ›

Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo's Most Famous Fish Market)

Despite major changes, Tsukiji remains the most famous fish market in Tokyo, and still has a reputation for being a top tourist attraction in the city.

Who is the famous sushi guy in Tokyo? ›

Jiro Ono

Do you tip in Japan? ›

Tipping in Japan is not expected, and attempts to leave a tip will almost certainly be turned down (a potentially awkward moment). In Japan, it's thought that by dining out or drinking at a bar, you are already paying the establishment for good service.

What is Japanese people favorite sushi? ›

Japanese people love sushi, and tuna just edges out salmon as their favorite topping.

Why is sushi so expensive in Japan? ›

Sushi's ingredients are one of the key factors in its high cost. Rice and pricey, premium fish are required for sushi to taste excellent.

Why is sushi so much better in Japan? ›

Some of the most famed sushi chefs in Japan are said to go everyday to the local fish market like Tsukiji Fish Market to pick up the days seafood. There are also small details with the fish and seafood that are said to make a big difference in taste. One of the details is where the fish is cut from.

What country is the most famous sushi? ›

It's pretty safe to say that sushi is Japan's most well-known cuisine. Known for its fresh, light flavors, it has become wildly popular worldwide over the last century. There are even cases of other cultures paying homage to it by creating their takes on sushi.

Why is Sukiyabashi Jiro so popular? ›

That world-famous French chef Joël Robuchon called the sushi restaurant one of his favorites in the world. In 2014, the former US president Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enjoyed dining there. The documentary film Jiro Dreams of Sushi in 2011 made Sushiyabashi Jiro become more famous worldwide.

What is sushi famous for in Japan? ›

The concept of sushi was likely introduced to Japan in the ninth century, and became popular there as Buddhism spread. The Buddhist dietary practice of abstaining from meat meant that many Japanese people turned to fish as a dietary staple.

What is the oldest sushi in Japan? ›

Narezushi, the most primitive, earliest form of sushi, is a world away from your California rolls and sliced sashimi. Dating back to the 10th century in Japan, this fermented fish was preserved with salt and raw rice, eventually giving way to the nigiri (sliced seafood atop rice) we know and love today.

Does Jiro still have a Michelin star? ›

'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' Restaurant Loses Michelin Stars for Being Too Exclusive. Sukiyabashi Jiro was dropped from this year's Michelin guide for not accepting reservations from the general public. Jelisa Castrodale has been a staff writer with Food & Wine since 2019.

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