One of the most exciting aspects of traveling in Japan is its food! There are many excellent restaurants serving tasty food at reasonable prices in Japan, but you might want to visit a fancy restaurant to indulge yourself with a luxurious meal and beautiful traditional Japanese atmosphere. Today, we’ll introduce five restaurants in Tokyo that are featured in a world famous restaurant guidebook. You can use the direct link to make a reservation, and make sure to look up these restaurants before visiting Tokyo!
Toriki
Toriki has been a beloved fixture in the Kinshicho area, consistently recognized for its high-quality yakitori. It is a favorite among locals for its authentic atmosphere and masterfully grilled skewers.
Japanese free-range chicken and fresh seasonal vegetables are used as ingredients. Toriki offers various kinds of chicken and vegetable skewers and a-la-carte dishes. You can watch the chef preparing the food carefully while you wait for your meal!
Within a 15-minute walk from Tokyo Skytree, you can visit Tokyo Skytree first and then stroll to Toriki while enjoying the atmosphere of the streets in Kinshicho. Toriki is also chosen as one of the best restaurants by a local gourmet website, and all yakitori lovers must visit this restaurant when in Tokyo!
Toriki Address: 1F Kosaka building, 1-8-13 Kinshi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Access: 4-min walk from exit 3 of Kinshicho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon line
Business Hours: 5:30 pm – 12:00 am (Saturdays 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm).
Closed Sundays and public holidays.
Make a reservation here.
Sushi Keita
While the inner market has moved to Toyosu, the Tsukiji Outer Market remains a vibrant hub. Sushi Keita, located behind the Tsukiji Honganji Temple, continues to hold its Michelin star for its exceptional Edomae-style sushi.
Sushi Keita focuses on bringing out the natural flavor of its ingredients. The chef even calculates the serving temperature of the food to make sure that all dishes are at their best when you eat them; this may be the reason why Sushi Keita has been awarded one star. You can see the chef preparing the sushi right in front of you. The rice seasoned with red vinegar matches perfectly with the toppings of the sushi.
Sushi Keita serves omakase (chef’s recommendation) sushi course for lunch and omakase sushi and a-la-carte course for dinner. The chef and his wife are extremely friendly and their warm welcome will surely help you relax and enjoy your meal to the fullest.
Sushi Keita Address: 6-6-4 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-min walk from exit 1 of Tsukiji Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya line
Business Hours: Lunch 11:30 am – 2:30 pm / Dinner 5:30 pm & 8:15 pm slots.
Closed Mondays and Sundays.
Make a reservation here.
Tanimoto
Located in the charming Araki-cho district, Tanimoto is a kaiseki restaurant that offers a deep immersion into Japanese culture.
Tanimoto is known to use only the finest ingredients sourced from all over Japan, and the chefs treat each individual ingredient with immense care making sure the seasonings don’t overpower their natural flavor. The Kaiseki meal, a course of traditional Japanese dishes using seasonal ingredients, offered at this restaurant is even popular among the Japanese. The owner of Tanimoto is also well versed in Japanese tea ceremony, and he will prepare and serve a cup of green tea after your meal. Not something you get to experience often, which makes the service of this restaurant unique and rare. It may be the reason why Tanimoto is loved by many!
The flowers inside this restaurant are arranged by the owner every day. With a traditional Japanese atmosphere, you can not only savor traditional Japanese flavors but also feast your eyes on the elegant Japanese decor. Don’t forget to try the wonderful course meal, which is prepared carefully by the owner!
Tanimoto Address: 2F Miyauchi Building, 3-21 Araki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Access: 3-min walk from Yotsuya-sanchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line
Business Hours: Dinner 6:00 pm – 11:30 pm (Lunch available on select days).
Closed on Sundays.
Make a reservation here.
Tenmasa
After a stroll along the Meguro River, famous for its cherry blossoms, Tenmasa in Nakameguro offers a refined tempura experience that has held a Michelin star for several consecutive years.
In Tenmasa, the blending ratio of the oil used to fry its tempura is adjusted for each season. All dishes are prepared carefully to enhance the inherent flavors of the ingredients. This restaurant serves different kinds of tempura every month, so you can try something new every time you come here. A one-star restaurant, each dish is beautifully arranged on a gorgeous plate. Admire the plating along with the flavors!
At the counter seats, you can see a highly skilled chef fry your tempura right in front of you. You will be amazed at the meticulousness of the chef and being able to witness this will definitely become one of the greatest memories of your trip!
Tenmasa Address: B1F Cube M, 3-16-13 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Access: 4-min walk from Nakameguro Station on the Tokyu Toyoko line; 4-min walk from Nakameguro Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya line
Business Hours: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm (L.O 9:30 pm) Closed on Mondays
Make a reservation here.
Ginza Ishizaki
If you are looking for the ultimate Japanese beef experience, Ginza Ishizaki is the place to go. This one-star specialty restaurant focuses on premium Wagyu cuts.
Using only the finest Japanese beef cuts from all over Japan, the chefs at this restaurant use the most appropriate cooking techniques to bring out the best flavors of each cut. You cannot help but become a fan of this restaurant once you try its great food, and many locals visit this restaurant regularly.
Since the chef cooks right in front of you, you will be quite excited even before you have your first bite. Offering an excellent selection of sake and drinks that go well with the meat, without a doubt, you will have an unforgettable dining experience at this restaurant. To add to this already incredible experience, you can take your chopsticks with you as souvenirs! Isn’t that wonderful?
Ginza Ishizaki Address: 4F Horikoshi Building, 8-7-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-min walk from Shimbashi Station on the JR Keihin Tohoku line
Business Hours: 6:00 pm – 3:00 am (Saturdays until 11:00 pm).
Closed Sundays and public holidays.
Make a reservation here.
In this feature, we mentioned five restaurants in Tokyo, which are also featured in a world famous restaurant guidebook. We hope to have stirred your curiosity enough so that you visit at least one of these amazing restaurants when visiting Tokyo.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, there are an endless number of wonderful restaurants in Japan that you can visit during your trip. Check the Pocket Concierge website to get more information about restaurants at various destinations you plan to visit. Make sure to use the Pocket Concierge website to enjoy a hassle-free restaurant reservation service and plan your trip to Japan!
