Japan's 30 Best Restaurants in 2024

We have prepared a list of 30 of the most popular and recommended restaurants in Japan for you. From sushi to ramen, check out some of the best restaurants Japan has to offer.

Disclaimer: This article is an automatic translation and may contain typos.

1. Sottaku Tsukamoto

Kappou / Small dishes
570-120 South side of Gion-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Located just off Gion Shijo Station, this extremely difficult to reserve kappo restaurant has a luxurious L-shaped counter with eight seats. The simple and delicate dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients have become so popular that it is almost impossible to make reservations at first glance.

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2. Honkogetsu

Kaiseki and kaiseki cuisine
1-7-11 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka

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Honkogetsu is a luxurious sukiya-style Japanese restaurant quietly located in the elegant stone-paved Hozenji Yokocho. The restaurant, which has been awarded two Michelin stars every year, is particular not only about its cuisine, but also about the tableware it uses, including Rosanjin and Baccarat. Enjoy the profound flavors created by rich sensitivity and reliable techniques, and the world of historic Japanese cuisine.

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3. Niidome

Tempura
2F Cast Building Izumi, 2-19-11 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

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In recent years, Nagoya Takadake has been crowded with delicious restaurants. Our restaurant also moved to a new location 5 minutes walk from Takatake station in May 2017. In order to let customers enjoy the taste of seasonal ingredients, they are constantly pursuing how to express the charm of the ingredients through the technique of "tempura. This is a restaurant where you can savor new sensations while cherishing the old and fine spirit of Japan.

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4. La Vagabond

French cuisine
1F Canon Pier Tsurumai, 2-14-24 Chiyoda, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

Courtesy of Autoreserve

A famous French restaurant that has been awarded two stars in the Michelin Tokai edition. The cost performance is very high.

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5. Robatayaki Yamaroku

Bird dishes
3264 Shiimochi, Shikoku-cho, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture

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A chicken robatayaki restaurant where you can enjoy the brand-name local chicken, "Beniudori". Although it is located in a village deep in the mountains of Yamaga, it is so good that people stand in line. Be sure to visit to taste the fresh chicken that is cooked every morning.

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6. Kataori

Kaiseki and kaiseki cuisine
3-36 Namiki-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture

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Takuya Kataori, who served as the head chef at the Kaiseki Tsuruyuki restaurant in Kanazawa, became independent in May 2018 and opened the Japanese restaurant Kataori. He personally travels to distant places every day to procure the best ingredients, and this is the only restaurant in Kanazawa where you can taste matsutake mushrooms picked in the morning. This is the only restaurant in Kanazawa where you can taste the morning-picked matsutake mushrooms, and I highly recommend a visit to taste the powerful flavor of the original ingredients.

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7. Sawada

Sushi
MC Building 3F, 5-9-19 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Located in a prime location in Ginza, Sawada has two Michelin stars. In a small restaurant with only six seats at the counter, you can enjoy the unique taste of Edo-mae-zushi, such as kohada and conger eel, with an extra touch.

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8. Aoki Tenjinbashi

Kaiseki and kaiseki cuisine
1F Gracie Tenjinbashi Building, 7-12-14 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Tenjinbashi Aoki is a two-star Michelin restaurant located in Tenjinbashi 7-chome. Mr. Aoki trained for 15 years at Honkogetsu, another famous restaurant in Osaka, before going independent and running this authentic Japanese restaurant with his wife. Aoki is not only particular about his dishes, but also about the utensils he uses to serve them, so you can enjoy them with your eyes even after you have eaten them.

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9. Matsukawa

Kappou / Small dishes
Akasaka Terrace House 1F, 1-11-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Matsukawa is a kappo restaurant located in Tameike-sanno, Akasaka, a district lined with embassies and offices of foreign companies. The owner is a talented chef who trained at the well-known Shiga restaurant Shofukuro. The delicate and elegant taste of the food is highly praised by gourmets and chefs alike. This is the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine, and we hope you will experience it for yourself.

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10. Japanese Cuisine Takamura

Kaiseki and kaiseki cuisine
1-7-31 Omachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture

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This restaurant is quietly tucked away in a quiet residential area of Akita City, Akita Prefecture. Hiroki Takamura, the owner of the restaurant, is a valuable inheritor of Edo cuisine, having trained at the famous Taikohachi restaurant in Mejiro. The restaurant is popular for its time-consuming and careful preparation, meticulous attention to detail, and dishes that bring out the true flavor of the ingredients.

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11. Tomikoji Yamagishi

Kaiseki and kaiseki cuisine
560 Konyanomachi, Rokkaku-shitaaru, Tominokoji-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Based on the spirit of tea ceremony kaiseki hospitality, while preserving the tradition of Kyoto cuisine, we offer dishes that allow you to experience the changes of the four seasons. Using Kyoto ingredients such as Kyoto vegetables and river fish, we hope that you will be able to enjoy the culture of Kyoto's seasonal season that comes around every month through our dishes.

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12. Aduepassi

Italian Restaurant
214-1 Futatsugi, Sumimata-cho, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture

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Adue Passi is an authentic Italian restaurant located in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. The owner, who was trained in Italy, uses carefully selected ingredients from Gifu's rich natural environment to create local dishes from various regions of Italy.

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13. Installation Table ENSO L'asymetrie du calme

Modern French cuisine
33, Ikeda-cho 4-chome, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

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Installation Table ENSO L'asymetrie du calme is a French restaurant located in a house about a 15-minute walk from Nomachi Station. The owner, who has trained in various European countries, offers French cuisine that makes the most of Hokuriku ingredients.

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14. Casent

Innovative Fusion
4-16-14 Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

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A restaurant that has been awarded three Michelin stars in a row for the past few years. The simple and delicate dishes, which are modern classic Spanish cuisine adapted to the Japanese palate and sensibilities, are very well balanced and delicious.

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15. Sugita, Nihonbashi Kakigaracho

Sushi
B1F View Heights Nihonbashi, 1-33-6 Nihonbashi-Kaigaracho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Courtesy of Autoreserve

The first restaurant to be awarded one star by Michelin Tokyo in 2017, Sugita Nihonbashi-Kaigaracho is known as one of the most difficult restaurants to book in Tokyo. Mr. Takaaki Sugita, who was trained at Miyako Sushi, a long-established sushi restaurant in Nihonbashi, is a connoisseur who goes to the market every day to select high-quality ingredients regardless of their origin. In addition to careful preparation and ingenious cutting, he also uses red vinegar and boiled soy sauce to keep the tradition alive. Many connoisseurs come to this famous restaurant to enjoy the unforgettable taste.

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16. Ushimaru

Italian Restaurant
1307-2 Kito, Matsuo-cho, Yamatake-shi, Chiba

Provided by Autoreserve

A house restaurant in Matsuo, Chiba Prefecture. The lovely exterior looks like it could be found in the Italian countryside, like a stylish mansion. The cuisine is Italian with an abundance of seafood. Recently, it has become one of the most popular restaurants among gourmets. More and more customers are coming from outside the prefecture.

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17. Pellegrino

Italian food
2-3-4 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Nestled in a quiet residential area of Ebisu 2-chome, Pellegrino is a theater-style restaurant with only six seats per day. The menu consists of only one omakase course. The restaurant uses carefully selected ingredients from all over the world to serve the local cuisine of Parma, the capital of food, and is called the most difficult Italian restaurant in Japan to get a reservation for because of its deliciousness. If you have the chance, please come and experience it for yourself.

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18. Foliolina della Porta Fortuna

Italian Restaurant
2147-689 Nagakura, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano, Japan

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Located deep in Karuizawa, this Italian restaurant accepts only one reservation per day. The owner and chef, Koji Kobayashi, decided to close his Tokyo restaurant and move to Karuizawa, a place rich in nature, because he felt that no matter how much he focused on the atmosphere and creating an extraordinary space, he would be disturbed by the hustle and bustle of the city. Kobayashi has appeared on many TV programs, including Jounetsu Tairiku (Passion Continent), and many genuine food connoisseurs travel by bullet train and cab to enjoy his cuisine. Here is a dish that will surprise and delight these gourmets.

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19. Sushi Yasukichi

Sushi
4-3-11, Hakata Ekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Courtesy of Autoreserve

A short walk from Hakata Station, Sushi Yasukichi is a house nestled between buildings. The restaurant has been awarded two Michelin stars, and even Mr. Nakazawa of Sushi Takumi praised it as "my favorite sushi restaurant in the world. From the first snack to the last piece of nigiri, the overall balance is very well calculated.

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20. Go Ryori Matsuyama

Kappou / Small dishes
2-1-10, Fujita, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan

Provided by Autoreserve

A Japanese restaurant located in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. You can enjoy not only the freshest seafood, but also the unexpected combinations of ingredients and the creative presentation of all the dishes. They also have 30 to 40 kinds of Japanese sake available at all times. The carefully selected tableware is also a must-see.

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21. Tenjushi Kyomachi Branch

Sushi
3-11-9 Kyomachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-city, Fukuoka, Japan

Courtesy of Autoreserve

This restaurant is located in Kokura, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, which is famous for its rich seafood. The restaurant serves only nigiri (hand-formed sushi) without any alcoholic beverages or snacks, making it a rare place where you can enjoy the original taste of sushi and seafood. The originality of the sushi, which is finished with kabosu (citrus fruit) or sudachi (citrus fruit) and as little soy sauce as possible, has influenced many restaurants.

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22. Convivio

Italian Restaurant
Kamimura Building 1F, 3-17-12 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

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Convivio is an Italian restaurant located in a quiet residential area of Sendagaya. You can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine based on traditional Italian dishes prepared by a chef who was trained in Milan.

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23. Motonaga

Kappou / Small dishes
Asahi Plaza Akasaka 2 1F, 3-13-31 Akasaka, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Motonaga is a kappo restaurant located in Akasaka, where many of Fukuoka's popular restaurants are located. In this luxurious space with six seats at the counter, run by a husband and wife duo, you can enjoy Japanese cuisine that uses seasonal ingredients and incorporates a modern essence.

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24. Al Kecchiano

Italian Restaurant
83 Ichirizuka, Shimoyamazoe, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Courtesy of Autoreserve

At Al Kecchiano, you can enjoy Italian cuisine that focuses on local production for local consumption and maximizes the flavor of the ingredients. The flavor of the ingredients and the elaborate and exquisite seasoning of each dish can only be experienced here.

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25. Lautonne Akitsu Main Store

Cakes
5-13-4 Akitsu-cho, Higashimurayama-shi, Tokyo

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The patisserie Lawtonne Akitsu Honten is located about a 3-minute walk from Akitsu Station. You can enjoy artistic and varied sweets made by a patissier who has trained at famous stores in Setagaya and Paris.

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26. Restaurant Uemura

Kaiseki and kaiseki cuisine
Pencil Building 4F, 1-24-14 Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Restaurant Uemura is located in Kitanozaka, Kobe, and has two Michelin stars. In a limited space with only 11 seats at the counter, diners can enjoy contemporary Japanese cuisine that uses new ingredients and techniques while respecting the fundamentals of traditional Japanese cooking.

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27. Ramen Bo Yatetsu

Ramen
4-4-46 Nishiwada, Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture

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Ramen Boy Yatetsu is a ramen restaurant with a long line of customers located about a 10-minute walk from Wakae Iwata Station. "It is popular for its simple and orthodox ramen, based on the concept of "ramen with delicious noodles.

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28. Sukiyaki Kappou Hiyama

Sukiyaki
Hiyama Bldg. 2F, 2-5-1 Nihonbashi Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Sukiyaki Kappo Hiyama is a long-established sukiyaki restaurant with one Michelin star in Nihonbashi Ningyocho. As a sukiyaki restaurant under the direct management of Hiyama Koukou, which wholesales meat to many popular restaurants, you can enjoy high quality meat.

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29. Jack37Burger

Hamburger
16-16 Nihonbashi-Kodenmacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

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Jack37Burger is a popular hamburger store that has been featured in various magazines and media. The most popular item is the Balinese-style burger, which uses a sauce with a characteristic spicy flavor used in Indonesian and Malay cuisine.

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30. Harukiya Koriyama Branch

Ramen
2-16-13 Kuwano, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture

Courtesy of Autoreserve

Harukiya Koriyama Branch is a ramen restaurant located in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. It was established in 1994 as a branch of Harukiya, a famous Chinese soba restaurant in Ogikubo, Tokyo. It is loved by the locals because they can enjoy the taste of the famous restaurant in Fukushima.

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If you find a restaurant that interests you, make a reservation with Autoreserve, which allows you to make a reservation without making a phone call.

Main image by PIXTA