We have prepared for you 30 of the most popular and recommended sushi restaurants in Japan. Take a look at some of the best restaurants Japan has to offer.
Disclaimer: This article is an automated translation and may contain typographical errors.
1. Sawada
Sushi
MC Building 3F, 5-9-19 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
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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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2. Nihonbashi Kakigaracho Sugita
Sushi
B1F View Heights Nihonbashi, 1-33-6 Kakigaracho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
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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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3. Sushi Yasukichi
Sushi
4-3-11, Hakata Ekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
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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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4. Tenjushi Kyomachi
Sushi
3-11-9 Kyomachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-city, Fukuoka, Japan
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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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5. Takaoka
Sushi
1F Aisin Building, 1-7-6 Noborito, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture
Provided by Autoreserve
This restaurant is located in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture. Although it is a small sushi restaurant with only 7 seats at the counter, it is visited by many gourmets. In addition to his attention to ingredients and plates, the owner has a wealth of knowledge and good taste in suggesting the best items for the moment, from rice to vinegar, wasabi and sake.
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6. Sushi Ichi
Sushi Ichi
1F Premir Takinogawa, 7-47-5 Takinogawa, Kita-ku, Tokyo
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Sushi Ichi is a long-established sushi restaurant that has been in business for almost 20 years, located about a 5-minute walk from Nishi-Sugamo Station. The owner, whose family runs a fish wholesaler, offers authentic sushi at reasonable prices.
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7. Sushi Arai
Sushi
Luan Building B1F, 8-10-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
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After 10 years of training at the long-established sushi restaurant Kyubei and 6 years at Sushi Takumi, the owner, who started his own business at the age of 33, opened this restaurant in Ginza 8-chome. His one-of-a-kind sushi, which is a unique take on the old-fashioned Edo-mae sushi, has quickly gained popularity, and now there is a six-month waiting list for reservations.
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8. Sushi Sakai
Sushi
2F LANE Round Building, 3-20 Nishinakasu, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
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This restaurant is located in Nishinakasu, which is dotted with many fine restaurants in Fukuoka. The owner, Daigo Sakai, is a talented chef who trained at the famous sushi restaurant Umami in Gaienmae. His omakase-only menu uses seasonal ingredients, including local products from Fukuoka, which faces the Sea of Japan.
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9. Sawa Sushi
Sushi
3-1302 Takinomizu, Midori-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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Sawa Sushi is a long-established sushi restaurant in Midori-ku, Nagoya City, that has been in business for over 25 years. Based on the concept of "Enjoy the season, eat with style," you can enjoy sushi made with seasonal ingredients at reasonable prices.
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10. Sushi Namba Hibiya
Sushi
Tokyo Midtown Hibiya 3F, 1-1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
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This is the second branch of Sushi Namba, a popular sushi restaurant in Asagaya, which is one of the most difficult restaurants to book in Tokyo. The owner, Mr. Hidefumi Namba, trained at a local sushi restaurant before going independent. Although he started out as an unknown name, his extraordinary skills and keen sensibility quickly made him the talk of the town, and gourmets began to say that there is a "Namba" in Asagaya. The owner himself opened the second restaurant. The owner of the restaurant is now working on his second restaurant, creating his own unique world view.
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11. Gunraizen
Sushi
1F Vista Shinonome, 2-4 Shinonome Cho, Otaru City, Hokkaido
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This restaurant focuses on sushi and seafood snacks made with ingredients from Hokkaido. The restaurant has an elegant space with a Japanese style counter. A wide variety of local sake is available.
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12. Mitani
Sushi
1-22-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
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Mitani was opened by Yasuhiko Mitani, who was the manager of Rosan, a sushi restaurant in Isetan Shinjuku, and named the restaurant after himself. He was one of the first to realize the potential of the marriage of wine and sushi, which is now becoming a major trend, and as a result of his focus on sushi pairing, the restaurant has become one of the most popular sushi restaurants in Tokyo where reservations are difficult to come by.
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13. Ginza Arata
Sushi
HOLON-GINZA 9F, 4-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
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Ginza Arata is a small restaurant with a total of eight seats. It is an authentic sushi restaurant that uses only the freshest ingredients selected from all over Japan. Inside the restaurant, there are no unnecessary decorations and a beautiful wood-grained counter. Please visit us when you want to spend the best time with your loved ones.
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14. Sushi Asaba
Sushi
102 Les Fleurs Nishi-Azabu, 1-4-35 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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Sushi Asaba is a sushi restaurant located about a 5-minute walk from Nogizaka Station. With only 8 seats at the counter, you can enjoy traditional Edo-mae sushi made by the owner who has trained at famous restaurants both in Japan and abroad in a limited space.
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15. Higashi-Azabu Tenmoto
Sushi
102 The Sono Building, 1-7-9 Higashi Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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A four-minute walk from Akabanebashi, Higashi-Azabu Tenmoto is located where you can look up and see the glittering Tokyo Tower up close. The owner, Mr. Masamichi Amamoto, studied Japanese cuisine for nine years at Umami, a long-established sushi restaurant in Gaienmae, as well as at Shinohara in Shiga and Gion Sahagi in Kyoto. This is a great place to enjoy sushi that is considered the best in Tokyo in terms of both performance and taste.
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16. Sushi Restaurant Hisada
Sushi
9-1-4 Sakuragaoka-Nishi, Akaiwa City, Okayama Prefecture
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Facing the Seto Inland Sea, this sushi restaurant is representative of Okayama Prefecture, which is considered a treasure trove of ingredients. Although the restaurant is open only three days a week (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), it attracts many gourmets from all over Japan. The menu consists of only one omakase using seasonal fish unique to the Setouchi region. Be sure to enjoy the sushi that will leave everyone impressed.
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17. Taihei Sushi
Sushi
1-164 Taiheiji, Nonoichi City, Ishikawa Prefecture
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Taihei Sushi is quietly located in a residential area of Nonoichi, Ishikawa Prefecture, and has a counter with 12 seats, as well as tatami rooms and tables, making it suitable for a variety of uses.
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18. Komada
Sushi
2-14-18, Kawazaki, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
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Komada is a sushi restaurant that has returned to Ise, an area blessed with seafood. The owner of Komada, who originally ran a sushi restaurant in Ise, folded his store and retrained himself at the famous Araki restaurant in London. After that, he returned home and opened a new restaurant. Rumor has it that you can enjoy genuine Edo-mae sushi in Ise, and not only visitors to Ise Shrine, but also many gourmets from inside and outside of the prefecture come to visit.
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19. Sushi Ichiko
Sushi
2F Scaletta Building, 31-4, Minami 2-jo Nishi 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
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Located in the downtown area of Sapporo, Hokkaido, this is one of Hokkaido's leading restaurants that has appeared on TV and other media. The current owner is the second-generation owner, Junya Kudo. Mr. Kudo uses the finest ingredients from all over the country, not to mention local Hokkaido products, and prepares them according to the conditions of the ingredients. His sensitivity is based on his extraordinary efforts, and his reputation attracts many gourmets from within and outside the prefecture.
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20. Sushi HASHIGUCHI
Sushi
1F Royal Akasaka Saloon, 1-5-20, Moto-Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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Sushi Hashiguchi is located in Akasakamitsuke and has only eight seats at the counter, creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. The combination of the mouthwatering rice and the ingredients is excellent. Enjoy the elegant and beautiful traditional Edomae sushi.
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21. Sushi Rinda
Sushi
1F Image Studio 109, 2-24-12 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
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A popular and lively sushi restaurant in Fudomae. The owner is Yuta Kono, who has trained at Ebisu's Shoei and in New York. Inside the restaurant, there is a large L-shaped counter where you can enjoy your meal while watching the chef make sushi in front of you. The rice is made from rice cooked in a steaming kamado. The seasonal orange juice directly from the owner's family farm in Uwajima is also recommended.
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22. Sushi Inomata
Sushi
Sunrive Saiwai-cho Court House, 1-12-23 Saiwai-cho, Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama
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Sushi Inomata is located about a 10-minute walk from Kawaguchi Station in Saitama. The menu consists of one omakase course with nigiri only, and offers sushi using the traditional techniques of Edomae sushi.
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23. Sushi Saito
Sushi
Ark Hills South Tower 1F, 1-4-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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Sushi Saito has been awarded three Michelin stars in a row since 2010, and is now called the best sushi restaurant in Japan. In the sophisticatedly designed restaurant, each dish is served using simple techniques such as "boiling," "steaming," and "pickling," with a very careful and delicate taste. The rice is made with old rice and finished with red vinegar and salt. Enjoy the essence of simple but well-calculated sushi.
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24. Jinsei
Sushi
2-1-3 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka
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The sushi restaurant "Jinsei" is located about a 4-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station. You can enjoy the profound taste of sushi made by the owner, a graduate of a prestigious baseball school in Kagawa Prefecture, which is the origin of the restaurant's name.
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25. Sushi Restaurant Asanogawa
Sushi
2-13, Shukei-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
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Sushi Restaurant Asanogawa is located near the Higashi Chaya district. You can enjoy the skilled craftsmanship of the owner, who was trained at the famous sushi restaurant "Komatsu Yasuke" in Kanazawa.
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26. Sushi Restaurant Mekumi
Sushi
4-48 Shimobayashi, Nonoichi City, Ishikawa Prefecture
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This restaurant is located in a residential area of Nonoichi, Ishikawa Prefecture. The restaurant is famous for being visited by gourmets who love sushi from all over Japan. Every morning, he travels two hours to the market to use only ingredients that he has personally inspected and selected. The sushi carefully prepared to bring out the best flavor has quickly become popular, and the restaurant is well known among sushi lovers.
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27. Sushi Kiou
Sushi
3-21-8 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
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This restaurant is located in Futakotamagawa, a popular residential area. Mr. Koji Kimura is famous as a leading expert in aged sushi, which is now considered a trend. This is the only place where you can taste sushi whose flavor is condensed by aging. Enjoy the original aged sushi that has been awarded two Michelin stars.
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28. Chikamatsu
Sushi
2-6-19 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
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Chikamatsu is a sushi restaurant located about a five-minute walk from Yakuin Odori Station, and is open by referral only. In this small restaurant with only 9 seats at the counter, you can enjoy traditional Edomae Sushi using seasonal ingredients from Kyushu.
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29. Sushi Obana
Sushi
5-1 Otemachi, Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture
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Mr. Teru Obana, who trained at sushi restaurants in Ginza and Shibuya, opened Sushi Obana in a quiet residential area of his hometown in Gunma Prefecture. He is a renowned connoisseur among his peers, and personally goes to Tsukiji to purchase his ingredients, which are perfectly blended with the red vinegar rice. Although it is a long way from the nearest station, this is a restaurant you should visit at least once.
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30. Sushi Hashimoto
Sushi
Maki Plaza 1F, 1-15-11 Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
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This restaurant is reputed to be one of the best young sushi restaurants in Shintomi-cho, Ginza. The owner, Mr. Hiroyuki Hashimoto, became independent at the young age of 31 after training at the famous Nihonbashi-Kaigaracho Sugita restaurant. After opening his own restaurant, he immediately became the talk of the town and became synonymous with young talent in the sushi industry.
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Main image by PIXTA
