Sushi. The one food that almost everyone thinks of first when they think of Japanese food. The one food that everyone wants to experience when they come to Japan.
There’s a catch though. For the same reason that many equate Japanese food to sushi, sushi in hugely popular in Japan. In fact there are over 4,000 sushi restaurants in Tokyo alone. And with this many sushi restaurants, it means many (many) different sushi styles. Otsumami vs Nigiri focus, mild vs strong shari, shiromi/hikarimono/maguro/kai speciality – the permutations are almost endless.
So where to begin?
Luckily it’s easy – start by eating sushi, and lots of it. Experience all the different sushi styles and hone in on your own personal preferences.
While the list below has a slight bias towards my own personal preference (larger stronger nigiri), it serves both as a guide to the best sushi restaurant in Tokyo and Japan, as well as a reference for how they all stack up against each other.
For more personalised advice, customised food itineraries and to unlock your best culinary adventure, please contact me.
The Best Sushi in Tokyo
# | Restaurant | Highlight Pieces | Otsumami (10) | Nigiri (10) | Total (10) | CP (5) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amamoto (ๆฑ้บปๅธ ๅคฉๆฌ) | Most his Otsumami | 9.25 | 8.5 | 8.875 | 3 |
2 | Sushi Namba Hibiya (้ฎจ ใชใใฐ ๆฅๆฏ่ฐท) | Kinki in Dashi, Ankimo | 9.25 | 8.5 | 8.875 | 2.5 |
3 | Shimazu (ๅณถๆดฅ) | Kawahagi, Kohada, Katsuo | 8.75 | 8.75 | 8.75 | 4 |
4 | Arai (้ฎจ ใใใ) | Maguro | 8.75 | 8.5 | 8.625 | 2 |
5 | Sugita (ๆฅๆฌๆฉ่ๆฎป็บ ใใใ) | Hikarimono, Ankimo | 8.5 | 8.75 | 8.625 | 3.5 |
6 | Takamitsu (้ฎจ ๅฐๅ ) | Uni, Kobashira, Caviar | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 3.5 |
7 | Sawada (ใใ็ฐ) | Maguro | 8 | 8.75 | 8.375 | 2.5 |
8 | Hashiguchi (ใฏใใใก) | Anago | 8 | 8.75 | 8.375 | 2.5 |
9 | Sushi Suzuki (้ฎจ ้ดๆจ) | Sabazushi, Kujira, Sayori | – | 8.25 | 8.25 | 2.5 |
10 | Sushi Hashimoto (้ฎจ ใฏใใใจ) | Iwashi Maki, Ankimo | 8.75 | 7.75 | 8.25 | 3.5 |
11 | Tomidokoro (ๅจๆ) | Hikarimono | 8 | 8.5 | 8.25 | 3 |
12 | Shimbashi Tsuruhachi (ๆฐๆฉ้ถดๅ ซ) | Saba Nigiri, Uni Tower | – | 8.25 | 8.25 | 4 |
13 | Sushi Akira (ใใ ่ฏๆ) | Kuruma Ebi | 8.25 | 8 | 8.125 | 3 |
14 | Inomata (้ฎจ ็ช่ก) | Kohada, Ikura, Jukusei Maguro | – | 8 | 8 | 1.5 |
15 | Shimizu (ๆฐใฐใ ใใฟใฅ) | Hamaguri, Awabi, Hikarimono | – | 8 | 8 | 2 |
16 | Harutaka (้็ฉบ) | Chutoro, Anago Nigiri | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8 | 1.5 |
Note – Cost Performance/Value (CP) is not included in the actual rating for best sushi as the focus is purely on the sushi quality itself. However, I’ve included CP for reference as it does ultimately influence your decision whether to visit a restaurant.
The Best Sushi in Japan (outside Tokyo)
# | Restaurant | Highlight Pieces | Location | Otsumami (10) | Nigiri (10) | Total (10) | CP (5) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sushidokoro Mekumi (ใใๅฆ ใใใฟ) | Anything with Crab in it, Nodoguro, Buri, Sea Urchin | Kanazawa | 9.25 | 9.25 | 9.25 | 2.5 |
2 | Sushi Obana (้ฎจใใฐใช) | Ikura Gunkan, Uni Parfait, Maguro | Tateyabashi | 9 | 9.25 | 9.125 | 4.5 |
3 | Taheizushi (Old Chef) – Closed | Steamed Noduguro Nigiri, Kobakogani Nigiri, Sabazushi, Buri | Kanazawa | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 |
4 | Sushi Sanshin (้ฎจ ไธๅฟ) | Squid Nigiri, Ikura, Nishin Negi | Osaka | 9 | 8.5 | 8.75 | 4 |
5 | Sushi Sakai (้ฎจ ใใใ) | Fugu w/ Ankimo Sauce, Kohada & Chutoro Nigiri | Fukuoka | 8.75 | 8.75 | 8.75 | 3.5 |
6 | Sushi Ei (ๅฏฟๅธๆ ) | Otoro Mille-feuille w/ Crab, Negitoro Maki | Chiba | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 4 |
7 | Kikuzushi (่้ฎจ) | Shari | Fukuoka | 8.25 | 8.5 | 8.375 | 4.5 |
8 | Sushi Jubei (้ฎจ ๅๅ ต่ก) | Echizen Crab, Nishin Nigiri | Fukui | – | 8.25 | 8.25 | 5 |
9 | Sushisai Wakichi (้ฎจ่ ๅๅๆบ) | Kai (Shellfish) | Sapporo | 7.5 | 8 | 8 | 3 |
10 | Takaoka (ใใใใ) | Sabazushi, Seafood Miso Soup | Chiba | 8.25 | 7.5 | 7.75 | 4 |
Full Sushi Ratings List
Google Sheet of all my sushi ratings.
Wishlist
- Sushi Ikko (้ฎจ ไธๅนธ) – Pls halp
- Sushi Ooga (้ฎจ ใใใ) – Also, pls halp
- Chikamatsu (่ฟๆพ)
- Kyoudaizushi (ๅ ๅผๅฏฟใ)
- Sushi Tokiwa (้ฎจ ็ปๅๅ)
Let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations for Sushiya that you want me to hit up!
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