Ginza is synonymous with luxury, and since sushi is the high-end choice of diners visiting Japan, combining the two will make for a memorable meal. Filled with glitzy window fronts, the classiest department stores and fashion boutiques are there to indulge in, and when you’ve built up an appetite, there’s plenty of sushi spots to choose from. When planning for a special sushi experience, remember that prestigious restaurants book up months in advance, and the best way to secure a reservation is through a hotel concierge service or a booking company if you are not fluent (and often, even if you are).
Sukiyabashi Jiro: World-Famous Sushi
The most well-known of Tokyo’s top sushi joints, Sukiyabashi Jiro has held onto its 3 Michelin stars for eleven years. The ten-seater was opened by owner Jiro Ono back in 1965 and he still works behind the counter along with his son Yoshikazu, serving what is considered by many to be the best sushi in the world. There have been countless celebrities taking up a seat, from Obama to David Beckam and even has its own Netflix show ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’. Thanks to this reputation, of course, it is almost impossible to get a reservation at the small restaurant , so if you are looking to dine there, try a high-class hotel’s concierge service or Voyagin’s booking service to smooth the process.
Spot Information
- Name: Sukiyabashi Jiro (すきやばし次郎)
- Address: 4-2-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Sukiyabashi Jiro is right beside exit C6 of the Ginza/Yurakucho Station Complex.
- Hours: 11:30 - 14:00, 17:30 - 20:30.
- Regular Closing Days: Sundays, public holidays, Saturday evenings, mid-August, and Year-end holidays
Otaru-masazushi Ginza: Fresh From Hokkaido
Choosing to import their fish straight from Otaru in Hokkaido, this sushi restaurant is a firm favorite with the locals. It is now run by Nakamura Takayuki, a thrid-generation of the family that opened the restaurant and the entrepreneur who decided to branch out from his hometown in Hokkaido to open the Ginza and Shinjuku restaurants. With lunch sets starting from around 3,000 yen it’s certainly an affordable spot, and since chef Takayuki has been trained at his father’s side since elementary school, it will undoubtedly be an incredible meal.
Spot Information
- Name: Otaru-masazushi Ginza (おたる政寿司)
- Address: 10F, POLA Ginza Building, 1-7-7 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Otaru-masazushi is on the 10th floor of the POLA Ginza Building, close to Exit 7 of Ginza Itchome Station.
- Hours: 11:30 - 15:00, 17:30 - 22:00
- Regular Closing Days: Sundays and holidays
Ginza Kyubey: Over 80 Years of Experience
Serving Edo-style sushi, Kyubey is one of the world’s most respected sushi joints and has been serving up sliced fish since 1935. While they now have several restaurants across Tokyo, Ginza is their original restaurant and therefore the most sought-after. Yosuke Imada, the second-generation sushi-master is highly respected, and although they have not received a Michelin star in a few years, they are frequently chosen as one of the top 10 world restaurants by influential global guide La Liste. Lunches start at 7,500 yen and dinners range up to 30,000 yen - reservations are best made through hotel concierge services.
Spot Information
- Name: Ginza Kyubey (銀座久兵衛)
- Address: 7-6-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Ginza Kyubey is located five minute’s walk from Exit 3 of Shimbashi Station in a small, yellow-fronted store.
- Hours: 11:30 - 14:00, 17:00 - 22:00
- Regular Closing Days: Mondays, Sundays, Year’s End/New Year holidays.
Hina Sushi: All-you-can-eat Course
All-you-can-eat sushi may not sound high-quality, but at Hina you get the best of both worlds. You can choose from 60 carefully prepared varieties of sushi for just under 5,000 yen - an amazing price for the volume of sushi you can try. There are also sushi sets you can order and great lunch deals - but it is good to know that the all-you-can-eat option is only available if everyone at the table orders it.
Spot Information
- Name: Hina Sushi (雛鮨)
- Address: 2F Nishiginza Department, 4-1 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo
- Location: Hina Sushi is in the Nishiginza Department Store on the second floor.
- Hours:
- 11:30 - 23:00 (weekdays)
- 11:30 - 22:30 (Saturdays)
- 11:30 - 23:00 (holidays)
- Regular Closing Days: Irregular (In accordance with the closing days of the facility)
Sushi Harumi: An Hidden Spot for Sushi
An affordable spot in the glittering town, this place is ideal for those seeking high-quality without the Ginza pricetag. Opened by the owner of well-known classy Japanese restaurant Ginza Kojyu, Toru Okuda, it has a great reputation and is headed by well-trained chef Keusuke Yoshiya. With only ten-seats, it can be hard to get a spot, but the trouble is worth it as this is one of the few places you’re still served sushi directly onto the counter. Courses start from 12,000 yen and the items are selected fresh each morning, so you will receive the season’s highlights.
Spot Information
- Name: Sushi Harumi (晴海)
- Address: 4F Soiree de Ginza Yayoi Building, 7-6-19 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Sushi Harumi is in the Soiree de Ginza Yayoi Building on the 4 floor
- Hours: 17:30 - 24:00
- Regular Closing Days: Sundays and holidays
Sushi Sawada: Six Seats and Two Michelin Stars
With two Michelin stars, this is another restaurant that is difficult to secure a reservation at, but entirely worthwhile if you can. There are only six seats at the prestigious restaurant, with guests being served by Chef Sawada and his wife. A honed sushi master, Sawada has a strict no phone, no camera policy, and the refined experience is to be taken very seriously. As with all sushi restaurants, it is best to go with the omakase option, meaning the chef’s choice, as this ensures you get his perfectly-designed meal.
Spot Information
- Name: Sawada (さわ田)
- Address: 3F MC Building, 5-9-19 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo
- Location: Sawada is close to exit A5 of Ginza Station, on the 3rd floor of the MC Building.
- Hours:
- 12:00 - 13:30, 18:00 - 20:00 (weekdays)
- 12:00 - 13:30, 17:00 - 19:00 (Saturdays)
- 12:00 - 13:30 (Sundays)
- Regular Closing Days: Mondays (Sometimes Thursday)
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