HouseChannelHow the book opensNext opening
Daikanyama, Tokyo · Yakiniku
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; +81-3-6415-4129 (service 17:00–23:00, closed Mon)
Phone only. Each date opens exactly one month ahead; parties of two to four, cash only.
Hidden back-alley house, parties of 2–4 only, two-hour seating, cash only. ¥5,000 per head charged for same-day cancellation or headcount change.
Jingumae, Tokyo · Innovative
Phone, in Japanese☎ 12:00–17:00, Monday–Saturday
Phone only (+81-3-6455-5433), 12:00–17:00 JST Mon–Sat, up to two months ahead to the day. No online, agency or proxy bookings; parties of four max.
Parties of four or fewer; booking is final only when Den's confirmation email arrives. Prime Fri/Sat dates go the day the window opens. No agencies or intermediaries.
Kagurazaka, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published, +81-3-6265-0554 (phone/fax)
Phone, fax or email. Each date opens exactly one month ahead on the same calendar day (next business day if closed). Budget is agreed at booking.
Mikizo Hashimoto's fully omakase counter, up to 8 per sitting; 100% charge from 3 days before. Ikyu also lists seats.
Phone, in Japanese☎ From 8:00 on the day one week before your date, 03-3591-5763; no calls during service
Phone only, exactly one week ahead: the line opens at 8:00 JST seven days before your date. The named booker must attend; proxies and transfers are refused.
Seven counter seats; the house deliberately keeps a one-week book so nobody waits months, but the 8:00 line jams for 30+ minutes. Booker must attend in person (ID may be checked); non-Japanese speakers need a Japanese-speaking companion.
Phone, in Japanese☎ From 11:00 on the day one month before your date (Wednesdays from 13:00), +81-3-6455-0200
Phone only. Each day at 11:00 JST (Wed 13:00) the house opens the same date one month ahead. Same-day cancellation is charged in full.
Moved from Minami-Aoyama to Ebisu in 2022. Blogs report hundreds of redials in the first hour; call the moment the line opens.
Kanegafuchi, Sumida, Tokyo · Yakitori
Phone, in Japanese☎ First Monday 10:00–12:00 for the release; otherwise outside service hours
Phone only. On the first Monday of each month from 10:00 JST the house opens the entire month two months ahead; the window closes around noon.
Kyoaji-trained chef, 16 seats, omakase around ¥5,500–7,700. Reports describe 200–500 redials in the two-hour window; the block is gone by noon.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Weekdays and Saturdays about 11:00–20:00; Japanese +81-3-5537-5580, English line +81-50-5369-5052
Phone (English line available), plus Ikyu and Pocket Concierge. Around the 25th, the month three months ahead opens from 11:00 JST.
Michelin two-star, 25 seats, closed Wed–Thu. Ikyu and Pocket Concierge get a small allocation; same-day cancellation is charged in full.
Phone, in Japanese☎ From 10:00 daily, +81-3-6215-9544
Phone from 10:00 JST; the book covers today through the end of next month, so the 1st of each month releases a new month. Overseas guests must use a hotel concierge or Pocket Concierge.
Chef's course only: lunch ¥33,000, dinner ¥41,800 plus 10% service. Cancellation 50% the day before, 100% same day.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 10:00–15:00
Phone only (+81-3-6263-0345, 10:00–15:00). On the 1st of each month the month six months ahead opens (call 1 November for May); no platform bookings.
Six-month rule reported 2018–19 and still repeated by current listings; release time not published. Two seatings (17:00 / 20:30). Off-peak calls sometimes catch cancellations.
Phone, in Japanese
Phone first (03-3573-1144). On the 1st of each month the book opens for dates through the end of the month after next; a few seats also surface on Japanese platforms.
Ikyu's current house notice: dates through the end of the month after next open on the 1st. A 2021 report cited the 25th instead — the 1st is the current rule. Some overflow seats appear on Ikyu/PayPay Gourmet.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 10:00–11:30 and 15:00–18:00, +81-3-3874-1552; TableCheck and Pocket Concierge also open the same day
Phone, TableCheck or Pocket Concierge. On the 1st of each month (next day if closed) the book opens through the end of the month after next.
Michelin two-star, 20 seats, closed Mon–Tue. Weekend tables go first; same-day cancellation is 100%.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 10:00–20:00 on business days, +81-3-3571-6050 / 0120-156-051; TableCheck runs in parallel
Phone (10:00–20:00) or TableCheck. The book covers the current month through the end of the third month ahead, so each new month opens on the 1st.
Shiseido's Michelin three-star. Jackets for men, no under-13s, 48-hour cancellation charge. Christmas and Valentine's weekends go on the release morning.
Omori (Minami-Oi), Tokyo · Kaiseki
Phone, in Japanese☎ From 09:00 on the first business day of the month, +81-3-3768-6388
Phone only. The line opens at 09:00 JST on the first business day of each month for the month six months ahead; a few seats surface on OMAKASE / Pocket Concierge.
Michelin three stars, 14 seats (6-seat counter plus two rooms). Concierge blogs report 500–1,000 redials over 1–3 hours; Ikyu's house notice said the book was full through Dec 2025 and 2026 was not yet being accepted — call before planning.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 12:00–17:00 (same-day bookings until 19:00)
Phone (12:00–17:00 JST). On the 1st of each month at noon the book opens through the end of the month after next; nothing further out is accepted. Max eight guests.
Nothing beyond three months out is accepted; max 8 per group, children 10+. The restaurant phones back on a stated date to confirm. Some seats also appear on Ikyu/Hitosara.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Tue–Fri 15:00–17:00, +81-3-3451-8320
Phone (Tue–Fri 15:00–17:00) or Ikyu, where the 1st of each month releases dates three months ahead. Pocket Concierge is the only agent the house accepts.
Michelin two stars; regulars fill most of the 26 seats. Dinner ¥38,400 incl. tax and service; 100% charge from 2 days before.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; closed Sun–Mon, +81-3-6264-2234
Phone. On the 1st of each month the house opens the following month; some seats also appear on Pocket Concierge. Lunch sittings go first.
8-seat counter, Michelin one star since 2019. Lunch (Wed/Sat/Sun only) is the hardest sitting; reports say the next month sells through quickly.
Nakameguro, Tokyo · Sushi
Phone, in Japanese☎ From 9:00 on release day, 03-6451-0903; two seatings 18:00 / 20:30
Phone only. On the first business day of each month from 9:00 JST the house takes bookings through the end of the following month.
Sushi Saito alumnus; about ten seats, single course around ¥20,000 plus tax. Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2025.
Phone, in Japanese☎ From about 10:00 on operating days, 03-3351-6387; closed Sundays
Phone only for first-timers. On the first business day of each month the line opens for dinner through the end of the following month; lunch is taken 14 days ahead.
Nakazawa's mothership of the Sushisho school; 14 seats, two seatings (18:00/21:00). Blogs describe 1,000+ redials over several hours on release day. First-timers must phone; regulars rebook at the counter.
Kameido, Tokyo · Yakitori
Phone, in Japanese☎ Release day from around noon (reported), +81-3-3682-6473
Phone only. On the first business day of each month the book opens for the whole following month; reports say from around noon.
Blogs describe 300–500 redials on release day; even small parties need roughly three weeks' lead. Main house is in Kameido (Torisawa 22 in Nishi-Azabu is the sibling).
Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo · Yakitori
Phone, in Japanese☎ Release day from opening of the line; +81-3-3499-1808 (afternoons before service)
Phone (or the official site). On the first business day of each month the line opens for the month two months ahead; the exact hour changes monthly. Cancellations resurface within a week.
8-seat L-shaped counter, Tabelog Bronze. Formerly introduction-only; now takes general phone bookings two months out. Concierges report 300–700 redials on release day.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 17:00–19:00 on release day (first business day of the month)
Phone only. The line opens on the first business day of each month, 17:00–19:00 JST, releasing the whole month two months ahead. Max three guests.
Max 3 guests per booking; the month is usually gone within the two-hour window — hundreds of redials are normal.
Oshiage, Tokyo · Yakitori
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-5619-1892, 12:00–14:00 / 16:00–22:00 on the first business day
Phone only at the Oshiage original. The line opens on the first business day of the month (12:00–14:00, 16:00–22:00) for dates two months ahead.
Michelin-starred original of the Omino group. The first-business-day phone rule dates from 2022 reports; expect hundreds of redials.
Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo · Yakiniku
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-3498-4629 from 15:00 on the first business day; late evening (around 23:00) on other days
Phone only. From 15:00 JST on the first business day of each month the house takes bookings through the end of the following month, in three fixed sittings.
Aoyama's benchmark wagyu counter. Reports describe two to three hours of redialling on release day; cancellations a few days out are the realistic back door.
Higashi-Nihonbashi, Tokyo · Sukiyaki
Phone, in Japanese☎ Japanese line; service Mon–Fri 17:00–21:00, last entry 19:30
Mainly by phone in Japanese, with some seats released on Tabelog. No release day — weekday dinners only, and December fills first.
A portion of seats opens on Tabelog; the private rooms are settled by phone. Give December lead time.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 10:00–22:00 (+81-3-3568-6055)
Phone 10:00–22:00 JST, no fixed release. Overseas guests can also prepay via TABLEALL or My Concierge Japan (with a fee) — we call direct instead.
Two Michelin stars. Lunch entry 12:00–12:30, dinner 17:00–19:00; closed Sun–Mon. Direct phone avoids the partner booking fee.
Azabu-Juban, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Phone, in Japanese☎ Business hours (Japanese only)
Phone only, in Japanese; no website or online booking. No fixed release day: call one to three months ahead, avoiding the peak seasons regulars claim.
No introduction required, but peak-season dates go to regulars; aim for shoulder months 1–3 months out.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Service hours — 12:00–14:30 and 17:00–21:00; Sun & holidays 12:00–18:00 (closed Mon and 1st & 3rd Sun)
Phone only, in Japanese (03-3844-0034). No release day — a normal planning window works, but weekends go early and arriving 30 minutes late cancels the booking.
Sixteen seats; weekends go early. Arriving more than 30 minutes late cancels the reservation.
Kanda-Sudacho, Tokyo · Sukiyaki
Phone, in Japanese☎ Business hours (Japanese only)
Phone in Japanese or the house's Japanese-only web form; no English page. No release day — a normal planning window is enough for a weeknight table.
A hundred tatami seats: a call within a normal planning window lands a weeknight table. Closed about two weeks in August.
Nishi-Asakusa, Tokyo · Hot Pot
Phone, in Japanese☎ Business hours (Japanese only)
Phone only; the house refuses reservation apps. No release day — walk in off-peak, or call in Japanese for groups, the private room or peak evenings.
Walk-ins seat easily off-peak; private hearth room, annex for groups and peak evenings go by phone. Wednesday closure shifts around festivals.
Edogawabashi, Tokyo · Unagi
Phone, in Japanese☎ Business hours (Japanese only)
Phone in Japanese, normal lead time, no release day. You choose your eel when you book, and cancellations inside three days are charged in full.
You choose your eel grade when booking; cancellations inside three days are charged in full. No pre-school children.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Weekdays from 12:00 (Japanese)
Phone answered weekdays from noon (Japanese), plus an English online page. No release day; book with normal lead time and request the room and month.
Four private rooms (2–16 guests); Saturday dinner only for parties of ten or more. 20% service charge.
Phone, in Japanese☎ From 10:00 (official: 「ご予約については10:00より承ります」)
Bookable by phone (+81-3-3571-6523, from 10:00) or via Ikyu and official English partners; no release trigger. Only the 11:30 lunch seating is reservable — later lunch is walk-in.
Dinner: book ahead. Lunch: only the 11:30 seating is reservable; later lunch seats are first come, first served. Also on Ikyu and an official English partner. Closed Sundays.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 11:30–22:00 (last order 20:30), +81-50-5448-8842
Phone or online (Tabelog, Ikyu). No release trigger — a few days to a week ahead is fine; ask for the counter.
Founded 1930; 41 seats over counter and tables. Counter is the tempura experience (dinner course from ¥16,500 + 15% service); tables serve tendon and sets.
Higashi-Azabu, Tokyo · Unagi
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-3583-7852 during service hours
Phone only, no fixed release — but the house refuses agency and proxy bookings, so call yourself a week or more ahead; walk-ins queue when there is room.
200-year-old Michelin-starred eel house; private tatami rooms from 3 guests. Slots are typically full about three days out; walk-in queue when space allows.
Kanda-Awajicho, Tokyo · Hot Pot
Phone, in Japanese☎ 11:00–21:00 (Japanese)
Phone in Japanese, line staffed 11:00–21:00; some seats on Japanese reservation sites. No release day, but November–March winter evenings go early.
Changes and cancellations by the day before, or half the course price is due. 120 seats, but winter demand compresses onto them.
Kyobashi, Tokyo · Yakitori
Phone, in Japanese☎ Tokyo business hours (Japanese only)
Phone only, in Japanese, on no platform. No release day — dinner books within a normal planning window; lunch is walk-in queue only.
Dinner fills within a normal planning window; lunch takes no bookings and the queue forms before noon.
Kanda-Awajicho, Tokyo · Soba
Phone, in Japanese☎ 11:30–20:00 (closed Wednesdays), +81-3-3251-0287
Walk-in for most seats; a handful of ground-floor seats (8 per hour) can be phoned in by the day before, and the upstairs rooms are reservation-only.
Founded 1880; ground floor is mostly walk-in with a lunchtime queue, only 8 seats per hour are reservable by phone the day before. Reserve the tatami rooms upstairs for groups.
Higashi-Ginza, Tokyo · Sushi
Phone, in Japanese☎ 12:00–17:00 (no answer after 17:00 during service), +81-3-5550-3401
Phone 12:00–17:00, or Pocket Concierge / Ikyu online. No fixed release — book a few weeks ahead; the seven-seat counter fills fastest on weekends.
7-seat counter (9 when privatised), omakase ¥60,000–70,000. Cancellation 30% from 3 days, 50% from 2 days, 100% same day.
Jimbocho (Suidobashi), Tokyo · Soba
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; +81-3-3291-3529 (closed Sun and holidays)
Phone for dinner, walk-in at lunch; no fixed release. Last lunch seating around 13:50, cash only.
Tabelog Soba Hyakumeiten, the novelist Ikenami Shotaro's haunt; 38 seats, cash only. Lunch is first come; evenings take phone bookings.
Nishi-Shinbashi, Tokyo · Kappō
Phone, in Japanese☎ Rarely answered (03-6812-7168, Japanese)
No formal introduction rule, but guests book their next visit as they leave, so the eight seats pass among regulars. The phone is rarely answered; expect a long campaign.
A long campaign: repeated calls, a waitlist request, and a cancellation seat as the realistic prize.
Introduction only
Phone, in Japanese☎ Service hours — 12:00–15:00 and 17:00–21:00 (closed Wed/Thu Apr–Jul & Sep–Oct, Thu only Nov–Mar); closed all summer 14 Jul–3 Sep 2026
Phone only, in Japanese. No release day — book with normal lead time, but winter fugu season fills fast and the house closes entirely each summer.
No release day — book with normal lead time, but Nov–Feb fugu season fills the 66 seats; last entry 19:00.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Dinner service 17:00–21:00 (closed Sundays; also Wednesdays Jun–Aug)
Phone in Japanese, or Japanese reservation sites. No release day — book ahead with normal lead time; dinner only, closed Sundays.
Easy to moderate; winter boar season is the busy stretch. Japanese reservation sites also carry seats.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Service hours — Mon–Fri 11:30–21:00 (break ~15:30–16:30), Sat 11:30–16:00; closed Sun, holidays, Jan 1–4
Ground floor is walk-in only. The upstairs tatami rooms book by phone, in Japanese, with normal lead time — no release day, no platform.
Ground floor is first-come only; upstairs rooms book by phone for course meals.
Soto-Kanda (Akihabara), Tokyo · Unagi
Phone, in Japanese☎ Business hours (Tue–Sat 11:30–14:30 / 17:00–21:00), +81-3-3251-5031
Phone reservations in Japanese during business hours; no release calendar — book a few weeks ahead for a private room.
Founded 1805, Tabelog Unagi Hyakumeiten 2026, Tokyo Norenkai member. Private-room house that expects a booking; no published release rule, normal lead time applies.
Nihonbashi, Tokyo · Kappō
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; +81-3-3271-3436 (closed Sun and holidays)
Phone (AutoReserve for some seats). No release trigger — the omakase is taken from about a week ahead; rooms book earlier.
Iron Chef Kimio Nonaga's 70-seat house; Michelin-listed for years. Easy for lunch courses; the omakase and private rooms need a phone call.
Phone, in Japanese☎ +81-3-3408-5040
Open booking by phone or online (AutoReserve, Gurunavi); no release day. Book a few days ahead, and give two days' notice for courses or large groups.
38 counter seats around the robata; the theatrical shouting service has been a foreign-visitor fixture since 1970. Easy to book a few days ahead; walk-ins possible early evening.
Minami-Azabu (Hiroo), Tokyo · Kaiseki
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; +81-3-3473-3103 (lunch 12:00–14:30, dinner 17:30–, closed Sun)
Phone only, reservation-only house with no published release day. Book a few weeks ahead for the six-seat counter.
Michelin one-star (Tokyo 2026), 25 seats including a tea room; former Tabelog Bronze. Reservation-only; no online channel.
Nihonbashi, Tokyo · Steak
Phone, in Japanese☎ +81-3-3271-7889 (Japanese); closed Sundays
Phone only, Japanese; no published release day. Regulars hold most seats, so first-timers should call weeks ahead for a Monday–Saturday dinner slot.
28 seats (8 counter) in a basement; the beef sandwich and chateaubriand draw a global following, and seats are largely held by regulars — call well ahead and expect Japanese only.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-3400-4044, in Japanese; open Wed–Sat only (lunch 12:00–13:30, dinner 17:30–22:00)
Phone in Japanese (03-3400-4044), with some slots on Japanese portals. No release day — open Wednesday to Saturday only; lunch is the easier service.
Not introduction-only, not a lottery — the barrier is language. Lunch is the obtainable service; some slots surface on Japanese portals.
Shinbashi, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; dinner 18:00–23:00, closed Sun/hol, +81-3-6450-1818
Phone, regulars only — callers are asked for a previous visit date. The monthly release time changes and is not published; first-timers need an introduction.
Ex-Kyomi chef Hoshino, three parties a night, dinner from ¥30,000. Reports describe hundreds of redials on release day even for regulars.
Introduction only
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-6206-6886
Phone; no fixed release day. Book dinner a couple of weeks ahead and lunch by the previous day. Cash only.
The Tsuruhachi classic-edomae line (former 鶴八 分店); seven counter + four table seats, ¥20,000–30,000, cash only. No release ritual — just phone ahead.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-3591-6214, in Japanese; service lunch 11:30–13:30, dinner 17:00–22:00 (closed Sun & holidays; Saturdays irregular)
Phone only, in Japanese (03-3591-6214); courses are ordered when you book. No release day — private rooms need notice; lunch is walk-in.
All 35 seats are in four private rooms; courses must be ordered when booking. Lunch is walk-in with a queue near noon.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Outside service hours only (service 11:30–14:00, 17:30–20:30)
No public release. Japan-based principals may phone (+81-3-3535-3600, outside service hours); overseas guests can book only through their hotel's concierge. No agencies, no proxies; ID checked at the door.
Omakase ¥88,000 (2026); passport checked against the booking name. Older (2020–22) reports describe hotel concierges faxing requests on the 1st of the month — unconfirmed today. The Roppongi branch is bookable online.
Introduction only
Phone, in Japanese
Phone (03-6264-5855) plus OMAKASE and Pocket Concierge. No fixed release day; regulars rebook at the counter, so first-timers realistically use the OMAKASE apprentice-counter listing or cancellation waitlists.
No release trigger: regulars rebook on leaving, so the main counter is full 3+ months out. First-timers use the OMAKASE 'apprentice counter' (弟子の間) listing, a Pocket Concierge cancellation waitlist, or call for last-minute cancellations.
Phone, in Japanese☎ +81-3-6853-8878
Bookable any time by phone or online (Retty via the official site, Ikyu); no release-day rule. Plan a few weeks ahead for weekend counter seats.
32 seats over two floors; the global Onodera group's flagship, so English is fine. Prime counter slots a few weeks out.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published (+81-3-5568-4411); closed Sun–Mon
Phone (official) or Ikyu. No release day; a month to six weeks ahead usually works. Guests 30 and over only.
Eight seats, two Michelin stars, yet gettable: diners report booking one to one-and-a-half months ahead. Seats also on Ikyu and Gurunavi.
Nishi-Ogikubo, Tokyo · Sushi
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; dinner 18:00–23:00, closed Sun, +81-3-3334-6029
Phone, or a request booking on Ikyu (confirmed within 72 hours). No fixed release — a few weeks ahead is normally enough.
10-seat counter in a residential suburb, omakase about ¥20,000; 100% charge for any same-day cancellation.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Business hours (17:30–22:30), +81-3-6284-1988
Phone or Instagram DM for evening and advance dates; a few early seats appear on Ikyu. Six seats, no release calendar.
Six-seat counter alternating tsumami and nigiri; overseas guests must give a reachable contact or the booking is cancelled. No published release day.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-6802-4474, noon until service; dinner 18:30–, lunch Wed/Sat 12:00–, closed Sun/holidays
Phone only; no fixed release day. Call between noon and service and book a few weeks ahead.
Sushi Hashiguchi alumnus, Michelin one star (2023) and Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2025. Nine seats, ¥20,000–30,000 — book well ahead but no monthly scramble.
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-3573-7222; Tue–Sat 12:00–14:30 & 18:00–22:30, closed Sun/Mon
Phone (or AutoReserve); no fixed release day — a week or two ahead usually works, and cancellations open up on the day.
Seven-seat Ginza counter, omakase around ¥25,000 with a ¥6,000–8,000 lunch; Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2021/2025. Diners report booking about a week ahead by phone.
Jingumae (Omotesando), Tokyo · Soba
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; +81-3-5485-0025 outside service
Lunch: walk-in only, queue before 11:30. Dinner: course only, book by phone a few weeks ahead. Check for seasonal closures.
Michelin-starred 14-seat soba house that once topped Tabelog's soba ranking. Lunch queues form before 11:30; dinner courses book a few weeks out.
Kyobashi, Tokyo · Tempura
Phone, in Japanese☎ Closed Mon and 1st/3rd Sun, +81-3-5250-8777
Phone or online (official site, Hitosara). No fixed release — book a week or two ahead; lunch seats are the easiest.
Masao Fukamachi (34 years at Yamanoue Hotel), Michelin one star; 15 seats. Lunch ¥12,500 is the easy way in; dinner about ¥25,000.
Azabu-Juban, Tokyo · Tempura
Phone, in Japanese☎ Best before 18:00 (no answer during service), +81-3-3456-2406
Phone only — the house takes no online bookings. No fixed release; call in the afternoon a couple of weeks ahead for the seven-seat counter.
Seven-seat counter, closed Wed plus one rotating day. Dinner about ¥15,000–20,000; same-day cancellations are asked to be avoided.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Service hours — weekdays 11:30–14:00 and 17:00–21:00; Sat, Sun & holidays 11:30–20:00 (closed Tue & Wed)
The main hall is walk-in only. Garden rooms book mainly by phone in Japanese (course only), with a few seats on Japanese sites — no release day.
The 60-seat hall takes no reservations; the six garden rooms (course bookings only) go well ahead.
Kuramae, Tokyo · Tonkatsu
Phone, in Japanese☎ Service hours — lunch 11:30–14:00, dinner 17:00–20:30 (closed Thursdays + irregular)
Lunch is a queue — arrive before the 11:30 opening. Dinner can be booked by phone in Japanese with normal lead time; no release day.
Lunch runs on a queue (be there before 11:30); dinner can be booked by phone. Not the sushi Sugita.
Shinjuku, Tokyo · Yakiton
Phone, in Japanese☎ Call at the 17:00 opening or late in the night — the line jams mid-service (Mon–Sat 17:00–about 1:00; closed Sun & holidays)
Phone only, in Japanese, and the line jams during service — call at the 17:00 opening or late. No release day; the 22 counter seats are the fight.
The 22-seat counter is the contested item and goes largely to regulars rebooking as they leave.
Edogawabashi, Tokyo · Unagi
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-3811-4850; lunch 11:30–14:00, dinner 16:30–20:00, closed Thursday
Phone (or an Ikyu request booking) with no fixed release; book one to two weeks ahead, much earlier for the July eel-day weeks.
Founded 1835, Michelin-starred; small house that fills a week or two ahead and completely around Doyo no Ushi in July.
Shirokane, Tokyo · Yakiniku
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; +81-3-5795-4129 (afternoon before 17:00 opening is easiest)
Phone only (no online booking). Bookable about a month ahead; 19:00 weekend tables go two weeks out, late slots are easier.
64-seat Shirokane branch of the Jumbo family (Tokyo Yakiniku Hyakumeiten 2025). Prime 19:00 tables need two-plus weeks; rare cuts like the top tongue must be pre-ordered.
Tateishi, Tokyo · Yakiniku
Phone, in Japanese
Not taking new reservations. Existing regulars' bookings run through 2027 and the house has stopped adding dates ahead of its planned relocation; a Gurukare web slot is announced for 1 April 2027.
Book is full through 2027 and closed to new requests pending the Tateishi station redevelopment (relocation expected late 2027–early 2028). Gurukare lists a web slot opening 2027-04-01.
No reservations
Shibuya, Tokyo · Yakiniku
Phone, in Japanese☎ Any time (+81-3-3464-6448); Mon–Sat 16:00–23:00, closed Sun and holidays
Phone any time, no fixed release. Two seatings (16:00 and 18:00), parties of two or more; sells out weeks ahead.
Tabelog Bronze since 2020. Fully booked several weeks out; call early, then ask for the cancellation list.
Azabu-Juban, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; service Mon–Sat 17:30–22:00 (+81-3-5772-2553)
Phone, OMAKASE or Pocket Concierge; overseas residents only via a hotel concierge. No published release day.
Three Michelin stars. Also on OMAKASE and Pocket Concierge. Cancellation 50% from three business days out, 100% the day before.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Weekdays 10:30–17:30, +81-3-5537-3338 (English line +81-50-5369-7982)
Phone (weekdays 10:30–17:30, English line available) or OMAKASE / Pocket Concierge / OpenTable. Each month opens on a date posted on the official site, about ten weeks ahead.
Counter plus two private rooms (¥15,000 dinner room fee). Same-day cancellation 100%; 50% the day before for bookings made after 1 July 2026. Phone often has tables the platforms don't show.
Kioicho (Nagatacho), Tokyo · Sushi
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; closed Wed, +81-3-6256-9588 (reservations line)
Phone (dedicated line) or Ikyu. An older rule had the first business day of the month release a year ahead; the house no longer publishes it — we call and check.
12-seat counter plus one private room, mariage course from ¥39,600. Sister 'Bettei' (two 6-seat private counters) and MITANI New York exist; cancellation 50% from 7 days, 100% from 2 days.
Yotsuya-Sanchome, Tokyo · Chinese
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-5361-8363 from 12:00 on the announced release day
Phone only. Once a month, on a date announced on the house's social accounts (mid–late month, from 12:00 JST), the whole month two months ahead is released.
Tabelog Award Gold Chinese, 17 seats, one monthly set course. Every seat is gone within the first hour of the announced day.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published (+81-3-5603-1108); parties of three or more by phone only
Phone first (three or more must call); overseas guests book via their hotel. A monthly release about three months ahead is reported but unconfirmed.
One unverified report describes a 1st-of-month release three months ahead from 10:00. Eight to ten seats; Michelin-starred for over a decade.
Shirokane (Shirokane-Takanawa), Tokyo · Sushi
Phone, in Japanese☎ 050-5456-2029 (Tabelog) / 050-5492-7882 (official); Mon–Fri 17:00–, Sat lunch & dinner, closed Sun/holidays
Phone only, no published release day; recent diners report waits of around a year and occasional pauses on new bookings.
Tabelog Award Bronze 2025 & 2026; Michelin-listed. Eight seats, ¥30,000–40,000; same-day cancellation 100%.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published (+81-3-3230-0326); call outside service hours (12:00–14:30, 17:30–21:30), closed Tue–Wed
Phone only — no booking sites of any kind. No published release day; seats are several months out. Exactly the kind of house we call for you.
Tabelog Award Bronze 2026. Bookings run several months out and regulars dominate; cancellation 100% from three days before.
Yotsuya-Sanchome, Tokyo · Sushi
Phone, in Japanese☎ 10:00–15:00, 03-3351-3440
Phone only, 10:00–15:00 JST; no fixed release day. Expect a six-month-plus wait — regulars secure the next visit at the counter.
Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze; 8 counter + 6 private seats. TV exposure (Job Tune) pushed waits past six months; a 2025 diner booked in September for May.
Phone, in Japanese
Phone (+81-3-6253-7331) and an OMAKASE listing via the official site. No published release day or lead-time rule could be verified — book as early as possible.
The official site links to an OMAKASE listing alongside the phone number; no published release rule could be verified.
Phone, in Japanese☎ Not published; Japanese only (+81-3-5568-0923)
Phone in Japanese (about two months ahead); overseas guests use the official partner My Concierge Japan. No published release day — we call and check.
Older reports describe a first-business-day release about two months ahead, but the house does not publish a rule. Ikyu also lists seats with waitlist alerts.
Gaienmae (Aoyama), Tokyo · Sushi
Phone, in Japanese☎ 03-3401-3368; lunch Tue/Fri–Sun 12:00–14:00, dinner two seatings 17:00 / 20:00, closed Wed
Phone (or Ikyu/Tabelog request); no published release day, and recent guests report six-month-plus waits.
Nakazawa-line classic (Umi lineage); ten counter seats, ¥40,000–50,000 plus 10% service. Social posts cite six-month-plus waits; day-before cancellation 50%.
Azabu-Juban, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE, Pocket Concierge or phone; bookings are taken up to two months ahead with no fixed release day.
Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze; 12 seats incl. a private counter. Sliding cancellation fee: 25% at three days, 100% same day.
Today opens Nov 5, 2026
Azabudai Hills, Tokyo · French
Online (TableCheck) every day at 0:00 JST, opening the same date one month ahead. Max four guests.
Seats vanish at the midnight release. Diners recommend logging into TableCheck a few minutes before 0:00 JST with details pre-filled.
Today opens Oct 5, 2026
Online
Online (TableCheck) at 00:00 JST daily for the same date two months ahead; a separate phone allocation opens at 11:00. Must book by three days prior.
Michelin three-star in the Ebisu Garden Place château. Weekend dinners vanish at midnight; the phone allocation at 11:00 is the realistic back-up. Booking closes three days before.
Today opens Nov 5, 2026
Ginza, Tokyo · Teppanyaki
Book on TableCheck or by phone from three months before your date up to two days prior; groups of seven or more must call. Heavy cancellation fees apply.
Popular chef's-table and private rooms go early; the sister Tofuya Ukai in Shiba closed 31 March 2026, pushing more overseas demand here. Course cancellations: 50% the day before, 100% same day.
Today opens Dec 5, 2026
Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo · French
OMAKASE releases each date two months ahead at 0:00 JST (per diner reports). Phone rarely connects; regulars get direct contact after a first visit.
Tables for two and Saturdays are gone within seconds of the drop; tables for four are the easier target. The house phones about a week before to confirm.
Today opens Nov 5, 2026
Ningyocho, Tokyo · Sukiyaki
TableCheck takes 1–8 guests up to two months ahead; further out or larger groups by phone. Cancel free until the day before, 100% same day.
Founded 1895; weekend evenings in the tatami rooms fill first. Free cancellation until the day before, 100% of the food price on the day.
Today opens Nov 5, 2026
Gotenyama, Shinagawa, Tokyo · French
OMAKASE at 09:30 JST daily (or phone 13:30–15:30) releases the same date three months ahead — book on the 3rd for the 3rd three months later.
Three Michelin stars since 2007. Prime Friday and Saturday dinners disappear at 09:30 on the release morning; weekday lunches last longer. Parties of 2–6, no guests under 16.
Today opens Dec 5, 2026
Shintomicho, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE only. On the 5th of each month at 12:00 JST the book opens through the end of the month two months ahead (e.g. 5 June releases all of August).
8-seat counter; single seats go quickest. Phone line (10:00–14:00) is for enquiries only, not bookings. Pocket Concierge runs a cancellation waitlist.
Sat, Sep 5 at 12:00 JST → books November 2026
Online via Ikyu (also AutoReserve). Seats are released about two months ahead with no fixed release day; weekday singles are the realistic target.
Kyubey-trained Ryusuke Yamane, 7 seats, one dinner sitting. Cancellation 50% from 5 days out, 100% from the day before.
Today opens Nov 5, 2026
OMAKASE only — no phone, walk-in or email. Diners report remaining seats are released on OMAKASE the day before service. Photo ID must match the booking name; two guests max.
Day-before release is a 2025 diner report, not an official statement. Since Feb 2025 photo ID matching the booking name is required at the door; max 2 guests per booking, no parties of 3+.
Today opens Sep 6, 2026
Monzen-Nakacho, Tokyo · Tempura
TableCheck only for first visits, opening 30 days ahead with a ¥10,000 deposit per head; regulars may phone. Hotel concierges can book without the deposit.
Tetsuya Saotome's 9-seat counter, course ¥33,000 from April 2026. Arriving 20+ minutes late forfeits the seat and deposit; dress code applies.
Today opens Oct 5, 2026
Yotsugi (Katsushika), Tokyo · Unagi
TableCheck only, no phone. Each date opens exactly 30 days ahead and closes 16:30 the day before (two days for courses).
Tabelog Award 2026 Silver. Web only; the phone is for charters (31+ days ahead). Last seatings 12:30 lunch / 18:30 dinner; closed Tue–Wed.
Today opens Oct 5, 2026
Minami-Azabu, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Online
Online (official site form, Ikyu) or phone. Bookings are accepted from one month ahead; with 53 seats most dates are available a few weeks out.
Hiromitsu Nozaki's house: 53 seats incl. two private rooms, so far easier than a counter. Omakase ¥22,000 + 10% from Aug 2026; cancellation 50%/70%/100% over the last two days.
Today opens Oct 5, 2026
TableCheck online or phone (13:00–15:30). Bookings open exactly one month before the visit date; prime weekend slots go immediately, weekday and early seats last days longer.
Official page: 'accepted from one month before your visit'. Older reports cite the 1st at 13:00 for the following month — the rolling one-month rule is current. Weekend 19:00–21:00 goes first.
Today opens Oct 5, 2026
Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo · Chinese
TableCheck (phone for enquiries). On the 10th of each month the month after next opens; each date then closes seven days ahead.
Sichuan counter by chef Kinya Komoda; every seat is reservation-only. Bookings close seven days before the date. The house complains of no-shows — cancel early.
Thu, Sep 10 → books November 2026
Ikyu online (or phone). On the 20th of each month the house releases dates up to two months ahead; omakase only, nine seats.
Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze; nine counter seats, omakase only (about ¥50,000 dinner). Same-day cancellation is charged 100%.
Sun, Sep 20 → books November 2026
Asagaya, Tokyo · Yakiniku
Online
Official online booking only. Priority seats for the month after next open on the 25th at 12:00 JST (¥390/seat); regular seats for next month open on the 11th at 12:00.
All bookings are online since 2019 (no phone). Honten takes 2–6 guests; slots for the month after next are gone within minutes of the 25th 12:00 drop. 100% cancellation fee from the moment of confirmation.
Fri, Sep 25 at 12:00 JST → books November 2026
Online
Book online (OpenTable via the official site, or Ikyu); the Ikyu listing opens the following month on the 1st. Phone works too, 17:00–21:30.
33 seats, one Michelin star for years; Friday and Saturday counters go within days of each monthly drop. 10% service charge.
Thu, Oct 1 → books November 2026
Online (TableCheck, Ikyu, Tabelog). On the 1st of each month the book opens for dates two months ahead; instant confirmation when a slot is open. Cards only.
Also on Ikyu and Tabelog; Friday/Saturday dinners go within hours of the 1st, midweek lasts longer. Cashless; lunch currently suspended.
Thu, Oct 1 → books December 2026
Kagurazaka, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE or Ikyu. On the 1st of each month the book opens for dates through the end of the following month. Eight seats; Saturday lunch is easiest.
Tabelog Award Silver 2026. Book opens on the 1st for dates through the end of the following month; also on Ikyu.
Thu, Oct 1 → books November 2026
TableCheck only. On the 1st of each month the house opens dates up to two months ahead; the ¥6,600 fifth-generation course and the master's irregular omakase share the calendar.
Founded 1893; eight seats. Cancellation is 100% from seven days out. The master's own course runs irregularly, so watch the calendar.
Thu, Oct 1 → books December 2026
Kagurazaka, Tokyo · Kaiseki
On the 1st of each month the house releases dates up to three months ahead (Ikyu, OMAKASE or phone). Clock time not published.
Counter seats go on release day. Cancellation: 50% from midnight the day before, 100% from 18:00 the day before.
Thu, Oct 1 → books January 2027
Shiba-Daimon, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Lunch: TableCheck releases next month on the 1st, OMAKASE on the 15th. Dinner is booked by regulars up to a year ahead.
Two lunch drops a month (1st TableCheck, 15th OMAKASE); freed seats are reposted. Saturday breakfast course also on TableCheck.
Thu, Oct 1 → books November 2026
Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo · Innovative
Online
Online reservation system opens at 10:00 JST on the first business day of each month, releasing the entire following month.
The whole following month is released at once; weekend dinners go within the hour. Cancellation: 50% from five days out, 100% from two days.
Thu, Oct 1 at 10:00 JST → books November 2026
Minami-Azabu, Tokyo · Chinese
Online
Online (official web form) or the dedicated line. On the 1st of each month the house releases every date through the end of the month two months ahead.
Three Michelin stars; 14 counter seats plus three private rooms. The whole two-month block is gone within the first day, so the vacancy-alert e-mail is the realistic route.
Thu, Oct 1 → books December 2026
Shirokane-Takanawa, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE only. Seats drop on the 1st of each month at 13:00 JST and vanish within minutes; DMs and phone calls are not accepted.
Tabelog Award 2026 Gold. Eight counter seats, two seatings; blogs advise a fast PC connection at 13:00 sharp because the drop sells out in minutes.
Thu, Oct 1 at 13:00 JST → books October 2026
Omotesando, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE only. On the 1st of each month at 12:00 JST the book opens through the end of the following month; the phone is for enquiries, not bookings.
Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze. Chef spent about ten years at Sukiyabashi Jiro. 11 seats incl. private rooms; day-before cancellation 50%, same-day 100%.
Thu, Oct 1 at 12:00 JST → books November 2026
Shirokanedai, Tokyo · Sushi
Online
Online via AutoReserve. On the 1st of each month at 16:00 JST the book opens through the end of the following month.
Michelin one star; Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2025. Older reports describe 300–500 redials on release day; now the online drop empties just as fast.
Thu, Oct 1 at 16:00 JST → books November 2026
Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE opens on the 1st of each month for the following month; phone 12:00–16:00. Bookings close 18 days before the date.
Two Michelin stars, eight seats. Freed seats resurface on Ikyu and Pocket Concierge. Cancellation 10/50/100% at 14/7/3 days.
Thu, Oct 1 → books November 2026
Shin-Itabashi, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE only. The following month's seats open on the 1st at 15:00 JST and are gone within minutes.
Seven seats, single ¥16,500 course of about 30 items — one of Tokyo's best-value hard-to-book counters; the monthly drop fills almost instantly.
Thu, Oct 1 at 15:00 JST → books November 2026
Azabu-Juban, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE only. The next month's book opens on the 1st at 12:00 JST (e.g. 1 Sep 2026 12:00 for the following window). No phone bookings.
Opened November 2023 by Watai Kogo (ex-Sushisho, Sushi Arai). Six to eight counter seats, about ¥50,000–60,000; Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2025.
Thu, Oct 1 at 12:00 JST → books November 2026
Higashi-Kitazawa, Tokyo · Sushi
Pocket Concierge only. Slots are released on the 1st of each month, but most seats go to regulars — new-guest availability is rare.
Tabelog Award 2026 Silver (Bronze 2025). Chef trained at Sushi Namba and Sushi Shunsuke; 8 counter + 4 private seats in a residential basement.
Thu, Oct 1 → books October 2026
Yoyogi-Koen (Okushibuya), Tokyo · Sushi
Online
Online (Tabelog/Toreta) on the 1st of each month for dates through the end of two months ahead; phone can reach further out. Release time varies.
Ten seats, two seatings, about ¥30,000–40,000. Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2021/22/25; blogs report half-year waits and 300–700 redials by phone.
Thu, Oct 1 → books December 2026
Shinsen (Okushibuya), Tokyo · Sushi
Online
Online 24h (Tabelog/Ikyu/Hitosara); no fixed release day. The named booker must attend — proxy visits are treated as cancellations.
Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2025; sushi-and-wine pairing counter. 8 main + 4 side seats + one private room; ¥30,000–40,000. Booker must attend in person; 100% fee inside three days.
No release day — book any time
Kioicho (Akasaka), Tokyo · Chinese
Ikyu or Gurunavi with no fixed release; phone for private rooms of five or more. Book a week or two ahead.
Chef Kotaro Kobayashi's Michelin-starred Chinese, 31 seats, no pre-school children. 50% charge from the day before, 100% same day.
No release day — book any time
Online via Ikyu (also Hitosara) or phone. No fixed release — a few weeks ahead; note the house closes on the 1st of every month.
Seven-seat hinoki counter opened 2020, omakase from ¥23,000 + tax. 100% cancellation charge from 4 days out.
No release day — book any time
Akasaka, Tokyo · Yakiniku
Introduction only
Regulars and their guests only — no phone or online bookings. The only outside route is a rare same-day cancellation posted on the restaurant's Instagram Stories.
Phone bookings ended years ago; regulars wait a year or more and rebook in person. Rare same-day cancellations are posted on Instagram Stories — DM immediately.
Introduction only
Nishi-Shinbashi, Tokyo · Steak
Reserve on TableCheck or by phone; no fixed release day, but weekend dinners go weeks ahead. Card hold at booking, 50%/100% cancellation at 48/24 hours, smart dress.
Card pre-authorisation required; cancellation 50% at 48 hours, 100% at 24 hours (¥55,000 per head). 12% service charge and a dress code. Kobe honten is the original.
No release day — book any time
Kioicho (Akasaka-Mitsuke), Tokyo · Innovative
Introduction only
Introduction only. The official site gives no booking channel and the phone refuses reservations; seats pass through regulars.
Tabelog Award Gold/Silver house at ¥60,000–100,000. The listed number explicitly does not take bookings; no public booking channel is published.
Introduction only
Shimura-Sakaue (Itabashi), Tokyo · Ramen
No reservations
No reservations. Write your name in the sign-in book from 10:30 (lunch) or 17:30 (dinner) and return at the slot given; closed Sunday and Monday.
Tokyo's benchmark niboshi ramen: an 8-seat counter with a sign-in (kicho) system rather than a queue on busy days. No reservations, no photos of staff or other guests.
No reservations
No reservations
No reservations — queue at the door and buy a ticket. Now in Komae (moved from Sengawa in 2024); closed Sundays and 1st/3rd Mondays.
TRY award and Tabelog Hyakumeiten regular; 19 seats after the 2024 move, queue and buy a ticket at the touchscreen machine. No reservations.
No reservations
Higashi-Azabu, Tokyo · French
TableCheck only (no phone). No monthly release; watch for cancelled tables reappearing about a week out.
Two Michelin stars plus Green Star. The 120-hour cancellation line means freed tables reappear six to seven days out — watch TableCheck then.
No release day — book any time
No reservations
No reservations for regular seats (Tabelog: 予約不可) — queue at the Asakusa honten from before 11:00; turnover is quick. Group rooms upstairs are arranged separately.
Founded 1887, 200 seats across the main and annex buildings; a queue forms before 11:00 and arriving 15 minutes early still means about 30 minutes.
No reservations
Toyosu Market, Tokyo · Sushi
TableCheck takes 1–2 person bookings for weekday 07:00–10:00 and Saturday 08:00–09:30 slots (fee applies); all other seats are walk-in queue from 06:00.
Reservations are for 1–2 guests only, with a non-refundable ¥400 per person booking fee (¥10,000 on Saturdays) and a one-hour seating limit. Everyone else queues from 06:00; closed Wednesdays and Sundays.
No release day — book any time
Kokuryo, Chofu, Tokyo · Italian
Online
Online (Ikyu, Hitosara, Tabelog) for dinner, phone for weekend lunch. No release day — book one to two months ahead for weekends.
Tabelog Award Bronze 2026, 15–16 seats in a Chofu suburb; weekend dinners fill a month or two ahead with no fixed release.
No release day — book any time
No reservations
No reservations. Come in person and write your name in the sign-in book; lunch only (11:30 until the soba is gone), closed Monday and Tuesday.
Fifteen years in the Michelin guide, Tabelog Soba EAST 100. Write your name in the guest book on arrival; tables are shared at peak.
No reservations
Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo · Innovative
Introduction only
Introduction only. One party a day, address and phone unpublished — there is no public reservation channel; only the cakes can be bought via OMAKASE.
Natsuko Shoji's one-table restaurant, Tabelog Award Silver 2022/2024–2026. Address unpublished; no public booking channel at all.
Introduction only
No reservations
No reservations (official). Queue at the 15-seat Shinjuku counter; expect about 30 minutes, longer at lunch, and note the shop closes when the soup sells out.
15 counter seats; a line forms 20 minutes before opening and 30-minute waits are normal all day. Buy a ticket from the machine while queuing.
No reservations
Online
Online via TableCheck or Pocket Concierge (also Ikyu, Gurunavi) or phone. No fixed release — one to three weeks ahead usually works.
Quiet Sony-dori counter with a Hanare annex; one of the easier Ginza Edomae houses for overseas guests because of TableCheck.
No release day — book any time
No reservations
Walk-in only; the 18-seat Ginza counter takes no reservations. Queues are short outside 12:00–13:30 and the line moves quickly.
18 counter seats, Bib Gourmand; the queue is now mostly overseas visitors and moves fast — typically 10–30 minutes outside the lunch peak.
No reservations
Online
Online (TableCheck or Ikyu) for advance dates, phone for same-day or next-day. No fixed release — book several weeks ahead in crab season.
Live hairy and king crab in three sunken-kotatsu private rooms; December–February weekends go a month or more out.
No release day — book any time
Online
Online (Tabelog, Ikyu, AutoReserve) or phone, no fixed release. Book one to two weeks ahead; lunch is the easy way in.
Mikimoto-building grande maison since 1974; Tabelog Bronze 2026, Michelin Selected 2026. 48 seats, so weekday tables are realistic a week or two out.
No release day — book any time
Online
Online via Ikyu (or phone); no fixed release day — a week or two ahead is usually fine.
Second-generation Ginza institution (Toshikatsu Aoki), long Michelin-listed; ¥20,000–30,000 dinner. Cancellation notice: one business day (1–3 guests). Note the new address — the old Takahashi Building page is archived.
No release day — book any time
Online
Online (official site / Tabelog) for visits from 15:00, or by phone; lunch tendon is walk-in with a queue. Easy dinner booking, closed Sundays.
Founded 1885; the ¥2,000-class tendon draws a lunch queue, while the upstairs counter and rooms book easily for dinner.
No release day — book any time
Bookable on Ikyu / Gurunavi or by phone with normal lead time; no release calendar. Twenty seats, guests 13 and over, smart casual.
Michelin one star every year 2008–2025, 20 seats on Namiki-dori. Easy to reach online; lunch is the value entry. 50% cancellation from the day before.
No release day — book any time
Shibuya, Tokyo · Gyukatsu
No reservations
Walk-in only — no reservations at the Shibuya shops. Join the line (often one to two hours at peak) or try an off-peak branch; the shop's own site lists all locations.
19 seats in a basement; peak-hour queues of one to two hours are common. The chain has many Tokyo branches with similar waits; a few regional branches use EPARK same-day waitlists.
No reservations
Online
Bookable any time through English-language online reservation pages, or by phone. No release day; weeknights often open a few days ahead, weekends earlier.
Weeknights usually bookable a few days out; seatings are strict. Solo diners welcome.
No release day — book any time
Minami-Azabu (Hiroo), Tokyo · Innovative
Ikyu or Hitosara, no fixed release. Eight seats at ¥50,000; cancellation is 100% from seven days before.
Eight seats (one private room), ¥50,000 plus 10% service, closed Tue–Wed. Once booked out through 2021; today Ikyu and Hitosara show seats but 100% charge applies from seven days out.
No release day — book any time
Higashi-Azabu, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE only, released quarterly: one drop opens about three to six months of dates at once and sells out within minutes. Bookings are non-transferable.
Two seatings (≈17:00 / 20:30), eight seats each; the drop sells out within minutes. Booker must attend — transfers are a rule violation.
Quarterly drop
Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Reservation-only via TableCheck (full prepayment) or phone; no release day, but the five-seat counter books out weeks ahead. Cancellation fees start 14 days out.
Only 5 counter seats (18+) plus private rooms; full prepayment on TableCheck, cancellation 10% from 14 days, 50% from 6 days, 100% from 3 days. English-speaking chef, so overseas demand is heavy.
No release day — book any time
Higashi-Ginza, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Introduction only
Introduction only. The number and exact address are unpublished; you need to be brought by a regular. No platform, no phone line for new guests.
Masahiro Ueda (ex-head chef of Kyomi), about 10 seats of counter and private room, omakase from ¥20,000. No public booking channel exists.
Introduction only
Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo · Ramen
Bookable on TableCheck or OMAKASE (or by phone), no fixed release — reserve a week or two ahead to skip the walk-in queue.
The first ramen shop ever to hold a Michelin star, relocated from Sugamo in 2019. Reserving removes the queue; weekend slots go a week or two out.
No release day — book any time
OMAKASE only (no phone). On the first Thursday of every even month at 12:00 JST the next two months open and sell out in minutes.
Tabelog Award 2026 Silver, 12–15 seats, cash only. The OMAKASE page fills within minutes of each drop; register and add a card beforehand. Phone bookings are no longer taken.
Quarterly drop
Toranomon, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Introduction only
No public booking door. Seats come through a hotel concierge or a personal introduction; a phone call in Japanese without a connection rarely succeeds.
Sixteen seats, Tuesday–Saturday. No public booking channel; hotel concierges and introductions are the realistic route.
Introduction only
Kanda-Sudacho, Tokyo · Soba
No reservations
No reservations — walk in and share a table. Opens 11:00 (closed Sundays); the pre-opening queue usually moves in 20–30 minutes. Cash only.
Founded 1884, 60 seats, cash only, no reservations (phone orders are for the tamagoyaki only). A queue forms before opening but turns quickly.
No reservations
Introduction only
Referral only, with the introducer present. No public reservation channel — the Tabelog page itself is marked reservation-only and by referral only.
Tabelog Award Silver 2026 steak house at ¥100,000-plus a head. No public channel; the only route is a regular who brings you.
Introduction only
No reservations
Walk-in only, no reservations. Buy a ticket from the machine, join the queue at the 15-seat Kanda counter, and give your spice and numbing levels when called.
15 counter seats with a near-constant line; buy a ticket, queue, and staff take your spice level before seating.
No reservations
Shirokanedai, Tokyo · Yakiniku
Introduction only
Regulars only. New bookings are not accepted by phone; the eight nightly tables are rebooked in person by existing guests, so you need a regular to bring you.
Tokyo's most talked-about no-reservation yakiniku: eight parties a night, months-long rebooking chains. Effectively regulars-only.
Introduction only
Roppongi, Tokyo · Chinese
Ikyu (or phone) with no fixed release; two seatings a night. Note the May 2026 move to a new Roppongi address.
12-seat counter Chinese, Tabelog Bronze 2025, ¥30,000–40,000. 50% charge two days out, 100% from the day before; no strong perfume.
No release day — book any time
Marunouchi, Tokyo · Sushi
Online
Book online (link on the official site) — omakase ¥8,800 only, dinner and lunch. Walk-ins are taken at weekday lunch if you queue; same-day cancellations are charged in full.
24 seats; reservations are for the ¥8,800 omakase only, and same-day cancellation or headcount changes cost ¥8,800 per person. Weekday lunch walk-ins are possible with a wait; weekends fill with bookings.
No release day — book any time
Akihabara, Tokyo · Tonkatsu
No reservations
No reservations at all. Queue for the 11:30 lunch or 17:00 dinner opening; the tokuhire cutlet sells out.
Tabelog Tonkatsu Hyakumeiten every year since 2017, cash only, closed Mon–Tue. Reviews describe two-hour waits at lunch; the 17:00 dinner opening is calmer.
No reservations
Introduction only
Completely introduction-only. There is no public booking and no calendar to watch; regulars rebook roughly a year ahead.
Fully referral-only; regulars report their next booking about a year out. No cards.
Introduction only
Nishi-Ogikubo, Tokyo · Ramen
No reservations
No reservations — queue only. Open 11:00–15:00 and 18:00–21:00 every day; check the house's X account for closures before you go.
Shamo-chicken soba house with Tabelog Award Bronze 2020–21 and Hyakumeiten 2017–2025; 13 seats, no reservations, queue only.
No reservations
Ikyu, Tabelog or phone (10:00–17:00); no fixed release. Counter seats a week or two ahead, private rooms by phone.
Yoshihisa Akiyama's 'super-kappo' over two floors, 51 seats, dinner only, closed Sun and holidays. 50% charge from two days out at 17:00.
No release day — book any time
No reservations
No reservations. Numbered tickets are handed out at the shop from 08:00 for that day's 11:00–15:30 service; come back at your called time.
Michelin-starred tantanmen. Tickets run out by mid-morning on weekends; you are called back by number, so there is no need to stand in line after collecting one.
No reservations
Nihonbashi, Tokyo · Kaisendon
No reservations
No reservations at any Tsujihan branch (official). Queue at the 12-seat Nihonbashi counter; lunch waits run one to two hours, so aim for opening or 17:00. Cash only.
12 counter seats turning every 30 minutes; queues of one to two hours at lunch. Quietest around 11:00 and at 17:00. Cash only.
No reservations
Nihonbashi Kakigaracho, Tokyo · Sushi
Effectively regulars-only. Bookings run through OMAKASE: returning guests are offered seats first; remaining seats and cancellations are released publicly at short notice with no fixed date.
Returning guests are offered seats via OMAKASE a few times a month; leftovers and cancellations go public, often only 1–2 days ahead. Older (2018) reports of a phone waitlist on the 1st at 09:00 are no longer current.
Introduction only
Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Online
Online via TableCheck, OMAKASE or Ikyu (phone also works). No fixed release — book two to four weeks ahead; weekend lunch is for parties of two or more.
Michelin-starred counter; 100% cancellation charge from 2 days before. Dinner ¥20,000–30,000, one-drink minimum.
No release day — book any time
Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo · Sushi
Online
Online via the official site or Hitosara / Hot Pepper, or phone. No release trigger — book two to three weeks ahead.
Michelin two-star sushi with sommelier wine pairing, about ¥30,000. Counter and private rooms; last seating 22:00.
No release day — book any time
Minami-Senju, Tokyo · Unagi
No reservations
No reservations at all — queue only. Arrive 90 minutes or more before the 11:30 or 16:00 opening; orders for grilled eel are taken before the doors open.
Michelin-starred 'eastern yokozuna' of Tokyo eel. To make the first seating you need to be within the first 15 or so in line — people arrive around 09:30 for an 11:30 opening. Cash only.
No reservations
Online
Online via Tabelog, Hitosara or Gurunavi — the house prefers web bookings over phone. No fixed release; a few weeks' lead is usually enough.
Chef Yusuke Namai; Asia's 50 Best regular, 23 seats including a kitchen-view counter. Weekend dinners go a few weeks out but no fixed release day.
No release day — book any time
No reservations
Walk-in for parties of one to three; four or more can phone ahead. Arrive before 11:00 or right at 16:30 to skip the queue.
Founded 1905, birthplace of the katsuretsu; 24–32 seats. Weekday early dinners often seat without a wait; weekend lunch queues.
No reservations
No reservations
No reservations — queue only. Opens 08:30 (closed Sundays and holidays); buy your ticket when six from the door and expect 30–90 minutes.
The original Jiro next to Keio University: 13 counter seats, no reservations, cash only. Saturdays run 90 minutes or more; weekday mid-mornings are 30–40 minutes. Say 'sukuname' if you want less noodle.
No reservations
Bookable on Ikyu / OMAKASE or by phone with normal lead time; no release calendar. Eighteen seats, closed Mondays.
Shanghai-rooted 'Ginza Chinese' counter, 18 seats, ~¥25,000; a fixture of Tabelog's Chinese rankings. Weekends book out weeks ahead; 50% cancellation from the day before.
No release day — book any time
Ikyu, Hitosara or phone with no fixed release; book at least three days ahead (online cut-off). Weekend dinners fill weeks out.
Michelin two-star of Ryota Iizuka, 29 seats, closed Mon. 50% charge from three days out.
No release day — book any time
Tokyo Station, Tokyo · Ramen
No reservations
No reservations; queue in the Tokyo Ramen Street basement. The line moves fast — early morning (07:30–09:30) or mid-afternoon means a short wait.
26 seats and fast turnover (about 1.4 minutes per person in line). Least crowded 07:30–09:30 and around 15:00; the posted 45-minute wait is often shorter in practice.
No reservations
Online
Bookable online through the house's own reservation form, or by phone. No release day — weekday dinners come easily; weekend lunch (30 servings) should be reserved ahead.
Easy to book; weekend/holiday lunch is limited to thirty servings a day, so reserve ahead.
No release day — book any time
Shinjuku-Sanchome, Tokyo · Kappō
No reservations
The famous sardine lunch is walk-in only — queue before 11:30 opening. Dinner kaiseki is reservable by phone or the official online page; closed Sun, Mon and holidays.
30 seats (10 counter); a line forms before 11:30 opening and the iwashi sets sell through the lunch hour. Cards accepted at dinner only.
No reservations
Shinjuku-Gyoen, Tokyo · Ramen
No reservations
No reservations. Numbered tickets are issued at the shop from 09:30 for lunch and 17:30 for dinner, Tuesday–Saturday; sold out when capacity is reached.
Michelin-starred clam-and-sea-bream ramen. Numbered tickets close once the day's capacity is reached; waits of 20–30 minutes after ticketing are typical.
No reservations
Kahama, Adachi, Tokyo · Yakiniku
No reservations
No reservations at all. Queue before opening (16:00 weekdays, 15:00 weekends); waits of one to three hours are normal.
Queue of one to three hours is normal; people line up before opening.
No reservations
Kamiyacho, Tokyo · Innovative
Introduction only
Introduction only. The official site states that guests without an introduction cannot book, and the contact e-mail does not take reservations.
Yosuke Suga's members-style lab; phone number unpublished. Even introduced guests wait months. No agency can place a first-time booking.
Introduction only
No reservations
No reservations. Walk in; weekday 15:00–18:00 avoids the queue, and you may be seated at a shared table.
Founded 1924, basement counter open 11:00–20:00, closed Sun. Shared tables at peak; 15:00–18:00 on weekdays is the no-wait window.
No reservations
Toyosu Market, Tokyo · Sushi
No reservations
No advance reservations. Register in person at the Toyosu shopfront from 05:00 on the day; seating runs 06:00–14:00 and waits of two to four hours are normal.
16 seats (14 counter + one table); 60–70 minutes per seating, so arriving after 05:30 usually means a 2–4 hour wait. Closed Sundays, holidays and market holidays (mostly Wednesdays).
No reservations
Hiroo (Minami-Azabu), Tokyo · Sushi
Regulars only by phone; new guests can only bid for a few auctioned seats on the Shokuoku platform.
Eight seats, ¥20,000–30,000; Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2022/2025. Regulars fill the book; outsiders bid on the auction site.
Introduction only
Takanawadai, Tokyo · Sushi
Bookable on Ikyu or by Instagram DM / SMS to the chef; one seating at 18:00, seven seats. No release calendar — earlier is better.
Seven-seat counter, Tabelog Sushi Tokyo Hyakumeiten 2025; seats sell through Ikyu and AutoReserve as well as the chef's Instagram DM. No release day — book as early as you can.
No release day — book any time
Online
Online via TableCheck on the official site (also Ikyu, Pocket Concierge) or phone. No release trigger — a few weeks' notice is usually enough outside weekends.
Counter plus a private room for up to six (no room charge). Cancellation 50% from 2 days, 100% from the day before.
No release day — book any time
Nishi-Azabu (Roppongi), Tokyo · Sushi
Online
Online via the official website (or AutoReserve/Ikyu); no fixed release day — a few weeks' notice is usually enough.
Sushisho alumnus known for aged fish and a 30-plus-item omakase (¥30,000–40,000). Twenty seats incl. an eight-seat private room; Tabelog Award Bronze 2017–20, Hyakumeiten 2025.
No release day — book any time
Online via TableCheck, Ikyu or Tabelog (phone also accepted). No release day; two to three months are open at any time.
Eleven seats, Mon–Sat from 17:00. Sells out weeks ahead rather than minutes; same-day cancellation ¥22,000, no under-10s.
No release day — book any time
Introduction only
Members-only; non-members can only catch the few seats the house releases on Ikyu / OMAKASE. Six seats, 18:00 seating, 80% cancellation fee from a week out.
Six-seat basement counter, one seating from 18:00, closed Sun/hol. Described by the house itself as 会員制 (members-only) with 'some' reservations on Ikyu; cancellation is 80% from seven days out.
Introduction only
Introduction only
Introduction only. No phone, online or hotel bookings for the public; seats belong to regulars and their guests. Treat any 'guaranteed Saito seat' offer with suspicion.
Delisted by Michelin in 2020 because the public cannot book; a few premium-card concierges hold occasional access.
Introduction only
Online
Online via the official website; no fixed release day and, for now, easier to book than most Ginza counters of its rank.
Opened August 2024 and already Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze / Hyakumeiten 2025. Ten seats, ¥50,000–60,000 dinner; reviewers call it comparatively bookable.
No release day — book any time
Ginza-Itchome, Tokyo · Sushi
Online
Online via the official Toreta page (or Hitosara/AutoReserve), phone for same-day; no fixed release — book a few weeks ahead.
Eight-seat counter, ¥30,000–40,000; Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2025 and Award Bronze 2020–22. Same-day cancellation 100%; the house says to phone if the calendar shows full.
No release day — book any time
Shinjuku (NEWoMan), Tokyo · Sushi
Online
Online booking from the official site (res-reserve for Shinjuku, TableCheck for Roppongi and others) or phone; no release day, book two to three weeks ahead for weekends.
Affordable omakase in NEWoMan Shinjuku, heavily reviewed by overseas visitors; weekend dinners disappear a couple of weeks ahead, weekday lunch is easier.
No release day — book any time
OMAKASE only, but the house keeps releasing near-term dates — seats a few days ahead are often available, especially 19:30–20:00.
Tabelog Sushi Hyakumeiten 2025; eight counter seats plus a private room. Lunch nigiri ¥17,600–19,800, omakase ¥28,600–33,000. Unusually, seats a few days out are often open.
No release day — book any time
Online 24h via TableCheck (also Tabelog/Ikyu); no fixed release — book a week or more ahead. Card required, 100% fee within 72 hours.
Tabelog Award 2025 Bronze; 14 seats incl. private counters. Omakase ¥33,000 (pairing ¥44,000); card held at booking, 100% fee inside 72 hours; 10% service from April 2026.
No release day — book any time
Arakicho (Yotsuya-Sanchome), Tokyo · Kappō
Bookable on Ikyu or by phone with normal lead time; no release calendar. Nineteen seats, dinner only, closed Sunday–Monday.
Michelin one star since 2010 in Arakicho's back lanes, 19 seats. Weekend nights go a month or more out; 50% cancellation fee from the day before.
No release day — book any time
Azabu-Juban, Tokyo · Tempura
Introduction only
No new reservations. Tabelog and the house state bookings are restricted to existing guests, who rebook through the private online system.
Tabelog Award Gold 2026 tempura, 10 seats, two seatings 17:30 / 20:30. The house has closed its book to new guests; existing guests rebook online.
Introduction only
Azabu-Juban, Tokyo · Tempura
Ikyu, Gurunavi or phone; no fixed release. Nine seats, so book two to four weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday.
Michelin one-star nine-seat counter; Ikyu takes request bookings, Gurunavi confirms seats when booked 30+ days ahead. Same-day cancellation 100%.
No release day — book any time
Online
Online via Hitosara or Gurunavi, or phone. No release trigger — two to three weeks ahead is normally enough on weekdays.
Counter omakase from about ¥25,000–27,500 plus service. Small counter in a Hiroo back street; weekends fill first.
No release day — book any time
Introduction only
The Akasaka flagship is members-only — no public reservations, you must come as a member's guest. Non-members can book the group's public venues (ULTRA, WM, Cutlet Sandwich) on TableCheck.
Phone number and address are not published; non-members must be brought by a member. Membership sold out at launch via crowdfunding.
Introduction only
No reservations
No reservations — queue only at the 10-seat counter (11:00–15:00, 17:00–20:00). Arrive before opening; orders are taken while you wait.
10-seat counter, no reservations. Queue forms before opening; orders are taken in the line. Weekday waits of 60–90 minutes are common.
No reservations
No reservations
Walk-in only for pairs and solo diners — join the queue, which moves fast. Private rooms for four or more can be booked on the official site.
1939 counter classic, 70 seats, open 16:00–21:00 (closed Tue and 3rd Mon). The queue runs up the stairs; arrive before 16:00 or after 20:00.
No reservations
Seat reservations via TableCheck; otherwise take a numbered ticket from the door machine from 10:00 (no smartphone waitlist). Arrive before 11:00 opening to avoid a one-to-two-hour wait.
82 seats but queues of one to two hours at weekend lunch. Remote/smartphone waitlisting is currently off; arrive 30 minutes before opening or take a ticket at 10:00.
No release day — book any time
Online
Bookable any time online (Ikyu or the Ushigoro site); no release day. Private rooms only, so weekends need two to four weeks' lead.
58 seats in 11 private rooms — the group's top tier, so weekend rooms go two to four weeks ahead; deposits apply on some plans.
No release day — book any time
Gaienmae, Tokyo · Yakitori
Online
Online: TableCheck for overseas guests, Tabelog or Ikyu for domestic. No fixed release — book a few weeks ahead.
Bib Gourmand counter of 13 seats. Official site sends overseas guests to TableCheck, domestic guests to Tabelog; same-day cancellations are charged in full.
No release day — book any time
Pocket Concierge only; no phone line is published and no release cadence is announced — seats appear on the platform calendar.
Mitsuhiro Araki's Tokyo return (opened April 2024); Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze, Sushi Hyakumeiten 2025. Nine counter seats plus a private room, ¥60,000–80,000, single 18:00 seating.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Reservations on TableCheck (replacing the old morning sign-up board). No published release day — check X @ginza_hachigou for the current system.
Seven consecutive Bib Gourmands (2026 guide). Slots on TableCheck vanish quickly; check the X account for the current system before travelling.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Minami-Azabu (Shirokane-Takanawa), Tokyo · Sushi
Pocket Concierge only; the house publishes no phone number and no release day.
Tabelog Award Bronze every year 2019–2026; Michelin one star. Araki-trained chef; eight seats, ¥44,000 course, 18:00 start; 30 minutes late counts as a no-show.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Kagurazaka, Tokyo · Yakitori
Reservation-only via OMAKASE (an Ikyu listing also exists). No published release day; the book is reported to run about a year ahead.
Ten seats, two seatings (17:30 / 20:45); the book runs roughly a year out. Also listed on Ikyu (100% fee from 7 days). No published release day.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Kagurazaka, Tokyo · Kaiseki
Ikyu, OMAKASE or phone; no published release day. Plan three to six months ahead — Saturday lunch and the private room open up more often.
Counter effectively full at all times; plan three to six months out. The private room has a wider window and Saturday lunch is the most available.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
OMAKASE platform; the house publishes no release day. Eight seats, nigiri only, no photos — we watch the platform for openings.
Eight-seat counter, nigiri-only omakase with two seatings (17:30 / 20:30), no photography. Booking is by OMAKASE; regulars of the Inomata era hold much of the book.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Minami-Aoyama (Omotesando), Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE app only (official site links to it). Release day and time are shown only on the OMAKASE page and were not verifiable — check the listing before release.
10-seat V-shaped hinoki counter in a cave-like B2 room, two sittings (17:30 / 20:30), course from about ¥40,000; closed Sundays.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo · Kaiseki
OMAKASE only; the phone is for enquiries. No release day is published — seats appear on the OMAKASE page and we watch it for you.
Michelin three-star (Tokyo 2026) and Tabelog Silver; 8-seat main counter plus rooms. Course ¥49,500 from April 2026; 50% charge from seven days out, 100% from two.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
OMAKASE only — the house takes no phone enquiries. Six seats a night; watch the OMAKASE page, as the release day is not published.
Six seats, one seating, four nights a week; Tabelog Award Gold 2019–2025 and Silver 2026. Tabelog notice: reservations via OMAKASE only, no phone enquiries. Moved from Nishi-Azabu/Hiroo to Ebisu.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Shirokane, Tokyo · Chinese
Online
Online request booking (Tabelog, Ikyu, Hitosara); the phone no longer takes reservations. The house publishes no release day — we check availability for you.
20-seat regional-Chinese hideout, Tabelog Award Bronze and Chinese TOKYO 100 (2026). Requests are answered by the house; weekends fill a month or more out.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Marunouchi, Tokyo · French
Online: lunch via TableCheck, dinner via OMAKASE (+81-3-5222-5810 for inquiries). A monthly release is reported but its day and time are not published; seats reportedly fill the day they open.
TableCheck handles lunch; dinner is routed to OMAKASE; groups of 5+ and private rooms by email. Reports say seats fill on the monthly opening day, but the day/time is not published. 100% fee from 7 days out.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Lunch course on OMAKASE; dinner by phone or Ikyu. No release schedule is published.
Bib Gourmand every year since 2020. Strict no-perfume policy. Dinner seats also appear on Ikyu.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Ichigaya, Tokyo · Yakiniku
TableCheck only — the house refuses phone bookings. Release timing is not published; seats appear on the calendar and go instantly, so set availability alerts.
Tabelog Award Gold-tier yakiniku counter. Official site: no phone reservations at all. Counter max 4 guests, no under-16s, 100% charge from the day before.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Online
Online through Tabelog (phone seldom answered). No published release day; book months ahead or use a concierge.
Tabelog Award Bronze 2026. Seats fill months out; cancellation 100% from five days before. Located in Moto-Akasaka, not Ginza.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
OMAKASE (phone also used historically). In Sapporo the book opened on the 1st at 13:00 for two months ahead; since the 2024 move to Ginza this has not been reconfirmed.
Moved from Sapporo to Ginza 5-chome (Nisso 26 Bldg 3F) in 2024. Sapporo-era rule: 1st of the month at 13:00, two months ahead, via OMAKASE and phone — not reconfirmed for the Ginza counter.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
OMAKASE only — the house explicitly takes no phone bookings. No published release day; openings appear irregularly, so watching the listing is the only route.
Eight counter seats; regulars rebook on leaving, so public openings on OMAKASE appear sporadically rather than on a schedule. Phone (03-6273-3334) is for inquiries only.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE only (phone suspended). Releases are irregular and vanish instantly; the main counter is mostly regulars or the Shoku-Oku auction.
Tabelog Award Silver 2026. OMAKASE drops are sporadic and go instantly; most are sub-counter seats. Ikyu lists a sub-counter lunch plan.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Azabudai Hills (Kamiyacho), Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE only. This is Saito's directly run Azabudai Hills branch; seats appear on omakase.in with no published release day — we watch the calendar.
The only directly run branch of Sushi Saito, inside Azabudai Hills Market (B1). Lunch ¥15,000 / dinner ¥30,000 plus tax; 10–12 seats. Not the Roppongi counter.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Online via Ikyu (also AutoReserve). No published release day — the book is reported full six to twelve months out, so cancellation alerts are the practical route.
Diners report the book full six months to a year out; cancellations surface on Ikyu. 100% charge from the day before.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Moto-Azabu (Azabu-Juban), Tokyo · Sushi
OMAKASE lottery for first-timers; regulars phone 12:00–15:00. No published release day.
Tabelog Award 2026 Silver. Sushi Saito alumnus Shunji Hashiba; ten seats, ¥45,000–50,000 plus 10% service; closed Wed/Sun.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Tsukiji (from Nakameguro), Tokyo · Sushi
Newcomers: OMAKASE, historically at 10:00 JST on the 1st (about ten seats a month). Moved to Tsukiji in Aug 2026 — rule under re-confirmation.
Tabelog Award Silver 2026. Historically about ten newcomer seats a month sold on OMAKASE at 10:00 on the 1st and gone instantly; regulars rebook in-house.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Ikyu online (phone also). Reopened 2026; no current release rule published — the pre-closure phone rule is stale.
Post-reopening seats appear on Ikyu; cancellation 50% from three days, 100% from the day before.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Arakicho (Yotsuya), Tokyo · Sushi
Online request via Ikyu, or phone (+81-3-5315-4238). No published release day; the house confirms requests individually, so ask early and be flexible.
11 seats including one private room; omakase ¥25,000. Strict 100% cancellation charge from 7 days out.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
TableCheck (also Ikyu, Tabelog). The following month is taken roughly a month ahead; about a month's lead usually secures a seat.
Two seatings (17:30 / 20:00), weekend lunch at 12:00. Japanese-only service, no under-12s, 100% cancellation inside 72 hours. Reviewers booked about a month out.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Aoyama-Itchome, Tokyo · Sushi
No phone bookings. Dates are opened irregularly on the Shokuoku platform (occasionally Ikyu/Tabelog); set a vacancy alert rather than waiting for a fixed day.
Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze; Sushisho alumnus (18 years under Nakazawa). Eight seats, ¥30,000–40,000; closed Tue/Wed. Register for vacancy alerts.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Minami-Asagaya, Tokyo · Tonkatsu
OMAKASE only, no phone. Seats drop about twice a month in half-month blocks on dates announced on X and by OMAKASE alert — no fixed release day.
Tabelog Award Bronze 2026 and Japan's top-rated tonkatsu; 18 seats. Each drop sells out within minutes, so favourite the shop on OMAKASE for the alert e-mail.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Online
Online via the Toreta link on Instagram @torikado_yoyaku; the following month is released around month-end. Exact day and time are not published.
The old '15th at 14:00 by phone' rule is stale (2021). A 2025 diner waited about three months for a seat at the 12-seat counter.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Azabudai Hills, Tokyo · Yakitori
Online
Online form (phone for an SMS link). Dinner is fully reserved with two seatings; the house publishes no release day, so we monitor availability for you.
Two dinner seatings (17:00 / 19:45), parties of 1–4, 100% same-day cancellation fee. Release timing not published — we check the form for you.
Rule not published — we confirm per date
Shinozaki, Edogawa, Tokyo · Yakiniku
TableCheck (or phone) about a month ahead. The old 1st-of-month 13:00 phone release is no longer published — we confirm the current drop timing when we call.
The original of the Jumbo group (Hanare in Hongo is listed separately). Weekend 19:00–21:00 tables go first; late slots after 22:00 sometimes free up same day.
Rule not published — we confirm per date