3 japanese rooms worth the trip across Japan, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Japan.
Bird Land Ginza ★ 4.7 · Tokyo
ginza · Tsukamoto Sozan Bldg B1F, 4-2-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
Toshihiro Wada's Bird Land in Ginza grills Ibaraki shamo over binchotan in the basement that invented posh yakitori. One star through 2023, Michelin-selected since.
Tip: Closed Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. Reservation by phone only, six weeks out.
Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Honten ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
jingumae · 4-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Tonkatsu Maisen's 1965 Aoyama main shop occupies a former public bathhouse off Omotesando. The kurobuta cutlets are the room's signature, sliceable with chopsticks.
Tip: Open 11:00 to 22:45 daily. Long lunch lines; arrive before 12:00 or after 14:00 for a counter seat.
Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Honten ★ 4.4 · Tokyo
jingumae · 4-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Tonkatsu Maisen's 1965 Aoyama main shop occupies a former public bathhouse off Omotesando. The kurobuta cutlets are the room's signature, sliceable with chopsticks.
Tip: Open daily 11:00 to 22:45. Long lunch lines from 12:00; counter seating turns faster than tables.