7 restaurants worth the trip across Japan, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Japan guides.
Den ★ 4.9 · Tokyo
jingumae · 2-3-18 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Zaiyu Hasegawa's Den in Tokyo is the modern kaiseki room that put playful home cooking on Asia's 50 Best, ranked No. 1 in 2022 and No. 22 in 2025.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Reservations are taken by phone only and fill the day the line opens.
Narisawa ★ 4.8 · Tokyo
minami-aoyama · 2-6-15 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062
Yoshihiro Narisawa's Aoyama room runs what he calls innovative satoyama cuisine. Two Michelin stars plus a Green Star, Japanese foraging through European technique.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Sundays. Lunch is the easier seating; reserve six weeks ahead through TableAll.
Florilege ★ 4.8 · Tokyo
toranomon · 5-10-7 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001
Hiroyasu Kawate's Florilege moved to Azabudai Hills in 2023 with a communal counter and a vegetable-forward French tasting menu. Two Michelin stars in Tokyo.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesday lunch. Online booking opens exactly one month ahead at 10:00 JST.
Sazenka ★ 4.8 · Tokyo
minami-azabu · 4-7-5 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047
Tomoya Kawada's Sazenka in Minami-Azabu was Japan's first three-star Chinese restaurant, awarded in 2020. The cuisine blends Chinese technique with kaiseki rhythm.
Tip: Closed Sundays and irregular Mondays. Booking via byFood opens 60 days ahead for international guests.
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.
Kanda Yabu Soba ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
kanda · 2-10 Kanda-awaji-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0063
Kanda Yabu Soba in Tokyo has served Edo-style buckwheat noodles since 1880. The current building reopened in 2014 after a fire, sing-song order calls intact.
Tip: Closed Wednesdays. Cash and major cards. Lunch queues from 12:00; weekday afternoons are calmer.
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.