Chef Hideki Ishikawa¥38,500Book 60 days via Pocket Concierge ahead
Kagurazaka Ishikawa in Tokyo is Hideki Ishikawa's three-Michelin-star kaiseki room hidden up an old Kagurazaka alley. Counter-only, ten seats, seasonal menus.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Lunch reservations are slightly easier; book via Pocket Concierge two months ahead.
Chef Lionel Beccat¥34,100Book 2 months via Tableall ahead
Esquisse in Tokyo's Chanel Ginza tower is Lionel Beccat's two-Michelin-star modern French tasting room. Two stars since 2014 with views across Ginza rooftops.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Lunch is the easier seating and half the dinner spend; reserve through Tableall.
Chef Toru Okuda¥38,500Book 60 days via Pocket Concierge ahead
Ginza Koju in Tokyo's Ginza is Toru Okuda's three-Michelin-star kaiseki room, a 12-seat counter where each dish is plated to your placemat in turn.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Reservation by phone or Pocket Concierge; the lunch course is the value play at half the dinner spend.
Chef Fumio Kondo¥16,500Book 1 month via Tableall ahead
Tempura Kondo in Tokyo's Ginza is Fumio Kondo's two-Michelin-star tempura counter, the room that made vegetable tempura the canonical Tokyo opening course.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Monday lunch. Sweet potato is the closing dish; reserve via Tableall a month ahead.
Chef Hiroyuki Arai¥38,500Book Concierge-only ahead
Sushi Arai in Tokyo's Ginza is Hiroyuki Arai's eight-seat edomae sushi counter, two Michelin stars and the Tabelog Sushi 100 fixture for steady-handed nigiri.
Tip: Bookings via top-tier hotel concierges only; cold-call requests are declined. Lunch and dinner are the same omakase course.
Chef Junichi Yamazaki¥27,500Book 60 days by phone ahead
Sushi Yamazaki in Tokyo's Yotsuya is Junichi Yamazaki's two-Michelin-star edomae counter, traditional Tokyo nigiri at calmer prices than Ginza counters.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Phone reservation in Japanese only; a Japanese-speaking concierge is the easiest path.