Japanese people all over the country take the selection of the ingredients very seriously. This will become apparent should you wander into any grocery store and have a look at the fruit section in particular. Not only are the fruits huge, magnificent, and perfect, but they are priced as such. And it’s a price that most Japanese people are willing to pay, for an exceptional product. The demand for excellent cuisine has made Japan the location of many of the top restaurants in the world. Tokyo currently holds more Michelin 3-star restaurants than Paris and dominates the list of the top 50 best eateries in Asia. Experience these world-class options for yourself from the famous sushi of Jiro to the intricate delicacies of Kojyu.
Restaurant Type
Destinations
Tokyo
Harutaka is a 2-star Michelin sushi restaurant recently moved to a new location in Ginza, Tokyo. Harutaka's design recreates the interior of the traditional ryokan with furnishings made of Japanese cedar. The focus for Harutaka is on the flavor, rather than size or layering of the sushi pieces. Delectable appetizers such as lightly seared abalone and straw-smoked bonito, followed by premium cuts of fatty tuna and gizzard shad await Chef Harutaka's customers. He carefully selects the freshest cuts every morning, and the artistically prepares for each guest. Harutaka's sushi experience starts at about ¥30,000.
Tokyo
Oryori Tsuji is located in a quiet neighborhood of Azabu Juban, and charms customers with its combination of traditional Japanese ambience and methods with sublime seasonal dishes. Chef Tsuji prepares dishes that are truly his own using rare seasonal produce, such as smoked Pacific saury or figs dressed in sesame. Many come solely for the soup, made with a clear fish stock (dashi) brewed for over 8 hours, and a topping that changes with the seasons, including fresh bamboo shoots and bonito, eggplant and sakura shrimp, or even Bhutan mushrooms with tofu. Oryori Tsuji's delicious courses start at ¥15,000.
Tokyo
Azabu Yukimura, situated in Azabu Joban, brings the time- honored cuisine of Kyoto to downtown Tokyo. Rated at a rare 3 Michelin stars, Chef Yukimura's cozy establishment, with diamond-shaped countertop and walls of polished wood, provides guests a series of seasonal offerings including beef shabu shabu, sweetfish, pike conger, or matsutake mushrooms. After training in Kyoto for 25 years, all the dishes show Chef Yukimura's deep passion for Kyoto cuisine celebrating the changing flavors of each season with ingredients and spices sourced directly from Japan's old capital. Yukimura's superior courses start at ¥30,000.
Tokyo
Yamadaya Nishiazabu is a premier restaurant hidden within the quiet streets of Nishi-Azabu in Tokyo. This small restaurant is a Michelin 3-star gem specializing in serving fugu puffer fish, an enduring Japanese delicacy. Fugu may be served here as a fugu sashimi, succulent, thinly sliced and arranged on a platter as a beautiful flower. It might be carefully grilled in sesame oil amd served with gingkgo and chestnuts, piping hot. Or it may be cooked in a hot pot with Hokkaido kombu seaweed, slowly soaked to bring out the pufferfish's savory flavors. Chef Kasukabe's specialty fugu is available all year, and courses start at ¥30,000.
Tokyo
Azabu Kadowaki, tucked away in Azabu Joban, is a traditional Japanese restaurant with 2 Michelin stars. Guests are met with an interior of light hinoki wood bathed in warm light, creating a charming appeal. And from appetizers of swordtip squid in sesame dressing to shark fin boiled in dashi then fried in egg whites, Chef Kadowaki creates an unforgettable meal. The chef is famed for his signature rice dish: truffle rice - high-quality Japanese rice flavored with sliced truffles and bonito flakes that, when served, fills the room with a deliciously rich aroma. The courses at Azabu Kadowaki start at ¥30,000.
Tokyo
Goryu Kubo is located in the Nishiazabu area of Tokyo, and is rated 2 Michelin stars for its high-quality Japanese cuisine. The atmosphere reflected in the décor is minimalist, with a gentle wooden interior and soft lighting, and the chef's philosophy is equally straightforward - quality and perfection. Putting consideration and passion into all his dishes, Chef Kubo delights guests with his signature grilled dishes that include such seasonal delights as softshell suppon turtle, sea perch, and tiger pufferfish. His focus on freshness and quality makes Kubo source his produce from markets all over Japan, while maintaining an impressive wine collection. His fine quality courses start at ¥50,000.
Tokyo
Akasaka Kikunoi, situated in Asakusa, Tokyo, is a 2-star Michelin restaurant owned by the famous chef Yoshihiro Murata, bringing a small taste of traditional Japanese kaiseki into the heart of Tokyo. Despite being surrounded on all sides by towering Tokyo skyscrapers, following the small bamboo-bordered path toward the restaurant makes guests to feel as though transported to Kyoto. Kikunoi serves Kyoto specialties including mountain yams, wasabi greens, shrimp sushi, and firefly squid, all imported directly from the old capital. Each is prepared with focus on aroma, texture, and the element of surprise which delights guests. Akasaka Kikunoi's courses start at ¥20,000.
Tokyo
Miyasaka is a quiet place in the Aoyama area of Tokyo, across from the Nezu Museum of Art. As guests walk into this Michelin 2-star restaurant from the busy city streets, the dark interior coupled with the polished wooden paneling, and accented with the chef's personal floral arrangement, gives off an air of artistry and elegance. Chef Miyasaka's seasonal cuisine focuses on fresh traditional favorites, such as celebrating autumns flavors with chestnuts, green ginkgo nuts, and grilled mushrooms presented among Japan's brightest fall leaves. His Japanese rice is his specialty, slowly cooked to perfection in an earthenware pot. Miyasaka's courses start at ¥20,000 yen.
Tokyo
Set apart from the crowded shopping areas around Takeshita street, Higuchi infuses a traditional Japanese heart and soul into the chic and flashy fashion scene celebrated in Harajuku. A guest can't help but feel more calm stepping into the quiet, warmly lit dining area, then sitting in front of the bright timber countertop. Chef Higuchi delights his customers with a seasonal array of delectable dishes, including mullet roe atop sticky rice, or grilled eggplant with crab, bringing out a delicate combination of flavor and texture that earned Higuchi 2 Michelin stars. The meals are complemented by a good selection of wine and sake, as well as the chef's handcrafted desserts. Courses at Higuchi start at ¥20,000.
Tokyo
Ishikawa is neatly hidden near Kagurazaka's Edo-era Zenkoku-ji temple; an unassuming stone path leading to a bright gem of traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine. The establishment features simple decoration oozing traditional Japanese charm, complete with small maple tree with bright leaves in autumn and a sunken pool where small red fish swim happily. This Michelin 3-star restaurant's menu includes masterfully prepared seasonal dainties including Ayu sweetfish, wagyu beef sashimi, and traditional rice cooked in an earthenware pot. None of the dishes reach the customer without the unique and delightful touches for which Chef Ishikawa is known. Courses start at ¥30,000
Japan is known for having some of the most lavish spas, succulent cuisine, and of course, a rich history and culture to captivate any traveler. See below for examples of the luxury you can find in Japan. Browse our collection of exclusive Extraordinary Experiences carefully hand-elected by our professional Japan travel specialists. Our Luxury Hotel Collection lists Japan's grandest, most comfortable hotel accommodations with every possible amenity. Our collection of Luxury Ryokan offer the tranquil atmosphere of a traditional Japanese inn paired with world-famous hot spring baths. Finally, check out our listing of Best Dining Experiences for world-class, Michelin-star restaurants in every major city to appeal to every taste.
Let AJT be your gateway to carefully curated experiences and high-quality travel services as you enjoy the best that Japan has to offer. Only the most authentic, traditional Japanese experiences.
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Stay at one of Japan's ultra-luxurious hotel accommodations. AJT has partnered with the best hotels Japan has to offer. Enjoy the top hotels at great locations to get the most out of your trip.
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After a long day of experiencing Japan, steep yourself in the relaxing atmosphere of a traditional Ryokan, complete with world-renowned hot spring baths.
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Japan offers some of the best dining scenes on the planet. Enjoy dining and culinary experiences you won’t want to miss when visiting Japan.
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We truly enjoyed our custom family of 10 tour!
The Sugino Group
This tour was a once in a lifetime experience and we are so happy and grateful we got to experience it. We learned so much about Japan and its culture. We got to stayed in traditional Japanese hotels and enjoyed traditional meals. Our guide and driver were very professional and always on time. They always made sure we were comfortable. We really hope we get the opportunity to do another tour with AJT
The Lam Family
Excellent trip with wonderful guides and drivers. Would not do it any other way! Thank you for listening to what we wanted to do for our trip and accommodating us! We loved that you could book our experiences for us! We will definitely use your company again!
Christine, Jamie, and Wendoyn
Complex itinerary. Perfectly organized logistics. Excellent people to work with.
Shakeel & Joan
Well thought out and the written itinerary was so helpful
Mr. Takasugi & Ms. Kubota
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