10 Best Michelin Star Restaurants in Tokyo

Michelin Star Restaurants in Tokyo serving Sushi, Tempura, Wagyu Beef and Ramen

Japan has some gourmet cities which foodies visit from all over the world only for the renowned restaurants. Among the cities, Tokyo is the best place to smack their lips without a doubt.

In 2020, 11 restaurants in Tokyo get 3 Michelin stars, and there are 226 Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo totally, which are the most in the cities around the globe. And then, it is really difficult to make a decision about where to eat in Tokyo.

Here, I’d like to introduce 10 best Michelin star restaurants in Tokyo where you can enjoy the authentic Japanese food experiences from Sushi and Tempura to Wagyu Beef and Ramen.

It is required to book the seats at these restaurants below in advance, so here are links of reliable websites for booking them.

1. Tempura Kondo

Fried shrimps Tempura
Tempura Kondo © 2019 Voyagin, Inc.

Tempura Kondo (てんぷら 近藤), a top-rated Tempura restaurant located in Ginza, Tokyo, has got Michelin stars for over a decade. The chief chef Fumio Kondo has dedicated his life to make Tempura and spread the recognition of Tempura across the world since he was 18 years old.

Tempura Kondo is the first luxury Tempura restaurant which offers vegetables as well as seafood. If you have to travel on a limited budget, you can experience the Kondo’s authentic Tempura dishes more affordably at lunch time.

▶︎Book your seats of Tempura Kondo in this link!

Michelin Star: ★★
Access: 3 mins walk from Ginza Station (銀座駅)
Business Hours: 12:00–13:30 (Lunch)/17:00–20:30(Dinner)
Closed: Sunday
Price Range: from 10,000 yen (lunch)/from 20,000 yen (dinner)
Genre: Tempura
Map: http://bit.ly/2G1I4Ab

2. Sukiyabashi Jiro

The legendary Sushi master Jiro Ono is making a piece of sushi
The legendary Sushi master Jiro Ono is making a piece of sushi © 2020 Voyagin, Inc.

Eating Sushi at Sukiyabashi Jiro (すきやばし次郎) is one of the best things to do in Tokyo which should be added to your bucket list for many foodies in the world.

Sukiyabashi Jiro has only one menu: Omakase Course, and every piece of Sushi on the course is carefully-selected every morning depending on which ingredient they can buy at fish markets. There are hundreds of people on its waiting list at all times, and it’s too difficult to book the seats in an ordinal way.

Review of the once-in-a-lifetime experience at Sukiyabashi Jiro

Michelin Star: ★★★
Access:1 min walk from Exit C6 of Ginza Station (銀座駅)
Business Hours: 11:30–14:00 (Lunch)/17:30–20:30(Dinner)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays, Dinner on Saturday, Mid August, New Year Holidays
Price Range: from 30,000 yen
Genre: Sushi
Map: http://bit.ly/2Loa6uY

(Note: Sukiyabashi Jiro won’t be listed on the 2020 Michelin Guide since Michelin recognizes that the sushi restaurant does not accept bookings except thought agencies or concierges.)

3. Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi

Guests with Takashi Ono at Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi
You may get the chance to take a photo with Takashi Ono at Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi © 2019 Voyagin, Inc.

Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi (すきやばし次郎 六本木) is the Michelin 2-starred sushi restaurant which is run by Takashi Ono, the son of Jiro Ono. You can taste the best-quality sushi both for lunch with 15-piece course and dinner 20-piece course.

If you cannot find the seats available at Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten in Ginza, just check the availability of Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi!

▶︎Book your seats of Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi in this link!

Michelin Star: ★★
Access: 10 mins walk from Roppongi Station (六本木駅)
Business Hours: 11:30–14:00 (Lunch)/17:30–21:00(Dinner)
Closed: Wednesday
Price Range: from 22,000 yen (lunch)/from 30,000 yen (dinner)
Genre: Sushi
Map: http://bit.ly/2UkBKxH

4. Imafuku

Wagyu Beef, now one of the most popular Japanese food, has got more popular among tourists from overseas. Especially, they enjoy eating the high quality Wagyu Beef in these two styles: Sukiyaki and Shabu shabu.

Imafuku (今福), which wins a Michelin star, is one of the best restaurants in Tokyo serving mainly two traditional Japanese cuisines, Sukiyaki and Shabu shabu. Enjoy the gorgeous Japanese dishes in the Japanese modern rooms at Imafuku.

▶︎Book your seats of Imafuku in this link!

Michelin Star: ★
Access: 5 mins walk from Shirokanetakanawa Station (白金高輪駅)
Business Hours: 17:00–24:00
Closed: from December 31 to January 2
Price Range: from 10,000 yen
Genre: Sukiyaki and Shabu shabu
Map: http://bit.ly/2G6CsWq

5. Tapas Molecular Bar

The master chef cooking gastronomy dishes at Tapas Molecular Bar
The master chef cooks mysterious dishes at Tapas Molecular Bar ©Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

For unique and authentic food experiences, Tapas Molecular Bar (タパス モラキュラーバー) will be the first choice, which is a molecular gastronomy restaurant serving course meals with a fusion of Japanese and Western cuisine. Each dish is brought to surprise guests with a delight. It’s hard to guess what’s the taste like with the first impression. The Michelin-starred restaurant is located in Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Tokyo.

Michelin Star: ★
Access: 2 mins walk from Mitsukoshi-mae Station (三越前駅)
Business Hours (Lunch): by reservations only at 1:00pm (Sat/Sun/Holiday)
Business Hours (Dinner): by reservations only at 6:00pm or 8:30pm
Price Range: from around 20,000 yen
Genre: Molecular Gastronomy
Map: http://bit.ly/2IjDUGD

6. Kagurazaka Ishikawa

Japanese Kaiseki dishes at Kagurazaka Ishikawa
Japanese Kaiseki dishes at Kagurazaka Ishikawa, Photo Source: http://www.kagurazaka-ishikawa.co.jp/

Ishikawa Kagurazaka (神楽坂 石かわ), which is located on the hidden drink alley in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, is one of the Michelin 3-star restaurants in Tokyo. It is also one of the restaurants the most difficult to book. Kagurazaka Ishikawa serves Kaiseki dishes (Japanese traditional course meals), which are less seasoned so that every ingredient really brings out the full flavor of them.

Michelin Star: ★★★
Access: 7 mins walk from Iidabashi Station (飯田橋駅)
Business Hours: 17:30–24:00
Closed: Sunday and National Holidays
Price Range: from 30,000 yen
Genre: Kaiseki
Map: http://bit.ly/2KiQOqP

7. ESqUISSE

Meat dish at ESqUISSE
Meat dish at ESqUISSE © 2019 Voyagin, Inc.

The Tokyo’s renowned fine dining French restaurant ESqUISSE (エスキス) opened in Ginza in 2012 and has won Michelin 2 stars since 2013. ESqUISSE serves unique French dishes with the tradition and technique of French cuisine mixed with Japanese food. Its inspiring and creative dishes make you feel as if you enjoyed art. There are a few courses each for lunch and dinner in ESqUISSE.

Michelin Star: ★★
Access: 1 min walk from Ginza Station (銀座駅)
Business Hours: 12:00-13:00 (Lunch)/18:00-20:30 (Dinner)
Closed: Dinner on Sunday
Price Range: from 10,000 yen (lunch)/from 20,000 yen (dinner)
Genre: French
Map: http://bit.ly/2G7OJtH

8. SOBA HOUSE Konjiki Hototogisu Shinjuku Gyoen

SOBA HOUSE Konjiki Hototogisu Shinjuku Gyoen (SOBA HOUSE 金色不如帰 新宿御苑本店), listed on the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in 2015–2018 and on the 1-star restaurant, is one of the three Ramen restaurants with a Michelin star in Tokyo.

There are two specialty menu: one named そば (醤油) is the Ramen with shoyu (soy sauce), pork and calm-based broth and another named 真鯛と蛤の塩そば is the Ramen with the broth based on salt, red sea bream and calm. The restaurant with the reputation of “a very good restaurant” is worth the Michelin 1 star. You don’t necessarily go to fine dine restaurants to have the Michelin star dining experience.

Michelin Star: ★
Access: 3 mins walk from Shinjuku Gyoen-mae Station (新宿御苑前駅)
Business Hours: 11:30-15:00, 18:30-21:30 (Tuesday-Saturday)/11:30–15:00 (Sunday)
Closed: Monday
Price Range: from 1,000 yen
Genre: Ramen
Map: http://bit.ly/2IptDse

9. Sushi Masuda Michelin

Pieces of Sushi
SUSHI MASUDA © All rights reserved.

Sushi Masuda (鮨 ます田), one of the best Sushi restaurants in Tokyo, was opened in Aoyama in 2014 and have got Michelin stars since 2015. The head chef Rei Masuda has the experience to engage in the renowned Sushi restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro for 9 years.

He spends lots of time to preparing and makes each piece of Sushi only with seasonal and fresh ingredients. There are only six seats in front of the chef and a private room which accommodates six guests in the restaurant.

Sushi Masuda, which was temporarily closed in September 2019, re-opened at a different location in Aoyama  in January 2022.

Michelin Star: ★★
Access: 2 mins walk from Omotesando Station (表参道駅)
Business Hours: From 17:00/From 20:00
Closed: Sunday and National Holidays
Price Range: from 30,000 yen
Genre: Sushi
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/C8zLxV9jZVGvV9vT8

10. INUA (Permanently Closed)

Inua, which was newly opened in Iidabashi, Tokyo in 2018, has not got a Michelin star yet, however, it won the title of the Arrival of the Year at The World Restaurant Awards in Paris in 2019. The Nordic-inspired restaurant is led by the head chef Thomas Frebel, who worked at one of the most famous restaurants in the world Noma for about 10 years.

Finally, Inua has been listed on Michelin Guide with 2 Michelin stars for the first time. Its dishes are not categorized just as Nordic cuisine or Scandinavian cuisine but the unique fusion cuisine cooked with seasonal Japanese ingredients and the Scandinavian approach.

Michelin Star: ★★
Access: 7 mins walk from Iidabashi Station (飯田橋駅)
Business Hours: from 18:00
Closed: Sunday and Monday
Price Range: around 30,000 yen
Price Range: Fusion
Map: http://bit.ly/2Pd52Mu

▽More Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Tokyo▽

▽Michelin Star Restaurants in Japan▽

Hope you have enjoyed reading our Michelin Guide in Tokyo!

There are many more notable restaurants in Tokyo even the ones that don’t have Michelin stars, however, those 10 restaurants above are true choices selected by Michelin. They are really popular among both domestic and international gourmets, so it’s highly recommended to book your seats as soon as possible.

If you are looking for more places to eat out while visiting Tokyo, here are some more articles for you to check out!

▽Related Articles▽