14 Best Restaurants in Kagurazaka and Iidabashi

Kagurazaka and Iidabashi Area

Kagurazaka Highlights

Kagurazaka is a picturesque neighborhood that winds along a series of slopes, with the word "zaka" (slope) itself becoming synonymous with the area. This vibrant district has thrived for over 200 years and, much like Kyoto’s Gion, once flourished as a geisha district. Even today, the narrow streets on the right side of the hill retain the nostalgic charm of that bygone era. In recent years, the area’s old-world allure has gained increasing popularity, leading to an influx of new restaurants, many of which are upscale. The neighborhood is particularly known for its abundance of French and Japanese eateries, with several Michelin-starred restaurants among them. Despite its small size, Kagurazaka is home to two Michelin three-star restaurants. The area is especially favored by affluent locals and celebrities, who are drawn to its refined atmosphere.

Iidabashi Highlights

Iidabashi lies just below Kagurazaka and has its origins about 300 years ago when Tokyo, then called Edo, became the capital of Japan, centered around Edo Castle. Many samurai warriors who served at the castle lived in this area. Originally known as Iidamachi, it was renamed Iidabashi after a bridge was built over the moat of Edo Castle. Today, Iidabashi offers a unique blend of historic Edo-era charm and the modern landscape of Tokyo. The area is home to several universities and major corporate offices, making it a vibrant hub for students and office workers. As a result, Iidabashi features many casual dining spots, perfect for a laid-back lunch or quick meal.

1. Ichiu (一宇) / Sushi

Selected Restaurant

Michelin Guide, 2025

1. Michelin (2023 - 2025): Selected

Ichiu is a Michelin-listed sushi restaurant, led by head chef Koichi Hamano. He trained at the two-Michelin-starred Japanese restaurants Akasaka Kikunoi and Ginza Kojyu before honing his sushi skills at Kumamoto Senpachi, another two-Michelin-starred establishment. The restaurant offers a single omakase (chef’s choice) course, but thanks to his background in Japanese cuisine, Chef Hamano incorporates key elements such as "Owan" (dashi-based soup) into the appetizers served before the sushi. This adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal. The sushi itself features rice made with a blend of several types of vinegar, resulting in a refreshing yet sharp flavor that pairs beautifully with the fish, elevating the overall dining experience.

2. Kaiseki Komuro (懐石 小室) / Japanese

One Star

Michelin Guide, 2025

1. Michelin (2008 - 2009, 2025 - 2024): One Star
2. Michelin (2010 - 2023): Two Stars

Kaiseki Komuro is a Japanese restaurant that has consistently earned Michelin stars since 2008 and is currently recognized with two stars. It specializes in authentic cha-kaiseki cuisine, a refined dining style that even many Japanese rarely have the chance to experience. The owner-chef Mitsuhiro Komuro honed his skills in cha-kaiseki at Wako, another Michelin two-star Japanese restaurant, before opening his establishment.

The dishes celebrate Japan’s rich seasonal ingredients and are presented with exceptional artistry. Chef Komuro’s approach combines rigorous traditional training with innovative techniques, bringing out the natural flavors of each ingredient while honoring the essence of classic Japanese cuisine. The restaurant exclusively serves an omakase course, ensuring a tailored and immersive dining experience.

The beverage menu places special emphasis on sake, with expert recommendations to complement each dish. A selection of fine wines, carefully chosen to pair with the cuisine, is also available.

3. 124. KAGURAZAKA (イチニーヨン.カグラザカ) / Yakitori

Selected Restaurant

Michelin Guide, 2025

1. Michelin (2024 - 2025): Selected Restaurant

Opened in September 2023, this yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) restaurant has already earned a spot in the Michelin Guide for two consecutive years, 2024 and 2025. The restaurant specializes in yakitori crafted from Date Chicken, one of Japan’s finest poultry brands, celebrated for its exceptional flavor. With an exclusive omakase menu, every dish reflects meticulous attention to detail, from the grilling techniques to the perfectly balanced seasoning tailored to each cut of meat.

The tender, juicy yakitori is expertly paired with a carefully curated selection of drinks, including craft beers and premium spirits. A range of wines by the glass is also available. To round off the experience, the ramen served at the end of the meal is a true standout.

4. Kagurazaka Sushi Kokoro (神楽坂 鮨 心) / Sushi

Head chef Tsutomu Oba honed his craft over 15 years at the renowned Ginza Kyubey before opening his restaurant. Combining the expertise he gained at this prestigious establishment with his creative touches, he crafts sushi that delights and captivates. The menu is exclusively omakase, featuring rich, red-vinegar-seasoned rice that pairs perfectly with meticulously prepared toppings, offering a truly authentic Edo-style sushi experience.

Beverage pairings are carefully selected to enhance the meal. While the focus is on premium sake, Chef Oba is also a certified sommelier, making wine pairings with sushi an exceptional option.

5. Yakitori Toge (焼き鳥 峠) / Yakitori

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022 - 2023)

Yakitori Toge is celebrated as one of the top 100 yakitori restaurants by a leading Japanese gourmet review site. Head chef Hiroki Kurita, who trained at the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant Tokoshima, now leads the grill station with expertise. Certified in poultry processing, Chef Kurita meticulously butchers fresh birds daily, ensuring unparalleled freshness.

The restaurant showcases two premium poultry selections: Hinai chicken and Nanatani duck. Its course menu goes beyond traditional yakitori, offering an exceptional "chicken cuisine" experience that has earned high praise. Complementing these dishes with over 20 varieties of sake from across Japan or expertly curated wines adds an extra layer of indulgence to the dining experience.

6. CRAZY PIZZA at SQUARE (クレイジー ピザ アット スクエア) / Italian

1. Michelin (2023 - 2024): Bib Gourmand

Opened in February 2022, this Italian restaurant has earned a spot in the Bib Gourmand for two consecutive years since 2023. Chef Masayuki Shibata, a seasoned professional, honed his craft at Michelin-starred restaurants in Tuscany and Milan, Italy.

Guests can choose between à la carte dishes or a full-course menu. As the name implies, the pizza is a standout, but for the ultimate experience of the chef’s culinary skills, the recommended course menu is a must-try. It includes appetizers, pasta, a main dish, pizza, and dessert. Pairing this exceptional Italian cuisine with natural wines guarantees a truly delightful dining experience.

7. Teppanyaki Iwakura (鉄板焼き いわ倉) / Steak, Teppanyaki

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2023); Bronze (2022)

Teppanyaki Iwakura is proudly recognized as one of the Top 100 Japanese Restaurants on a leading Japanese gourmet review site. The restaurant’s hallmark is its menu, which seamlessly blends traditional Japanese cuisine with steak expertly grilled on a teppan (iron plate) right before your eyes. The menu is exclusively course-based, offering several options tailored to different ingredients and portion sizes, so guests can choose based on their preferences and budgets.

Known for its exceptional selection of sake and wine, the restaurant also offers pairing courses that match each dish with a carefully chosen beverage. Guests can personalize their experience by selecting pairings that feature both sake and wine, sake only, or wine only, depending on their tastes.

8. Yakitori Akane (焼鳥 茜) / Yakitori

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2018, 2019, 2021 - 2023)

Yakitori Akane is a highly regarded yakitori restaurant that has been consistently ranked among the Top 100 Best Yakitori spots by a major Japanese gourmet review site for many years. The owner-chef Yuta Hayashi trained at Torie, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, before opening his own place in 2016. The restaurant uses carefully selected chicken, including premium varieties like Akane-dori from Tsukuba, Ibaraki, and Kougen Hinai-jidori. They employ unique cooking techniques and methods tailored to each type of chicken. The menu features only an omakase course, which includes yakitori and a variety of other dishes, with around 10 items served for a highly satisfying experience.

9. Kagurazaka Ishikawa (神楽坂 石かわ) / Japanese

Three Stars

Michelin Guide, 2025

1. Michelin (2009 - 2025): Three Stars
2. Michelin (2008 - 2009): Two Stars

Kagurazaka Ishikawa is a prestigious restaurant that has maintained three Michelin stars consistently from 2009 to 2025. The owner-chef Hideki Ishikawa is a highly accomplished chef who perfected his craft at various restaurants before creating his own distinctive style. He is renowned for his unwavering dedication to using only the finest Japanese ingredients, ensuring each dish embodies the essence of Japan's four seasons. His cuisine, which brings out the full potential of each ingredient, is widely praised by Japan's top food critics. Additionally, many of Ishikawa’s disciples are regular recipients of Michelin stars, demonstrating his exceptional talent for mentoring and shaping skilled chefs.

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10. Kohaku (虎白) / Japanese

Three Stars

Michelin Guide, 2025

1. Michelin (2016 - 2025): Three Stars
2. Michelin (2012 - 2015): Two Stars

Awarded two Michelin stars in 2012 and three stars in 2016, Kohaku has maintained its three-star rating for 10 consecutive years. The owner-chef Koji Koizumi was part of the original team at the Michelin three-star restaurant Kagurazaka Ishikawa, where he honed his skills. Now, as the owner of his restaurant, he carries on the tradition of Michelin's three-star excellence. While staying true to traditional Japanese cooking methods, Kohaku sets itself apart from Ishikawa by incorporating international ingredients like caviar and foie gras into its Japanese cuisine, all while exclusively using ingredients sourced from Japan.

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11. Tanimoto (多仁本) / Japanese

1. Michelin (2019 - 2025): One Star

Tanimoto is a Japanese restaurant that has held one Michelin star every year since 2019. The owner-chef Seiji Tanimoto comes from Shofukuro, a prestigious restaurant in Shiga where many of his former apprentices have gone on to open their own Michelin-starred establishments. The core of his cooking is rooted in cha-kaiseki, where guests are immersed in the spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony. Known for his skill in enhancing the natural flavors of ingredients, Tanimoto's techniques are highly praised by food connoisseurs. For the final course, the restaurant offers white rice, takikomi (seasoned rice), and chazuke (rice with tea). The owner’s freshly brewed usucha (thin tea), served after the meal, is also popular, giving guests a chance to experience the essence of the tea ceremony.

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12. Guchokuni (愚直に) / Japanese

One Star

Michelin Guide, 2025

1. Michelin (2023 - 2025): One Star

Guchokuni is a Japanese restaurant that has held a Michelin star since 2023. The owner-chef Masato Otsuka spent years training at various Japanese restaurants before joining the Michelin three-star restaurant Kagurazaka Ishikawa, where he further refined his skills. He then went on to open Guchokuni. The name "Guchokuni" is derived from advice his master gave him on how to approach cooking: "To cook honestly and earnestly, without deviation." Guests who dine here often describe the food as "heartwarming." This reflects the owner's unwavering commitment to preparing dishes with sincerity and dedication, always focused on the well-being of his guests.

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13. Restaurant L’ÉTERRE (レテール) / French

1. Michelin (2024 - 2025): One Star
2. Michelin (2023): Selected Restaurant

Opened in 2023 and awarded one Michelin star in 2024, this French restaurant is led by Yoshiaki Ito, the owner-chef of L'Archeste, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris’s 16th district. This restaurant in Japan is overseen by Ito’s most trusted chef, Akira Tagomori. It features an open kitchen with counter seating, giving diners the chance to watch the cooking process up close. The menu offers a single course, with a focus on grilled dishes that use charcoal and straw to create distinctive aromas. For dessert, the cheesecake and truffle chocolate are the same as those served in France, highlighting the connection between the two locations.

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14. Sanlucar BAR / bar

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)

Sanlucar is an authentic bar ranked among the Top 100 Bars on a major Japanese gourmet review website. Within this prestigious list, it stands out as one of the best. The owner and bartender Kiyoshi Shinbashi trained for 20 years under the legendary Kazuo Ueda of the renowned Ginza Tender before striking out on his own. His signature hard shakes result in cocktails that are smooth and exceptionally flavorful, even those with high alcohol content. Though the bar is often fully booked due to its popularity, it opens at 2 PM, and reservations for seats from that time onward can be made by phone.

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