Shinjuku's 11 Best Sushi Restaurants: From Kaiten to Counter

Sushi in Shinjuku

Despite being the world's most trafficked train station and a bustling business center, Shinjuku station's surroundings contain relatively few upscale sushi venues. However, Japan Restaurant Award-winning sushi counters and famous all you can eat revolving sushi bars are still plentiful. Young people and visitors are made to feel welcome in the many casual to mid-range sushi restaurants in Shinjuku, though fine dining options are still available for those with dedication.

5 Fine Dining Sushi in Shinjuku (JPY 20,000 -)

Let me introduce you to Fine Dining sushi restaurants that would be highlights of your Japan trip. These include award-winning establishments in Japanese restaurant rankings and globally renowned sushi restaurants. Since advance reservations are generally required, make sure to check for availability before your trip.

1. Sushi Sagane (鮨 さがね) / Sushi

Chef Yamaguchi took over Sushi Sagane in 2017, where he transformed one of Shinjuku's rare classical Edomae sushi counters into a focused yet welcoming space. Chef Yamaguchi of Sushi Sagane actively encourages young people and overseas guests to visit in hopes that their experence within his restaurant will give them a deeper appreciation for Edomae sushi. He also uses exciting ingredients from aroung the country, such as vinegar made from organic rice in a personal red-white vinegar blend. dried gourd pickles from his native Tochigi, and rice from Toyama cooked in an old-fashioned iron pot. Instead of background music, guests are given the opportunity to focus on the meditative sounds of the knife, grating wasabi, and calm atmosphere.

2. Sushi Iwase (すし岩瀬) / Sushi

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)

While many chefs pursue sushi mastery from a young age, Chef Kenji Iwase chose his profession after turning 20, when he encountered the true art of sushi for the first time. Chef Iwase opened his 9-seater counter in Shinjuku in 2012 with the mission to make sushi welcoming, yet allow visitors to forget that they are still in the heart of Shinjuku. His restaurant has earned a Top 100 Sushi in Tokyo award. Chef Iwase's signature dishes are many, including petite tai, salt-grilled anago, and steamed shellfish all from Kyuushuu. Alongside a wide variety of nigiri and small plates, Sushi Iwase offers 10 or more varieties of sake, including his personal selection from Fukushima.

3. Takumi Tatsuhiro (匠 達広) / Sushi

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)

Like the head chef of Sushi Iwase mentioned above, Takumi Tatsuhiro also hails from the parent shop Sushi Takumi in Yotsuya. Chef Nishi Tatsuhiro hails from Ishikawa prefecture, and continues to use fish and rice from that region. He also brings in vinegar from Kyoto, devoting himself to red-vinegared rice, and fish from Hokkaido and Kyuushuu. His restaurant is located in Shinjuku Gyoen, where he opened on his own for the first time in 2012. In 2022, Takumi Tatsuhiro was awarded a Top 100 Japan Restaurant award. Its sushi is known for its well balanced nigiri toppings and small-plate intermissions which copy the style of Sushi Takumi wbut with Chef Tatsuhiro's original interpretation.

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4. Ginza Kyubey Keio Plaza Hotel Store (銀座 久兵衛) / Sushi

Ginza Kyubey is well-respected to the point that its products have become available online and in department stores. However, there is no experience that quite matches up to actually dining within its walls and experiencing its legacy of nigiri and sushi kaiseki. Ginza Kyubey is crowned with the honor of inventing gunkan sushi, nori wrapped nigiri with piled-high toppings. Founded in 1935 in Ginza, the Kyubey brand has now expanded to several locations, including Shinjuku's Keio Plaza Hotel. To this day, staff commit to bringing in fresh fish and upholding nearly a century of tradtional while continuing to innovate, just as they did in the 20th century.

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5. Sushi Oumi (鮨 青海) / Sushi

Sushi Oumi, sitting on the border of Mid-range and fine dining sushi, commits to creating an atmosphere that feels warm and inviting to young people and overseas guests. The chef can often be seen smiling behind the counter and is open to taking detailed requests to make each diner as comfortable as possible. A large seating area, the promise of a singular omakase sushi course that cannot be enjoyed anywhere else, and the genuine care of the owner are defining features. In particular, a three-origin bafun uni tasting provides introduces guests to a hint of the chef's deep thought process. A mixture of traditonal Japanese and contemporary elements are particularly appealing.

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3 Mid-range sushi shops in Shinjuku (JPY 5,000 - JPY 20,000)

The following three recommendations offer excellent sushi in more casual settings and are generally more affordable. These restaurants also typically accept same day reservations and occaisonal walk-ins.

6. EDOMAE SS / Sushi

EDOMAE SS, located in Shinjuku Yokocho, serves sushi around the theme of charging and refueling. It's a charming gimmick for a sushi restaurant produced by the well-respected Tsukiji Aozora Sandaime group. With such a background, diners can rest assured that the quality reaching their plate is top notch, even though the atmosphere is casual. Well-practiced chefs serve up favorites like anago and chuutoro in an open kitchen, offering visitors the chance to try omakase-style sushi without struggling for reservations or worrying about a stiff atmosphere. Even children are welcome.

7. Sushi Kotobuki (すし寿) / Sushi

The owner of this restaurant purposely positions Sushi Kotobuki as accessible, yet delicious. Whether a guest frequents Michelin-starred sushi counters or chooses Kotobuki for their first omakase experience, the staff takes care to provide a premium experience. With private rooms and a main corner counter, groups or solo diners can feel equally welcome. Signature sushi toppings such as uni and ikura are presented alongside familiar flavors such as salmon, tuna, and shrimp. In addition to serving the best maguro possible from a long-standing tuna vendor, Sushi Kotobuki also proudly offers Kenzo Estate in stunning Edo-style glass ware.

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8. Sushi Rosan Shinjuku Ten (鮨 魯山) / Sushi

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021)

Fine sushi in a department store sounds like an unlikely combination, yet Sushi Rosan located in Isetan Shinjuku manages by serving the high-class guests who come to shop at nearby luxury fashion brands. Complete with tables, private rooms, and a traditional sushi counter, this Top 100 award-winning venue creates the ideal sushi experience in a convenient setting. The chefs highly recommend their signature omakase menu, but a wide selection of nigiri sets and even take-out are ready to satisfy anyone craving sushi while shopping in Shinjuku. Prices are affordable, but additional premium nigiri and side menu options make for an even more impressive meal.

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3 Casual Sushi Restaurants (JPY 5,000 or less)

Kaiten sushi, all-you-can-eat, and other reasonably priced yet popular venues make up the final three sushi restaurants on this list. Though some offer timed tickets, others are easy to enter by simply waiting in line.

9. Sushi Bar Nigirite (Sushi Bar にぎりて) / Sushi

Sushi Bar Nigirite displays open enthusiasm for the overseas guests visiting its Shinjuku sake and sushi spot. The walls are anything but austere, lined with polaroids of regulars and first-timers alike. In fact, the owner has overseas guests to thank for inspiring Nigirite's philosophy. Concerned about how to differentiate his sushi from others, instead of simply pursuing the best ingredients and fish, Nigirite's owner concieved of a venue would be just as much "experience" as meal. Using aged fish, the Tsumoto draining method, and a bit of personal panashe, Nigirite's owner creates affordable sushi with unforgettable showmanship and uncompromising flavor.

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10. Kizuna Sushi Shinjuku Kabukicho (きづなすし) / Sushi

For the hungry, or the committed, nowhere rivals Kizuna Sushi in Kabukicho. This all-you-can-eat sushi counter serves as many as 100 different dishes, plus free-flowing alcohol and soft drinks for two hours. Even fatty tuna and uni are included in the all you can eat price, though per-piece ordering is also possible. On weekends and holidays, the shop is open 24 hours thanks to its location in nightlife district Kabukicho. The convenient hours, impressive pricing, and genuinely good quality sushi come together to make Kizuna a highly desireable reservation.

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11. Kaiten Sushi-ya HiBaRi Shinjuku (回転すし屋 HiBaRi) / Sushi

Good value, speedy, and convenient, rotating sushi bar HiBaRi, is highly praised for being unpretentious yet satisfying. After drinks or as a quick dinner, HiBaRi sees customers in and out without fuss thanks to its handy tablet-ordering systeming. It's hard to go wrong with the shop's wide range of classic sushi toppings. Salmon, shrimp, and more are available as an ideal introduction to the world of nigiri for first-time sushi diners, but even long-time fans can find something to satisfy their cravings at this zero-stress counter.