The 13 Best Restaurants in Nihonbashi

Nihonbashi Area: The Historic Center of Tokyo

The Nihonbashi area is located in central Tokyo and is known for three main culinary genres: traditional Japanese, creative cuisine, and regional specialties. With a background of traditions dating back to the Edo period, Japanese cuisine is deeply rooted here, with sushi, Kyoto-style dishes, and French cuisine being particularly popular.

Nihonbashi Area: A Business and Retail Hub

Nihonbashi once flourished as Japan’s castle town and was a focal point for major highways, making it a hub for various goods. Today, it's still home to some of Japan's leading department stores and is popular as a shopping district. There are many long-established shops selling Japanese sweets, ingredients, and traditional foods like bonito flakes, seasonings, seaweed, and tofu. Nihonbashi has also developed as a business district with numerous office buildings. Its proximity to Tokyo Station makes it easily accessible.

Nihonbashi Area: Home to Many Long-established Fine Dining Restaurants

Nihonbashi is famous for its many establishments that have been in business for over 100 years. You can enjoy restaurants offering a wide range of cuisines, including Japanese cuisine, eel, sushi, soba, hot pot, beef, and chicken. There are also many Michelin-listed Japanese restaurants, as well as French and innovative fine dining establishments that captivate food enthusiasts.

The 13 Best Restaurants in Nihonbash

The Nihonbashi area is home to renowned restaurants that maintain tradition while striving to innovate. Here, we will introduce 13 restaurants where you can enjoy excellent cuisine across various genres, including Japanese, French, and creative dishes.

1. Oryori Kokoroba (御料理 心馬) / Japanese

Listed in the Michelin Guide 2024, Oryori Kokoroba is a high-end kaiseki (traditional multi-course dinner) restaurant in Tokyo's Ningyo-cho, offering an atmosphere of a hidden gem. The owner serves dishes crafted with seasonal ingredients carefully selected from Toyosu Market. From hassun (a tray of seasonal appetizers) to oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl), each menu item is meticulously and deliciously prepared, bringing out the best flavors of the ingredients. The interior offers a quiet Japanese space reminiscent of a tea room. It mainly features a Kiso cypress counter and chairs modeled after horse saddles. They also pay detailed attention to drinks, including wine and sake.

2. Vesta (ウェスタ) / Steak

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2017, 19 - 24)
2. Japan Restaurant Award, Silver (2018)
3. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021 - 22, 24)

Vesta, selected as one of the top 100 restaurants by a famous Japanese gourmet review website, is a renowned yakiniku (Japanese-style BBQ) restaurant that has perfected the deliciousness of Sanda beef. They prepare the deeply flavorful Sanda beef to a crispy texture. The interior is decorated with Japanese traditional crafts, including high-end Fuchu furniture with 300 years of history and Kyo-sashimono champagne coolers. The rich flavors of the meat and the skills of Japanese craftsmen harmonize beautifully, offering a special dining experience.

3. La Paix (ラぺ) / French

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2017 - 22)
2. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021, 23)

Listed in the Michelin Guide for two consecutive years, La Paix is a renowned restaurant that opened in Nihonbashi in 2014. The interior focuses on comfort and overall harmony. They prepare the finest ingredients selected from local farmers and serve French cuisine that skillfully expresses Japan's four seasons. Chef Matsumoto trained at L'Essential in Belgium and built his career at Vincent and Au Gout du Jour Merveilleux in Tokyo. His culinary skills shine, with the roasted wagyu (Japanese beef) course being particularly popular and exquisite.

4. Sushi Fujiro (鮨 不二楼) / Sushi

Sushi Fujiro is a renowned restaurant that fuses traditional Edomae sushi (Tokyo-style sushi) with Hakata-mae sushi (Fukuoka-style sushi) to create New Edomae Sushi. Using aging techniques honed at Sushi Fujinaga during his training years, Sushi Fujiro serves sushi made with spot shrimp aged for 72 hours using their unique technique. Regarding aging technology, he published a paper in collaboration with Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, and received an award at an academic conference. Its interior creates a calm Japanese space with old-fashioned cypress. It features counter seats in a horigotatsu style (sunken kotatsu). In addition to enjoying sushi crafted with carefully selected ingredients, you can also enjoy wine and sake which pair well with the dishes.

5. Yakitori Takahashi (焼鳥 髙はし) / Yakitori

Listed in the Michelin Guide, Yakitori Takahashi is a renowned restaurant that has gained popularity for its dedication to yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). They carefully grill selected meat and ingredients on skewers. The negima (chicken and green onion) and tsukune (chicken meatballs) are particularly exquisite. The owner has experience training at famous restaurants such as the Michelin one-star Torishiki and Torikado. The interior consists of only L-shaped counter seats. A calm atmosphere spreads throughout, and you can watch the chef's techniques right in front of you. While you can order additional skewers of your choice, the course is omakase (chef's choice) only. You can enjoy the owner's proud and delicious yakitori.

6. Sushi Muto (鮨 むとう) / Sushi

Sushi Muto is a renowned Edomae sushi restaurant where Keiji Muto, with over 25 years of experience, serves sushi. Chef Muto, who trained at the domestic Sushi Ao, uses the nigiri (hand-pressed sushi) techniques he honed there in his cooking. He is particularly known for his nigiri sushi using fresh Fujita tuna. The medium-fatty tuna melts in your mouth, spreading a sweet fatty flavor. The chic and calm interior provides a space where you can feel the warmth of wood. For drinks, they offer a diverse menu including Burgundy wines, allowing you to spend a luxurious adult moment.

7. Takagaki no Sushi (高柿の鮨) / Sushi

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2021)
2. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021 - 22)

The Michelin one-star Takagaki no Sushi is a renowned restaurant that beautifully fuses tradition and innovation in Edomae sushi. The owner, Nobuhide Takagaki, is originally from Fukuoka and gained experience as a fisherman at a young age before honing his skills at the famous Ginza restaurant, Shinbashi Shimizu. He opened his own restaurant in 2018. He carefully selects seasonal ingredients and brings out the maximum deliciousness in neta (sushi toppings) like ark shell, medium fatty tuna, and fatty tuna, using his unique sushi rice made with red vinegar and red plum vinegar. The interior, reminiscent of a Taisho-era old Japanese house, has an elegant and calm atmosphere. You can enjoy conversation and watch the nigiri techniques at the counter seats.

8. Sushi Kimura (鮨きむら) / Sushi

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)

Selected as one of the top 100 sushi restaurants by a famous Japanese gourmet review website in 2022, Sushi Kimura is a renowned restaurant where you can taste the essence of Edomae sushi. The owner, Koji Kimura, became independent after 10 years of training in New York and experience at famous Tokyo restaurants. He creates sushi that combines the traditions of Sushi Yoshitake with a New York style. The ingredients include fresh seafood directly shipped from Hachinohe, Aomori, and shari (sushi rice) made with Koshihikari rice (a premium short-grain rice variety) from Yamagata and red vinegar. The interior, featuring a counter made of solid cypress wood, has a warm and calm atmosphere that's very appealing.

9. Yakiniku Yazawa Tokyo (焼肉 矢澤 東京) / Yakiniku

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2018 - 23)

Selected as one of the top 100 yakiniku restaurants by a famous Japanese gourmet review website, Yakiniku Yazawa Tokyo is a renowned yakiniku restaurant where you can enjoy Japanese Black beef. They use carefully selected domestic ingredients. The grilled Yazawa sirloin with its perfect creamy egg yolk sauce is particularly popular. Their concept is to let customers fully enjoy high-quality Japanese beef and the unique culture of Japanese yakiniku. The interior features a calm decor and an open kitchen. Efforts have been made to create a relaxing space. In addition to the standard menu, they offer a variety of dishes to keep returning customers interested.

10. Neki (ネキ) / French

Listed in the Michelin Guide, Neki is a renowned hidden bistro where you can enjoy authentic French cuisine. The interior creates a calm space where you can feel the warmth of wood. The decor is simple with plain walls and ceiling, offering both counter and table seating. In a casual atmosphere, the unique plating truly catches the eye. You can enjoy creative dishes made with fresh local ingredients that change with the seasons. Wine and sake that pair well with the dishes are also available. You can enjoy French cuisine in a relaxing interior.

11. LA BONNE TABLE (ラボンヌターブル) / French

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2017 - 21)
2. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021, 23)

Selected by the Michelin Guide for four consecutive years, LA BONNE TABLE is a renowned restaurant offering creative French cuisine. With experience as a sous chef at L'Effervescence, the head chef creates French dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients. He uses ingredients sourced from trusted producers the chef has built relationships with. The interior features a clean white color scheme and a relaxing space. There are also digital paintings, including the Mona Lisa, that change every 30 minutes. You can also fully enjoy the live atmosphere at the chef's table with an open kitchen format.

12. Nihonbashi Kakigaracho Sugita (日本橋蛎殻町 すぎた) / Sushi

・MICHELIN (2022, 23): Two Star

・MICHELIN (2018 - 21): One Star

The Michelin two-star Nihonbashi Kakigaracho Sugita is a renowned sushi restaurant. After 12 years of training at the long-established Nihonbashi Kakigara Cho Miyakozushi, the head chef crafts unique sushi. While maintaining the tradition of Edomae sushi, they have evolved to suit modern times. You can enjoy sushi that perfectly harmonizes blended rice and lightly marinated fish like tuna. Nearly 30 types of sake are also available. The interior, centered around a theater-style counter, is popular for its calm and warm atmosphere.

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13. WAGYU Hiyama (WAGYU 日山) / Innovative

・MICHELIN (2011 - 20): One Star

WAGYU Hiyama, which has earned one Michelin star for ten consecutive years, is a renowned high-end restaurant where the Hiyama Group, which deals in meat, serves dishes using their own beef. It's limited to one group of up to 6 people per day at the counter seats. The chic and calm interior allows for a special time. The chef prepares a menu that fuses wagyu dishes with French techniques. The signature Tochigi Black Wagyu Sirloin Steak and Beef Kocha are carefully grilled on an iron plate and with binchotan (high-grade Japanese charcoal), offering a crispy texture. The restaurant is recommended for those who want to eat luxurious wagyu dishes.

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