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The Best Sushi in Tokyo | MK’s Curated Guide to the City’s Top Counters and Omakase Experiences

  • Elizabeth Sok
  • Nov 29, 2025
  • 3 min read
Chefs in uniforms prepare sushi behind a counter in a busy restaurant. Soft overhead lights and focused expressions set a dedicated mood.

Tokyo is a city where sushi is more than just a meal — it's an art form. Centuries of Edomae techniques are condensed into a single piece of nigiri, a single slice of fish, a single moment of perfect temperature and texture. Every neighborhood has a counter worth visiting. Every station hides a small wooden door that opens to a chef whose life revolves around rice, vinegar, and the sea.


Our recommendations include Michelin-starred venues, historic establishments, and neighborhood favorites, showcasing the full range of what sushi in Tokyo has to offer. Whether you’re a traveler seeking a once-in-a-lifetime omakase or a local looking for a counter to visit again and again, this curated MK guide introduces you to the city’s top choices.


Modern Japanese restaurant with long wooden dining bar, brown chairs, zen garden view, soft lighting, and serene atmosphere.

An exclusive Michelin-starred experience where omakase unfolds like a private ceremony—calm, intentional, and guided by seasonal freshness.


Chef deftly shapes sushi rice with hands. A slice of red tuna on a wooden board. White attire, knife nearby, minimalist setting.

One of Tokyo’s most authentic expressions of Edomae craftsmanship, grounded in precision, tradition, and technique.


Two chefs in white uniforms stand behind a wooden counter in a minimalist setting, conveying professionalism and focus.

Hokkaido-born clarity blends with Tokyo refinement at this Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking the city.


Wooden counter with a ceramic vase set against an orange-lit background. Warm and minimalist aesthetic, featuring brown cabinets.

A Minami-Aoyama establishment renowned for its excellent sourcing and careful omakase experience.


Glowing bar in a dimly lit restaurant with stylish chairs arranged around it. A lone bartender works quietly, creating a warm, elegant ambiance.

A refined Higashi-Ginza counter offering premium omakase with a more flexible approach, including accessible happy-hour sets.


A person in a suit holds a glass at a table with sushi and ginger on a black plate. Warm lighting, elegant setting, no visible text.

A reservation-only retreat offering cozy seating and seasonal focus.


Close-up of sushi with pink striped tuna on rice. The sushi is placed on a reflective green surface, showcasing fresh texture and vibrant color.

Hakata-inspired flavors and precise execution characterize this quietly refined Yaesu counter.


Spiky crabs on ice in a white container with dark tags. The crabs are reddish-brown, creating a fresh and chilled atmosphere.

One of Tokyo’s top-standing sushi bars—quick, precise, and expertly made.


Close-up of shrimp sushi on a wooden board in a dimly lit setting. The shrimp is shiny with bright orange stripes, creating a fresh, appetizing look.

A modern sushi bar combining contemporary style with traditional discipline.


Warm-lit sushi restaurant with an empty bar. Reflective ceiling, modern design, and orange-tinted walls create a cozy ambience.

Premium conveyor-belt sushi with sourcing and craftsmanship at Ginza-level.


Sushi chef in white uniform places sushi on a plate at a counter with fresh seafood. Clean, professional kitchen setting.

Founded in 1889, this historic counter preserves the spirit of Tokyo’s old market using classic Edomae techniques.


A bowl of ramen with sliced pork, seaweed, and toppings, alongside a wooden platter of sushi. Light-colored background. Japanese text on bowl.

A lively Shimbashi spot that combines two Tokyo staples—sushi and ramen—in a walk-in, fast-paced environment.


Silver fish nigiri on dark plate, showcasing iridescent scales, reflecting light. Elegant presentation highlights freshness.

A refined Akasaka counter where seasonal cuts communicate through minimalism and restraint.


Cozy Japanese restaurant interior with a wooden counter, red placemats, sushi bar, and shelves with dishes. Red curtains and sake bottles.

One of Tokyo’s most respected halal-certified sushi restaurants, known for its balance and hospitality.


Person in white traditional chef attire with a hat, standing against a light green and wooden background. Calm expression.

An influential Yotsuya counter guided by the philosophy of its legendary master.


Assorted sushi and sashimi on colorful plates with tempura, soup, and nigiri. Cozy dining setting, warm tones, fresh and appetizing.

A neighborhood favorite that combines seasonal traditions with laid-back hospitality.


Chef in a white uniform intently slicing fish on a wooden board. Soft lighting creates a calm atmosphere in the kitchen setting.

An eight-seat Hiroo/Ebisu counter serving refined omakase crafted by a rising young chef.


A hand delicately places sushi on a wooden tray with a leaf in a dimly lit setting, creating a calm, focused atmosphere.

A hands-on sushi-making workshop in Nishiazabu that combines technique with cultural storytelling.


Chef prepares sushi at a wooden counter, surrounded by knives, dishes, and utensils. Warm lighting and wooden decor create a calm ambiance.

A quiet Daikanyama counter offering thoughtful, seasonal omakase.


Sushi bar with empty seats, a glass display of fresh seafood, wooden cabinets, and patterned walls. Warm lighting creates a cozy ambiance.

A reliable counter located at GRANSTA Yaesu, perfect for travelers passing through Tokyo Station.


Sushi piece with vibrant orange sea urchin on rice, set on a textured gray plate. The background is a light wood surface.

A classic Ginza sushi bar, built on decades of calm, traditional craftsmanship.


Elegant sushi platter with various nigiri, maki, and sashimi, garnished with wasabi and ginger. Black lacquer bowl and grapes in background.

A refined Kagurazaka counter providing seasonal dishes and a sophisticated omakase experience.


A City Connected by Craft


Tokyo’s sushi scene is vast but well-structured. It moves with rhythm and purpose, guided by tides, seasons, and skilled chefs who've spent years mastering quick, precise movements at the counter. To explore the city through its sushi is to see it at its most authentic — where luxury is judged not by price but by craftsmanship, and even the smallest shop behind a curtain can reveal an entire world.


What these restaurants share is a focus on clarity: the sharpness of a knife, the warmth of shari, the quiet confidence of a chef who lets the fish speak first. Together, they create a network across the city — Ginza’s polished calm, Asakusa’s deep-rooted tradition, Hiroo’s residential intimacy, and the steady rhythm beneath Tokyo Station.


MK Take

Tokyo rewards the sushi lover who explores. Whether you pick a Michelin counter or a simple shop hidden behind a curtain, each restaurant shows a different side of the city’s dedication to craft. Sushi here becomes a moment of stillness — one perfect bite, vanishing quickly but remembered long after.



Let MK guide you through Tokyo’s top sushi experiences—one counter, one cut, and one unforgettable moment at a time.


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