Best Sushi in Tokyo 2026: Top 20 Sushi Restaurants

Tokyo has the world's best sushi — from ¥100 plates at conveyor belt restaurants to ¥30,000 omakase experiences. Here are the top 20 spots.

Sushi Styles in Tokyo

Style	Description	Price Range
Kaitenzushi	Conveyor belt, grab plates	¥100–300/plate
Sushi-ya	Traditional counter, chef's choice	¥3,000–15,000
Omakase	Chef's choice, premium	¥10,000–50,000
Sushi set	Fixed menu, good value	¥2,000–5,000
Standing sushi	Quick, cheap, no frills	¥500–1,500
Takeout	From konbini or market	¥300–2,000

Top 20 Sushi Restaurants

Kaitenzushi (Conveyor Belt) — Budget Friendly

Restaurant	Location	Price	Rating	Notes
Sushiro	Various	¥1,000–2,000	★★★★★	Best value chain
Kura Sushi	Various	¥1,000–2,000	★★★★☆	All-you-can-eat option
Hamazushi	Various	¥800–1,500	★★★★☆	Budget-friendly
Genki Sushi	Various	¥1,000–2,000	★★★★☆	Fast, fun delivery system
Uobei Shibuya	Shibuya	¥100/plate	★★★★☆	£1 per plate, order by screen

Mid-Range Sushi-ya — Best Value

Restaurant	Location	Price	Rating	Notes
Sushi Dai	Toyosu Market	¥4,000–6,000	★★★★★	Famous, 2-hour wait
Daiwa Sushi	Toyosu Market	¥3,000–5,000	★★★★★	Less wait, same quality
Sushi Saito	Roppongi	¥20,000–30,000	★★★★★	3 Michelin stars
Sushi Yoshitake	Ginza	¥15,000–25,000	★★★★★	3 Michelin stars
Masa	Midtown	¥10,000–20,000	★★★★★	2 Michelin stars

Omakase (Premium) — Once in a Lifetime

Restaurant	Location	Price	Rating	Notes
Sukiyabashi Jiro	Ginza	¥30,000–50,000	★★★★★	Documentary fame, 3 stars
Sushi Saito	Roppongi	¥20,000–30,000	★★★★★	Reservation 3+ months ahead
Masa	Midtown	¥10,000–20,000	★★★★★	NYC transplant, 2 stars
Sushi Iwa	Ginza	¥15,000–25,000	★★★★★	3 stars, intimate counter
Kohaku	Kagurazaka	¥15,000–25,000	★★★★★	3 stars, innovative
Ishikawa	Kagurazaka	¥10,000–20,000	★★★★★	3 stars, seasonal focus
Kanda	Minato	¥15,000–25,000	★★★★★	3 stars, traditional

Standing Sushi — Quick & Cheap

Restaurant	Location	Price	Rating	Notes
Standing Sushi Bar	Various	¥500–1,500	★★★★☆	Quick, fresh, cheap
Sushi Zanmai	Various	¥1,000–2,000	★★★★☆	24-hour, reliable
Haruki	Various	¥800–1,500	★★★☆☆	Budget option

How to Order Sushi

At Kaitenzushi

Step	What to Do
1. Sit down	Take a seat at the counter or table
2. Order via screen	Touch screen menu, select items
3. Wait	Sushi arrives on conveyor belt or special lane
4. Eat	Take plates from the belt
5. Stack plates	Keep used plates for billing
6. Pay	Count plates at the register
7. Say "gochisousama"	Thank the staff

At Traditional Sushi-ya

Step	What to Do
1. Sit at counter	Best experience — watch the chef
2. Trust the chef	Order omakase for the best experience
3. Eat in order	Start with lighter fish, end with richer
4. Eat immediately	Sushi is best fresh
5. Use fingers	It's perfectly acceptable
6. Dip lightly	Fish side only, not the rice
7. Finish everything	It's polite to eat all pieces

Sushi Etiquette

Do

✅ Eat sushi in one bite (if possible)
✅ Use fingers for nigiri (it's traditional)
✅ Dip fish side only in soy sauce
✅ Eat ginger between pieces (palate cleanser)
✅ Say "gochisousama" when finished
✅ Thank the chef ("oishi desu" / it's delicious)
✅ Sit at the counter for the best experience

Don't

❌ Mix wasabi into soy sauce (chef already placed it)
❌ Dunk the rice in soy sauce (it falls apart)
❌ Eat ginger with the sushi (it's a palate cleanser)
❌ Put chopsticks standing up in rice (funeral association)
❌ Point at sushi with chopsticks
❌ Take too long — sushi is meant to be eaten fresh

Best Sushi by Budget

Budget	What to Expect	Where to Go
¥500–1,000	Standing sushi, basic nigiri	Standing Sushi Bar, konbini
¥1,000–2,000	Kaitenzushi, good variety	Sushiro, Kura Sushi
¥2,000–5,000	Set menu, good quality	Mid-range sushi-ya
¥5,000–10,000	Omakase (entry level)	Various Ginza shops
¥10,000–20,000	Premium omakase	Michelin-starred shops
¥20,000–50,000	World-class omakase	Sukiyabashi Jiro, Sushi Saito

Sushi at Toyosu Market

The successor to Tsukiji Outer Market:

Restaurant	Type	Price	Wait Time
Sushi Dai	Omakase	¥4,000–6,000	2–3 hours
Daiwa Sushi	Omakase	¥3,000–5,000	1–2 hours
Sushi Zanmai	Various	¥2,000–4,000	30–60 min
Iwasa Sushi	Kaitenzushi	¥2,000–3,000	30–60 min

Tip: Arrive at 5 AM to avoid the worst lines. Weekdays are much better than weekends.

Reservation Tips

Restaurant Type	How to Book	Lead Time
Kaitenzushi	Walk-in	None
Mid-range	Phone or online	1–2 days
Premium omakase	Concierge or reservation service	1–3 months
Michelin-starred	Hotel concierge or Japanese friends	3–6 months
Tourist-friendly	Online booking (Tabelog, Omakase)	1–4 weeks

Pro tip: Have your hotel concierge book for you — they have connections and speak Japanese.

FAQ

Q: How much does sushi cost in Tokyo? A: ¥500–50,000 depending on the restaurant. Kaitenzushi is ¥1,000–2,000, mid-range ¥3,000–5,000, omakase ¥10,000–50,000.

Q: What's the best kaitenzushi chain? A: Sushiro is widely considered the best value — good quality, reasonable prices, fun atmosphere.

Q: Do I need reservations for sushi in Tokyo? A: For kaitenzushi, no. For mid-range and above, yes — especially for omakase. Book 1–3 months ahead for popular spots.

Q: Can I eat sushi with my hands? A: Yes — it's traditional and perfectly acceptable. Many sushi chefs prefer it.

Q: What's the difference between nigiri and sashimi? A: Nigiri is rice topped with fish. Sashimi is just fish (no rice).

Useful Japanese Phrases

Japanese	Romaji	English
おすすめは何ですか？	Osusume wa nan desu ka?	What do you recommend?
おまかせでお願いします	Omakase de onegai shimasu	Chef's choice, please
おいしいです	Oishii desu	It's delicious
ごちそうさまでした	Gochisōsama deshita	Thank you for the meal
お会計お願いします	Okaikei onegai shimasu	Check, please
もう一つお願いします	Mō hitotsu onegai shimasu	One more, please

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