One-stop Tokyo & Osaka Food & Shopping Guide — Essential for Your Japan Trip
For food lovers, the term “Michelin restaurant” is surely no stranger. It originated over 100 years ago in France, but surprisingly, Japan has now surpassed France to become the country with the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. As a fashion capital, shopping is also a highlight of many people's trips to Japan. Today, we bring you a Tokyo & Osaka food and shopping guide. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, why not follow us on a one-stop gourmet and shopping extravaganza featuring Tokyo and Osaka’s Michelin three-star restaurants?
Tokyo Chapter
Food
Unlike the 2013 and 2014 editions of the "Michelin Guide Tokyo, Yokohama, Shonan," which covered multiple areas, the 2015 edition featured a dedicated guide just for Tokyo — a testament to its esteemed status among food inspectors.
Sukiyabashi Jiro Main Branch
The Sukiyabashi Jiro main branch (すきやばし次郎) is arguably the most famous Michelin restaurant in Tokyo. It is the flagship establishment of the legendary “Sushi God” Jiro Ono. Among the sushi offerings at Sukiyabashi Jiro, Jiro himself highly recommends tuna sushi, believing it best embodies the essence of sushi — with different parts of the fish varying in fat content, paired with rice precisely controlled for temperature, resulting in an extraordinary flavor experience.
Average spending: 32,000 yen
Address: B1F, Tsukamoto, 4-2-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Azabu Yukimura
Owner Yukimura Jun is skilled in using seasonal ingredients, and is especially known for his famed matsutake crab — namely, matsuba crab and taraba crab — considered a must-try delicacy for crab aficionados. The sweet and tender meat of the crab is a favorite among seafood gourmets. Their signature dish, fukiwarai burdock with crab, combines Kyoto’s famed fukiwarai burdock with premium crabs from Matsumae. The crab is boiled and shelled, while the burdock is simmered in a sauce made from sake, katsuobushi broth, and light soy sauce. Mibuyasai (a type of leafy green) is marinated in sake, katsuobushi broth, mirin, and soy sauce. A special white miso, made with root extract from yamaimo (mountain yam) sourced from Mt. Daisen in Yoshino, is used. All these components are artfully plated to create a dish well worth trying.
Average spending: 25,000 yen
Address: 3rd Floor, Yukan Azabu 10 Bldg., 1-5-5, Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Kagurazaka Ishikawa
When it comes to Michelin three-star restaurants in Tokyo, the renowned Kagurazaka “Ishikawa” fine dining establishment must be mentioned. This is a restaurant specializing in kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine), and its promotional text perfectly encapsulates its defining characteristic. Visiting Tokyo without enjoying a splendid dinner at Kagurazaka “Ishikawa” would truly be a missed opportunity.
Average spending: 25,000 yen
Address: 1F, Takamura Bldg., 3-37 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
