281 Best Restaurants in Japan

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We've compiled the best of the best in Japan - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Homework's

$$ | Minato-ku

Every so often, even on foreign shores, you've got to have a burger. When the urge strikes, the Swiss-and-bacon special at Homework's is an incomparably better choice than anything you can get at one of the global chains. Hamburgers come in three sizes on white or wheat buns, with a variety of toppings. You also find hot teriyaki chicken sandwiches, pastrami sandwiches, and vegetarian options like a soybean veggie burger or a grilled eggplant sandwich. With its hardwood banquettes and French doors open to the street in good weather, Homework's is a pleasant place to linger over lunch. There is also a branch in Hiro.

Houtenkaku Shinkan

$$$ | Naka-ku

This no-frills eatery serves up excellent sheng jian bao (Shanghai-style fried dumplings) and other casual Shanghai cuisine all day long. The open kitchen is behind glass so customers can admire the speed with which the chefs cook up this Shanghai staple. Get a selection of sheng jian bao at the first floor takeout window for an inexpensive snack or dine in at the second-floor restaurant for a more relaxed meal.

Ibasho

$$$ | Naka-ku

This fabulous old wooden restaurant specializes in grilled eel (unagi), which fills the restaurant with a mouthwatering, charcoal-grill aroma. Some of the seating is at low tables on raised tatami-mat flooring, though there are also tables and chairs overlooking a small Japanese garden.

3--13--22 Nishiki, Nagoya, 460-0003, Japan
052-951–1166
Known For
  • Hitsumabushi, a Nagoya specialty featuring chopped eel smothered in miso sauce and served on rice<i/>
  • Charming rustic interiors
  • English menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., and the 2nd and 3rd Mon. of each month

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Ichi Nii San

$$$

The novel idea behind this restaurant is to serve pork shabu-shabu in soba broth. The broth imparts a delicate flavor to the thinly sliced pork, which is served with seasonal vegetables.

Ichi-ran

$

Folks in Fukuoka wait in long lines for these rectangular black boxes of extra-thin noodles swimming in pork-bone broth and topped with tasty char-shu (slices of roasted pork), negi (green onions), and sprinkles of togarashi (red pepper). Fill out an order form (available in English) to indicate exactly how you like it, then buy a ticket from the machine outside the door and place your ticket and order form on the counter.

Ichiran

$ | Ueno

At Ueno Station is a branch of an amusing ramen chain. Ichiran serves tonkotsu (pork broth) noodles. Rather than sitting at a table and ordering off the menu, you'll choose and pay for your meal and your seat at a machine. You then use the order sheet at your table (it has English on it) and choose how you'd like it served. You'll hand that and your order tickets through a window. Like magic—presto!—the curtain rises and made-to-order steaming bowls appear.

Ikkyu-An

$

Soba noodles, which are made with buckwheat, are a signature of the restaurants near Jindai-ji. That's apparently because buckwheat was traditionally easier to grow here than rice. This place along the temple’s Monzen-machi approach serves handmade soba in a variety of ways, including in warm broths and cold with a dipping sauce.

5-11-2 Jindaiji-motomachi, Chofu, 182-0017, Japan
042-482--6773
Known For
  • Soba noodles
  • Rustic vibe
  • Close to the main sights
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner

In the Green

$
This combination trattoria, pizzeria, and café in a contemporary glass, metal, and wood space borders the northern side of the Kyoto Botanical Gardens. Both the location and the food make it popular, so it is wise to make a reservation by phone or in person and see the gardens first. The chefs fire up thin-crust Neapolitan-style pizzas in a tile-covered wood-fired oven, and simple fish and meat dishes are also on the daily-changing menu.

Inaka-ya

$$$

Seasonal seafood and regional specialties dominate the menu here, with dishes like wappa-meshi (rice steamed in a wooden box with toppings of salmon, chicken, or crab) making for an inexpensive and excellent lunch and, depending on the season, more elaborate dinner courses including yanagi karei hitohoshi-yaki (grilled flounder), nodo-guro shioyaki (grilled blackthroat seaperch), and buri teriyaki (yellowtail). Inaka-ya, which closes between lunch and dinner from 2:30 to 5, is found in the heart of Furu-machi, the local eating and drinking district.

1457 Kyuban-cho, Niigata, 951-8063, Japan
025-223–1266
Known For
  • Rock oysters from May to August
  • Grilled sweetfish from June to September
  • Excellent sashimi assortments

Inaniwa Sato Yosuke

$$

Noodles can only be called Inaniwa Udon if they are produced in Inaniwa. Established in 1860, this noodle empire has many branches across the Tohoku region, but this one is for connoisseurs who want to sample regional foods and locally brewed sake. Make big slurps and enjoy.

2--6--1 Nakadori, Akita, 010-0001, Japan
018-834–1720
Known For
  • A chewy type of noodle particular to Akita
  • Large lunch sets
  • Creative takes on local dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed only when the Seibu Building is closed

Indépendants

$ | Nakagyo-ku

A great backpacker hangout, this café is especially popular midday, when a devoted clientele of students and artists comes for the cheap, bountiful plate lunches (including curries, salads, and soups), friendly service, live music, and convivial atmosphere. The setting is the former Mainichi Newspaper Building, with its brick-and-plaster basement, colorful mosaic tiles, and exposed masonry. If the scene here is too frenetic for you, head up to the pleasant Cafe Chocolat, on the second floor.

Sanjo-dori and Gokomachi-dori, Kyoto, 604-8082, Japan
075-255–4312
Known For
  • Hip atmosphere
  • Excellent desserts
  • Vintage and stylish interior
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted

Ippachi-zushi

$$$

What was once an early-20th-century warehouse is now a modern sushi restaurant. The fish here is fresh, and the price is right (and a clear price list is hung on the wall). The casual atmosphere makes it popular among business travelers. The fish served varies according to the season and availability.

1--10--11 Shinmachi, 030-0801, Japan
017-722–2639
Known For
  • Fresh seasonal fish
  • Interesting architecture
  • Lively atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed 2nd and 4th Sun. every month

Ippudo

$ | Minato-ku

Open from 11 am to 11 pm, this ever-busy ramen joint, now an international chain with almost 30 locations in Tokyo alone, is an ideal quick stop on or after a night out. The classic ramen is the Shiromaru, which features a creamy pork-based stock, thin yet slightly firm noodles, and a topping of chashu pork slices. Other options include the Akamaru, which has a little red miso mixed in the soup, and side dishes such as gyoza dumplings.

Itamae no Mise Takeya

$$

In business for more than half a century, this small restaurant in Aikawa specializes in seafood, with excellent sashimi and simmered dishes, but also a local favorite called ikagoro; squid (innards and all) mixed with sliced onions, mushrooms, and miso paste, before being sauteed. If you are staying without a meal plan at the Hotel Mancho or Hotel Oosado, both just down the coast from Aikawa, this is a good value option for a local dinner.

1--5--3 Aikawa, Sado, 952-1557, Japan
0259-74--3328
Known For
  • Ikagoro (sauteed squid with onions, mushrooms, and miso)
  • Local sake
  • Sashimi
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Lunch only on Sun.

Izakaya Bang Bang

$$$$

Sizzling yakitori (meat on wood skewers) and other local favorites like grilled salmon and herring accompany imports like spareribs and tacos at this place in Hirafu Village. The folks at the nearby tables could become tomorrow's skiing or whitewater rafting buddies, and your hotel's staffers probably enjoy their evenings off here. It's open for dinner, but if you're in the area around lunchtime consider the sister restaurant Bang 2 (Deux) just next door. English translations are on the menu.

188--24 Aza-Yamada, Kutchan, 044-0081, Japan
0136-22–4292
Known For
  • International crowd
  • Chicken, skewered meats, and vegetable yakitori
  • Fun vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed end of the ski season till July. No lunch

Izakaya Toramaru

$$$

This traditional restaurant in a replica warehouse in the Kawasaki area does not open unless there is a delivery of fresh fish, which indicates how seriously the cooks take their food. As well as a wide variety of fresh fish dishes, there are also plenty of meat and izakaya staples on the menu, all served in haphazardly shaped pottery dishes.

2--13--6 Kawasaki, Ise, 516-0009, Japan
0596-22–9298
Known For
  • Good selection of sake and shochu
  • Expertly prepared sashimi
  • Welcoming atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch

Izusen Daiji-in

$$$ | Kita-ku

Vegetarian cuisine plays a part in all major Kyoto temples, and one of the most scenic restaurants in which to sample it is in the southwestern section of Daitoku-ji. The monastic shojin ryori cuisine here is served in luminous red-lacquer bowls at low tables in the temple garden (beware the mosquitoes in summer) or inside if the weather is inclement. Another branch of Izusen outside the east (main) gate serves the same excellent cuisine but has table seating.

Jiraiya

$$$$ | Aoba-ku

In its lively neighborhood, a curtain next to a big red paper lantern leads to this inviting eatery where kinki (deepwater white fish) are carefully grilled on a charcoal fire and other delectables are served. The interior is quaint and inviting and the walls are plastered with signed posters and artifacts from celebrities.

Jo-Jo's

$$

This spacious, laid-back restaurant—all soaring beams and wide windows overlooking Mt. Yotei—on the second floor of Niseko Adventure Center is busy all day with guides and their nervous or elated customers. The platters here overflow with nourishing meals for adventurers, including an all-Hokkaido burger with only local ingredients. Jo-Jo's sells drinks from 9:30, but doesn't start serving food until 11.

179--53 Aza-Yamada, Niseko, 044-0081, Japan
0136-23–2220
Known For
  • Juicy burgers
  • Homemade cakes
  • Fresh salads

Kagetsu

$$$$

Billing itself as "one of the most important historical restaurants of Japan," this quiet hilltop retreat is Nagasaki's most prestigious dining room with fine cuisine that matches its reputation. The interior wooden beams date to 1618. Meiji Restoration leader Ryoma Sakamoto once took a chunk out of a wooden pillar with his sword during a brawl; you can still see the gashes in the main dining room. With notice ahead of your visit, Kagetsu can provide special meals including vegetarian, nut-free, and halal.

2--1 Maruyama-cho, Nagasaki, 850-0902, Japan
095-822–0191
Known For
  • Well-priced lunchtime bento boxes
  • Geisha can be booked in advance to perform during meals (extra fees)
  • Kaiseki (multicourse meals)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential

Kaikin Hanten

$$$ | Naka-ku

In contrast to many of the meat-heavy choices in Chinatown, this Cantonese restaurant specializes in fresh, flavorful seafood dishes. Menu highlights include the shrimp-shiso spring rolls, steamed Sakhalin surf clams with garlic, and a rotating selection of fresh fish caught that day. Not to be outdone by the seafood, the sweet-and-sour ribs are a treat. 

126--22 Yamashita-cho, Yokohama, Japan
050-5485--4599
Known For
  • Some of Chinatown's freshest seafood
  • Excellent quality at reasonable prices
  • Wide selection of Cantonese dishes

Kairakuen

$

This ornate Chinese restaurant is a local favorite, and it's easy to see, smell, and taste why. Kairakuen serves the best chanpon—Nagasaki's signature dish of Chinese-style noodles, vegetables, and pork-based broth—in town.

Kaiseiro

$$$$

This establishment, in an old Japanese house, serves the best Chinese food in the city. The dining-room windows look out on a small, restful garden. Make sure you plan for a stop here on your way to or from the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in.

3–1–14 Hase, Kamakura, 248-0016, Japan
0467-22–0280
Known For
  • Elegant atmosphere
  • Steeped in history
  • Excellent Peking duck and other multicourse meals
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential

Kaisen Misaki-ko

$$

This kaiten-zushi (sushi served on a conveyor belt that lets you pick the dishes you want) restaurant serves eye-poppingly large fish portions that hang over the edge of their plates. All the standard sushi creations, including tuna, shrimp, and egg, are prepared here. As in any kaiten-zushi joint, simply stack up your empty dishes to the side. When you are ready to leave, the dishes will be counted and you will be charged accordingly.

1–7–1 Komachi, Kamakura, 248-0006, Japan
0467-22–6228
Known For
  • Friendly, helpful staff and sushi chefs
  • Inexpensive, quality sushi
  • Fast service

Kamakura Udon Miyoshi

$$
Serving up some of Kamakura's best handmade udon noodles and tempura, this unpretentious restaurant is a good bet for quick and satisfying lunch. Miyoshi also has a selection of local sakes to pair with your meal.
1–5–38 Yukinoshita, Kamakura, 248-0005, Japan
0467-61–4634
Known For
  • Fresh noodles made before your eyes
  • Reliability amid the tourist traps in the area
  • Tempura that won't weigh you down

Kamameshi Suishin Honten

$$ | Naka-ku

Famous for its kamameshi, or rice casseroles, this restaurant serves the freshest fish from the Seto Nai-kai—fugu, or puffer fish, oysters, and eel, to name but a few. If you prefer your fish cooked, try the rockfish grilled with soy sauce. English menus (and Japanese-style rooms with horikotatsu pits to hang your legs in) are available.

6--7 Tate-machi, Hiroshima, 730-0032, Japan
082-247–4411
Known For
  • Local Hiroshima cuisine
  • Fresh seafood
  • Welcoming atmosphere

Kanawa Oyster Boat

$$$$ | Naka-ku

Hiroshima is known for its oysters, and Kanawa, on a barge moored on the Motoyasu-gawa, gets its oysters from a particularly salty area of the Inland Sea. It's believed that these waters impart the firm flesh and sweet, robust taste that loyal customers love to splurge on. It's not cheap, but the oysters are worth every yen. An English menu makes it all easy, and dining is on tatami mats or at tables, with relaxing river views. The place is an easy stroll from Peace Memorial Park.

Kanda Matsuya

$ | Chiyoda-ku

Soba, thin buckwheat noodles often served chilled in summer and hot in winter, are available everywhere, even convenience stores. The family-run Matsuya serves authentic soba in a rustic atmosphere. A simple soba meal can be quite inexpensive, or, for a bit more, get noodles topped with tempura or other goodies.

1–13 Kanda Sudacho, Tokyo, 101-0041, Japan
03-3251–1556
Known For
  • Authentic hand-cut noodles
  • Tempura soba
  • Lunchtime crowds
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Kanda Yabu Soba

$ | Chiyoda-ku

The ever-popular Kanda Yabu Soba, located in a recently built but traditional building that replaced the original 130-year-old restaurant after a fire in 2013, is one of the oldest and best places to sit down and savor freshly made soba—be that on tatami or at one of the tables. Soba, thin noodles made from buckwheat flour and quickly dipped into a hot broth or cold dipping sauce, are the lighter cousin of udon.

2–10 Kanda Awajicho, Tokyo, 101-0041, Japan
03-3251–0287
Known For
  • Excellent rotating seasonal set
  • Soba sushi rolls
  • Historic atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.

Kani Honke Sapporo Station

$$$$ | Chuo-ku

There are two branches of Kani Honke, one in Susukino, and the other in front of Sapporo Station. In business for more than 50 years, these crab-eating havens serves raw, steamed, boiled, and baked crustaceans—the waitress will tell you whether the ke-gani (hairy crab), taraba-gani (king crab), or zuwai-kani (snow crab) is in season. Wood beams, tatami mats, and traditional decorations provide an authentic setting for the feast. Look for the building with crabs all over it and a couple of giant white signs on the roof. There's also an English menu.

2--1--18 Kitasanjo-Nishi, Sapporo, 060-0003, Japan
011-222--0018
Known For
  • Local icon
  • Courses centered on crab shabu-shabu or crab sukiyaki
  • Sides such as sashimi of tuna belly