8 Japanese Restaurants Honored by Top Gourmands in Shibuya
Shibuya is crowded with various restaurants, including many Japanese restaurants selected by Michelin. Each restaurant has course meals mainly, so it is sometimes difficult to make a reservation. But you will want to try one of them during your stay in Japan!
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1. Ichirin ☆ [Harajuku]
Ichirin was opened by an owner who trained in a famous restaurant in Kyoto. There is only one menu during lunch time and dinner time; Chef's special course. However, the dishes and arrangement change every season, so whenever you visit, you can feel it fresh. Hassun of appetizers and sashimi of sea bream have especially good reputation. Many of the customers come regularly to see the friendly owner.
HP: www.mikizo.com/ (Japanese Only)
Address: AZUMA BUIL 2F, 2-19-5, Jungumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
2. Kogetsu ☆☆ [Omotesando, Aoyama]
Kogetsu is a small restaurant opened in 1967. In addition to course meals, it has various a la carte dishes, allowing you to visit easily. The owner of the restaurant has a lot of overseas experiences, so you can communicate with him in English, which is a nice point. Its dishes are based on carefully-cooked Kyoto cuisine, which is delicate but natural, attracting many regular customers.
HP: www.kogetsu.info/index.html (Japanese Only)
Address: 5-50-10, Jungumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
3. Ichita ☆ [Omotesando, Aoyama]
Ichita is a much-talked-about restaurant with a good sense of a young owner, which acquired Michelin's stars in about a year since its open. Although it has only course meals, you can eat fresh Juwari Soba made from 100% of buckwheat at the last of the course meal. Inside of the restaurant has a simple and modern atmosphere, so it is popular among foreigners who are not familiar with Japanese restaurants.
HP: www.tokyoichita.com/ (Japanese Only)
Address: AOYAMA346 101, 3-4-6, Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
4. Tagetsu ☆ [Omotesando, Aoyama]
Tagetsu is a restaurant allowing you to enjoy orthodox Japanese cuisine based on carefully-made soup stock with a conscientious price. The owner knows a lot about seafood, mountain food, and seasonal ingredients, and his wife's hospitality is also popular. At the end of the meal, you can enjoy three kinds of dessert making use of Japanese ingredients.
HP: https://savorjapan.com/0006046069/
Address: Kitaaoyama Sekine Building B1, 3-13-1, Kitaaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Map)
5. Sekihoutei ☆☆ [Omotesando, Aoyama]
Sekihoutei is a house restaurant in a residential area. You take off shoes at the entrance. It serves beautiful dishes using plenty of soup stock using fresh spring water, which will make every food connoisseur admiring. Many people from all over the world come to this restaurant to experience excellent service of Japan as well as sophisticated cuisine.
HP: r.gnavi.co.jp/a219900/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 3-1-14, Jungumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
6. Shigeyoshi ☆☆ [Harajuku]
Shigeyoshi is a casual restaurant at first glance. You can enjoy eating dishes made based on the style of Japanese cooking, seeing the chefs cooking busily in front of you. The dishes are casual, which remind you of homemade dishes. But they are made in a method making use of the ingredients, with light and simple taste. It has also private rooms and tables, which can be used by groups.
HP: tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130601/13001153/ (Japanese Only)
Address: Cope Olympia 1F, 6-35-3, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
7. Aoyama Esaki ☆☆☆ [Gaienmae, Aoyama 1 chome]
Aoyama Esaki is a restaurant which is particular about the ingredients including vegetables before the term "organic cultivation" became common. Its creative dishes based on Japanese cuisine is hearty, and you will be surprised at the idea every time the dish is served. It is exactly a great restaurant which is worth the name of three-star acquisition for 7 consecutive years.
HP: www.aoyamaesaki.net/index.html (Japanese Only)
Address: Hills Aoyama B1F, 3-39-9, Jungumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
8. Higuchi ☆ [Harajuku]
Higuchi is a compact restaurant with calm atmosphere. Not only its dishes but also its good service are very popular. The owner makes specialty soba and dessert as well as dishes, and serves the dishes at a perfect timing depending on the eating speed of customers. It has abundant alcohols including Japanese sake.
HP: tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130601/13001215/ (Japanese Only)
Address: 2-19-12, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)
(Thumbnail photo from Photo AC)
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.