The Michelin star is the ultimate mark of quality in the food world, so for Tokyo to have seven restaurants with three Michelin stars is a sign of the city’s incredible food scene. Here’s your guide to the three Michelin star restaurants in Tokyo.
1. RyuGin
One of Japan’s leading Japanese restaurants, established in 2003. The menu includes “Three Hot and Cold Appetizers,” “Seasonal Bowls,” and “Seafood sashimi platter, RyuGin style”. The chefs purchase a wide range of ingredients from all over Japan every day, and only the best ingredients are used.
Midtown Hibiya 7F, 1-1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
2. Kohaku
Because Japan is blessed with an abundance of water, water is of utmost importance to Kohaku. Water plays a major role in the dashi broth, and the aroma of bonito and kelp is very subtle, but not overpowering. Dishes here also feature caviar, foie gras, and truffles, because the restaurant is keen to expand the possibilities of Japanese cuisine by using rare and unusual ingredients.
3-4 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
3. Makimura
Makimura is a Japanese restaurant that has defended three Michelin stars for nine consecutive years since 2015. The menu changes almost monthly and is richly decorated with seasonal fish and vegetables, offering a taste of the season. The main course is a hearty meat dish, and you’ll find that many regular customers come every month to enjoy the new menu.
1F MAKIMURA BLD 3-11-5 Minami-Oi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
4. Kagurazaka Ishikawa
A Japanese restaurant located behind the Zenkoku-ji Temple in Kagurazaka. The restaurant offers seasonal courses that highlight the unique features and flavours of the ingredients, in a dignified setting. The owner, Hideki Ishikawa, opened Kagurazaka Ishikawa and went independent, before going on to open nearby Kohaku in 2008 and Ren in 2009, both in the same Kagurazaka neighbourhood.
Takamura Bldg. 1F, 5-37 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
👉Kagurazaka Ishikawa official website
5. Sushi Yoshitake
Opened in Ginza in 2010, it is the only sushi restaurant in Tokyo to have received three Michelin stars. The owner, Masahiro Yoshitake, continues to receive high acclaim both in Japan and abroad for his uncompromising Edomae-style sushi, and his Sushi Shikon restaurant, which opened in Hong Kong in 2013, has received three stars for nine consecutive years in the Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau. Photography is not allowed inside the restaurant.
Brown Place 9F, 7-8-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
6. Azabu Kadowaki
This kaiseki restaurant is located on a street just past the shopping district. The owner, Toshiya Kadowaki, buys seasonal vegetables every morning and weaves carefully selected ingredients into a course that combines the best of the season, such as matsutake mushrooms, flatfish, Matsuba crab, and Japanese parsley. The specialty is “rice cooked with truffles,” which is available with all courses.
Rose House 1F, 2-7-2 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
7. Nihonryōri Kanda
This Michelin star restaurant has been awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide for 16 years, and also received the Mentor Chef Award in the 2022 Michelin Guide. The minimalist store design, created with contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto, is also noteworthy.
Toranomon Hills Residential Tower 1F, 1-1-1 Atago, Minato-ku, Tokyo
*Opening hours and holidays are subject to change. Before visiting, please check the official website for the latest information in advance.