A Guide to Must-Eat Famous Japanese Cuisine Restaurants for Tourism
December 10, 2025
When we say "Japanese cuisine," the variety is truly diverse. From sushi and tempura to sukiyaki, unagi, and shojin cuisine, there are different flavors and techniques depending on the region and season, each imbued with deep history and culture. The visual beauty, delicate seasoning, and respect for the seasonality of ingredients—Japanese cuisine can truly be described as a unique Japanese art to be savored with all five senses.
And the experience of "eating Japanese cuisine in Japan" is indeed exceptional. It's not just because it's the authentic place. It’s packed with the dedication of craftsmen, the beauty of the space, the tableware, and the manner of serving—all embodying unique Japanese “wa hospitality” that can only be felt in Japan. Just like visiting sightseeing spots, dining at a Japanese restaurant in Japan will surely be a "highlight of the journey."
This article carefully introduces recommended Japanese cuisine restaurants in Japan that first-time visitors can confidently visit. We have selected only places where you can fully enjoy the taste, atmosphere, hospitality, and the essence of Japan. We hope you will encounter a memorable dish during your trip to Japan.
Crab is a prized delicacy in Japanese cuisine, making it a must-try for anyone looking to experience the richness of seasonal flavors.
1. Ginza Kani Akatsuki / 銀座 蟹 あかつき
Tokyo, Ginza ☆4.3 (Google Maps)
Exquisite Crab Kaiseki Experience in Ginza
This place offers the excitement of having live crab just taken from the tank cooked right in front of you. You can enjoy a kaiseki course consisting of diverse dishes such as sashimi, shabu-shabu, and grilled items that bring out the natural sweetness and umami of the crab. The delicate plating and use of seasonal ingredients allow you to experience “authentic Japanese cuisine” with all your senses.
Enjoy Seasonal Crab Kaiseki and Delicate Japanese Spirit in a Hidden Ginza Retreat
The luxurious kaiseki course uses snow crab and king crab and features diverse cooking methods such as sashimi, grilled, and hot pot. The dishes are themed around Japanese seasonal events and festivals, allowing you to enjoy the essence of the four seasons with all your senses. Spend a special moment of extraordinary experience in a calm Japanese-style space.
Tempura is a beloved staple of Japanese cuisine, offering a light and crispy way to enjoy seasonal seafood and vegetables.
1. Ginza Tempura Takayama / 銀座 天ぷら 貴山
Tokyo, Ginza ☆5.0 (Google Maps)
Seasonal Tempura That Resonates with Your Sensibility
A tempura specialty restaurant that crisply and lightly fries seasonal ingredients using expert techniques. Every beautifully presented dish is carefully calculated to impress with aroma and texture, leaving an artistic impression. The course includes appetizers, fish shabu-shabu, and a finishing small rice bowl, allowing you to feel the full charm of Japanese cuisine.
Kaiseki Combining the Two Charms of Sushi and Tempura
A popular refined course that blends the traditional technique of Edomae sushi with the world-renowned tempura. Starting with appetizers, you can fully enjoy sashimi, tempura, and sushi all at once—a must-see composition for fans of Japanese cuisine. Not only the taste but also the balance of appearance and texture is carefully crafted.
Refined Tempura Specialty for Crisply Enjoying Seasonal Flavors
Tempura made with seasonal vegetables and seafood produced in Osaka, lightly fried in cottonseed oil as a special style. You can also enjoy creative dishes full of ingenuity such as special sea urchin and truffle egg rice, and dessert with salt ice cream drizzled with olive oil. The pairing with champagne and wine is also one of the attractions.
Price: ¥14,000~(Mid-range)
Type: Authentic yet affordable
Business Hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~22:30
Regular Holiday: Sunday, Public holiday
Feature: English menu, Chinese (traditional) menu, Chinese (simplified) menu, Korean menu, JapanFoodGuide Exclusive Course
A Gourmet OMAKASE Experience Where Edomae Sushi Meets Seasonal Tempura
You can enjoy a unique course combining Edomae sushi crafted by skilled artisans with freshly fried tempura made with seasonal ingredients. The menu is enriched with appetizers, sashimi, small bowls, and steamed dishes, allowing you to savor the essence of Japanese cuisine with each dish. This place lets you touch the depth of Japanese cuisine through delicate flavors and beautiful presentation.
Sukiyaki features beef simmered in a rich, sweet-savory sauce, while shabu-shabu offers a lighter experience with meat swished in delicate broth—both are must-try hot pot dishes in Japanese cuisine.
1. Japanese cuisine Kagawa / 日本料理 香川
Tokyo, Ginza ☆4.6 (Google Maps)
Authentic Japanese Cuisine with the Umami of A5 Wagyu in Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu
At this long-established Japanese restaurant, you can enjoy luxurious sukiyaki and shabu-shabu made from A5 rank wagyu such as Yamagata beef and Yonezawa beef. The course is served in a kaiseki style that includes appetizers, sashimi, grilled dishes, and more, allowing you to feel the tastes of Japan’s four seasons throughout the entire meal. The careful service and professional cooking make it an attractive place where even first-timers can enjoy with confidence.
Refined Japanese Cuisine and Broth World That Draw Out Ingredient Charm
At this authentic Japanese restaurant, a special broth blended from eight kinds of bonito flakes maximizes the umami of the dishes. You can enjoy an OMAKASE course using A5 rank wagyu, fresh seafood direct from markets, and seasonal ingredients. The simple yet carefully calculated presentation and tableware express Japanese aesthetics.
Price: ¥19,100~(Semi-Luxury)
Type: Authentic yet affordable
Business Hours: 12:00~16:00, 18:00~23:30
Regular Holiday: Irregular holidays
Feature: Children's menu, Easy Access from Station
All-You-Can-Eat Wagyu and Kobe Beef, an Extravagant Shabu-Shabu Experience
This popular restaurant offers all-you-can-eat sukiyaki and shabu-shabu made with Black Wagyu and Kobe beef. The extensive lineup includes not only meat but also sushi, sashimi, fried dishes, and desserts—more than 80 items in total. Located just a 3-minute walk from Osaka Namba Station, it’s easy to stop by even during sightseeing.
Price: ¥5,478~(Affordable)
Type: Casual
Business Hours: 11:00~23:00
Regular Holiday: Irregular holidays
Feature: Child-Friendly, English menu, Chinese (simplified) menu, All-you-can-eat, Great value, Highly Rated
Luxurious Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu in Ginza to Savor the Umami of Black Wagyu
Enjoy sukiyaki and shabu-shabu made with carefully selected A5 rank Black Wagyu in a kaiseki style. The course is filled with the depth of Japanese cuisine, including appetizers made with sea urchin and salmon roe, wagyu sushi, and roast beef. It is conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from Ginza Station, allowing you to enjoy a high-quality wagyu experience alongside sightseeing.
Comparing Kobe Beef and Omi Beef in Sukiyaki Kaiseki at a Kyoto Machiya
This luxurious kaiseki course made with traditional Japanese cooking techniques incorporates sukiyaki featuring Kobe beef and Omi beef. The meat is carefully prepared one slice at a time in a special sauce, boasting a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and profound umami. You can experience Japanese cuisine with all five senses by feeling the aroma and heat of the dishes right before your eyes.
Price: ¥25,850~(Luxury)
Type: Authentic
Business Hours: 17:00~22:00
Regular Holiday: Tuesday
Feature: Child-Friendly, Children's menu, English menu, Private Rooms, Highly Rated
Beyond the well-known dishes like sushi and hot pot, Japan offers many regional specialties.
1. Cuisine d'Osaka Ryo
Osaka, Temmangu ☆4.3 (Google Maps)
Mastering Kushikatsu, Creative Japanese Cuisine and Wine Pairing
These high-temperature fried kushikatsu skewers lock in the ingredients’ umami, delivering juicy results. You can enjoy creative skewers featuring luxurious ingredients like sea urchin chateaubriand, abalone, and eel. Paired with sommelier-selected wine, this place offers a refined taste of Osaka food culture.
If you visit Japan, tasting "Japanese cuisine" at least once in its authentic form is a must. Among them, Japanese cuisine restaurants that offer different charms by genre such as crab dishes, tempura, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu provide a uniquely Japanese culinary experience.
Crab dishes: A Japanese-exclusive taste enjoying seasonal crabs with diverse cooking methods
Tempura: Light texture and aroma created by ingredients, oil, and frying timing
Sukiyaki & Shabu-Shabu: Luxurious hot pot dishes savoring carefully selected wagyu with special broth
All these restaurants are designed to let you feel Japan’s seasons and food culture through your five senses, offering a “memorable meal” experience not only as part of sightseeing. For foreign travelers who want to taste authentic Japanese cuisine, the restaurants introduced here are all excellent establishments recommended with confidence. We hope you encounter an unforgettable dish during your journey.
