A Guide to Authentic Japanese Cuisine Experience in Ginza
December 16, 2025
Tokyo's Ginza is known as one of the most sophisticated areas in Japan. Within the glamorous streets lined with luxury brand shops, long-established department stores and traditional culture still thrive, making it a special place where you can feel Japan's "iki" just by visiting. Ginza is also famous as a gourmet city, attracting food lovers from around the world.
Among these, what deserves special attention is "Japanese cuisine." Delicate flavors, beautiful presentations that reflect the four seasons, and cooking methods that maximize the ingredients... Japanese cuisine is an "eating cultural experience" in every aspect. With diverse genres such as sushi, tempura, and kaiseki cuisine, it can be said to be a "meal that becomes the purpose of travel" for foreign tourists visiting Japan.
This article carefully selects and introduces renowned Japanese cuisine restaurants in Ginza where you can enjoy authentic dishes. For those who want to experience not just sightseeing but "the real Japan," you are sure to encounter a dish that will be a highlight of your trip. Even with a short stay, enjoy a memorable genuine Japanese meal experience.
Matoi Ginza / まとい 銀座
Joetsu Yasuda Ginza 2chome / 上越やすだ 銀座二丁目
Namiki Dori Hyotan / 並木通り 瓢箪
Hyakuyaku by Tokuyamazushi / 百薬 by 徳山鮓
Ginza Sugaya / 銀座 すが家
1. Matoi Ginza / まとい 銀座
Tokyo, Ginza ☆4.8 (Google Maps)
Luxurious kaiseki cuisine that fuses branded wagyu and seasonal blessings
Using branded wagyu such as Kobe beef and Yonezawa beef sourced from all over Japan luxuriously, you can enjoy various cooking methods such as charcoal grilling, katsu sandwiches, and shabu-shabu. The authentic Japanese cuisine course combined with seasonal seafood and vegetables offers a luxurious taste that maximizes the umami of the ingredients. This establishment is worthy of a special meal where you can feel traditional Japanese techniques and aesthetics.
An authentic Japanese restaurant to savor Niigata's food culture and seasonal flavors
You can enjoy traditional Niigata cuisine made with fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan and mountain blessings. The donabe (clay pot) rice cooked with carefully selected rice from Joetsu is fluffy, aromatic, and popular among visiting guests. Pairing with carefully selected sake from 90 breweries nationwide is also a charm.
Price: ¥15,680~(Mid-range)
Type: Authentic yet affordable
Business Hours: 11:30~15:00, 17:30~23:00
Regular Holiday: Sunday
Feature: English menu, Chinese (traditional) menu, Chinese (simplified) menu, Korean menu
A restaurant where you can enjoy carefully prepared seasonal Japanese dishes and their specialty donabe rice
You can taste classic Japanese dishes such as sashimi, tempura, and charcoal grilled wagyu as a course meal using seasonal ingredients. There is also a wide variety of Kyoto-style obanzai (home-style dishes), which lets you feel the charm of Japanese dining tables. Their specialty donabe rice is aromatic and pairs perfectly with ingredients like eel and salmon.
A unique Japanese cuisine experience woven by fermentation and game meat
Enjoy fermentation cuisine using rare ingredients such as bear meat, duck, and funazushi, bringing out umami through natural processes. Utilizing seasonal blessings from mountains and sea, the course combines tradition and innovation. You can also savor exquisite pairings with sake, wine, and fermented teas.
Price: ¥38,500~(High-end)
Type: Authentic
Business Hours: 17:30~23:00
Regular Holiday: Sunday
Feature: English menu, JapanFoodGuide Exclusive Course
Experience Japan's essence through kaiseki meals featuring seasonal fugu and crab
Experienced chefs offer kaiseki cuisine centered on seasonal fugu (pufferfish) and snow crab, prepared with delicate techniques. You can enjoy courses including sashimi, grilled dishes, fried items, and hot pot, tasting the deliciousness of all four seasons at once. The carefully drawn broth and the precise control of heat applied to ingredients showcase the chefs' dedication.
Price: ¥22,000~(Semi-Luxury)
Type: Authentic
Business Hours: 11:30~15:00, 17:00~24:00
Regular Holiday: Sunday, Public holiday
Feature: Child-Friendly, Children's menu, English menu
Japanese cuisine enjoyed in Ginza is not just a meal but a valuable experience where you can sense Japan’s four seasons, culture, and the aesthetics of skilled artisans. Among the many restaurants, the ones introduced here deliver impressive experiences by leveraging carefully selected seasonal ingredients and refined techniques. Whether it’s wagyu, seafood, or fermentation cuisine, each has its unique appeal, yet all share a pursuit of “genuine washoku.”
Each dish is crafted with care, ingenuity, and hospitality, leaving a strong memory as a travel experience. Experiencing Japanese cuisine that combines formality and warmth in the sophisticated city of Ginza will deepen your appreciation of Japan’s profound charm. Even within a limited stay, be sure to visit. Surely, you will encounter a special meal befitting your journey.
