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Kyoto is a culinary treasure trove, renowned for ...
- Jan. 16. 2025
Tucked between Tokyo’s business districts, Akasaka somehow feels like its own little world. Sure, you’ve got the iconic Akasaka Palace and rows of towering office buildings, but the real magic happens when you veer off the main streets. During the day, locals in suits grab lunch at hidden gems you’d only spot if you knew where to look. Come evening, the neighborhood’s backstreets come alive with the warm glow of lanterns and cheerful chatter spilling from izakayas. What makes Akasaka special is its ability to feel quintessentially Tokyo while maintaining a sense of separateness from the bustling city. You can spend hours wandering and still stumble upon something unexpected around the next corner. Here’s a list of our favorite Akasaka dining spots that will have you obsessed.
Category: Sushi & Kaiseki
Price: Lunch ¥3,000~, Dinner ¥22,000~ (Tax not included)
*Please check their website for opening hours
Hidden down a side street off Roppongi-dori, this intimate sushi haven is helmed by Chef Yuji Kumagai, a former sous chef at Grand Hyatt Tokyo. The serene basement space features two distinct counter areas: one with a private room accessed through a stunning door adorned with intricate kumiko woodwork, and another featuring an elegant hinoki ice chest finished in black lacquer. Their lunch specialty is the generous chirashi bowl topped with fresh seafood, while dinner offers masterfully crafted Edomae-style sushi courses. Chef Kumagai's signature touches include his unique preparation of conger eel and his special soy sauce blend.
Category: Modern Japanese
Run by the husband-and-wife team Yujiro and Shiho Watanabe, this 18-seat restaurant offers an innovative take on Japanese cuisine. Each course begins with a unique house-made enzyme juice, reflecting their focus on health-oriented dining. While honoring techniques learned at prestigious establishments – evident in dishes like their "Quail Arima-style" and "Sea Bream Ochazuke" – the Watanabes have crafted their own distinctive culinary identity.
Category: Contemporary Japanese
Price: ¥34,000~ (food and drink pairing course) + 10% service charge
Chef Hideki Ii, who trained in Sydney and served as a private chef to UN ambassadors in New York, brings a global perspective to Japanese cuisine. Located in a renovated traditional house, the 10-seat counter wraps around an open kitchen, where diners can watch the action. The menu blends Japanese techniques with Western ingredients and methods. Enjoy dishes crafted with seasonal ingredients, perfectly paired with beverages to enhance your dining experience.
Category: Japanese Cuisine
Price: Lunch ¥14,300~、Dinner ¥22,000~
Tax included, service charge applied separately
The Tokyo outpost of Kyoto's famous Kikunoi showcases the same exquisite craftsmanship, with architecture by renowned Kyoto builder Nakamura Sotoji Komuten. A bamboo-lined stone path leads to this sukiya-style building, where seasonal kaiseki courses await. Theatrical presentations such as barracuda on cedar boards demonstrate the kitchen's mastery of fire and smoke. The first floor's counter and table seating arrangement makes high-end Kyoto cuisine more accessible to Tokyo diners while preserving its elegance and tradition.
Category: Kaiseki
Price: Lunch set ¥2,500 (dessert included)
Lunch courses ¥8,200, ¥10,000, ¥14,500 (tax not included)
Dinner courses ¥18,000~ (tax not included)
Just steps from Roppongi Avenue, Akasaka Kien combines nostalgia with refined kaiseki dining in a tranquil setting. Chef Hiroaki Ishizuka's menu highlights seasonal ingredients with dishes like shrimp shinjo and Wagyu roast beef with dashi jelly. Each course offers subtle, elegant flavors, concluding with a choice of tai chazuke or seasonal mixed rice. The plain wood counter and serene calligraphy enhance the welcoming atmosphere.