Japan – the birthplace of sushi, one of the world’s most beloved foods since globalization. Here’s Japan’s best sushi stores ranked by taste!
5. Hama Sushi
Forget about Kura and Sushiro. Disruptor Hama Sushi is the king of affordable sushi restaurants with stores all over the country. Offering higher quality sushi at the same price range as other budget chains, Hama Sushi stands out for its unique menu items and funky branding. In particular, their exclusive flame-grilled cheesy range is a feature of their menu that is simply not offered by its competitors.
4. Genki Sushi Uobei
A notch up in quality and price, Genki Sushi’s Uobei restaurants offer a more premium experience without jacking up the prices too much. This is the kind of store that can suit a variety of budgets from low to medium range. One of the standout features of Uobei sushi is their nigiri toppings which are quite long and generous in quantity, blanketing the entirety of the rice in an aesthetic fashion.
3. Toriton Kaiten Sushi
Moving onto the mid-range budgets, Toriton Kaiten Sushi is another national franchise that you can find in various parts of Japan including the Kanto and Hokkaido regions. I visited the store in Sapporo (Hokkaido) and perhaps for this reason the raw fish was absolutely outstanding (FYI – Hokkaido is known for its fresh seafood produce). The most iconic aspect of Toriton is its long-tail nigiri dishes which offer visual aesthetics and more quantity per plate.
2. Matsuriya Yamahana
Taking the number two spot, we enter the upper echelons of the sushi world with Matsuriya Yamahana. You know a restaurant is of the premium tier when it’s the only branch of its kind and located in Sapporo no less, the capital of Hokkaido. The cheapest dishes are 230 yen, which is still quite affordable, but the quality is off the charts!
Their #1 ranked dish, the salmon sashimi nigiri, is so incredibly fresh and succulent with perfect marbling and fatty proportions. If you thought Uobei and Toriton had generous toppings, wait till you try Matsuriya Yamahana’s full jacket sashimi pieces. It’s like an entire fish per plate!
1. Nigiri Chojiro
The moment we’ve all been waiting for – the best sushi restaurant in Japan as far as my journey has taken me – Nigiri Chojiro! A restaurant with several branches across Japan, it is by far the best quality sushi I’ve eaten in my life. The cheapest dish will cost at least 500 yen (2 pieces), but you’ll typically pay around 750–1000 yen per dish. Expensive as it may be, it’s the perfect restaurant for special occasions (or after getting your paycheck) as it offers a sushi dining experience like no other.
Expert chefs craft the finest pieces of sashimi nigiri dishes using the best quality fish ingredients. It’s pure artistry from the presentation of each dish to the unique natural marbling of the sashimi which features thick lines of fat in beautiful swirly patterns. The taste of Nigiri Chojiro perfectly encapsulates what Japanese sushi is all about! Fresh, tasty, and satisfying in every way, you’ll surely remember this dining experience for a lifetime.
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