Ginza is one of Tokyo’s must-visit spots for fine-dining, with clusters of Michelin-starred restaurants just waiting to be enjoyed. While reservations are tricky and cancellation-fees are high, exploring the highest-quality of Japan’s restaurant scene is worth every yen. Choose from classic French, traditional Kaiseki (Japanese set course meals) or a bowl of ramen that gives you a change from a 1000-yen note - each meal will give you a unique take on the finest ingredients of Japan.
L’Osier: Classic French Cuisine - 3 Stars
Serving the finest French cuisine since 1973, L’Osier is one of Ginza’s most well-known fine-dining spots. The restaurant serves a classic French menu with contemporary innovations, using the best ingredients from its dual homelands of France and Japan. Executive Chef Olivier Chaignon began his culinary passion helping a local patissier from the age of eight, trained to become a chef at the age of fourteen and won a culinary Grand Prix at eighteen. After training in Paris and London he moved to Japan in 2005. Guiding L’Osier to new heights, his menus are focused on seasonality, beautiful presentation and the best ingredients. The menus range from 25,000 yen for lunch to 46,000 yen for special dinner menus, with a la carte options also available.
Spot Information
- Address: 7-5-5, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Location: L’Osier is close to exit B6 of Ginza Station and Exit 3 of Shimbashi Station.
- Hours: 12:00 - 13:30, 18:00 - 19:30
- Cost: 15,000 yen - 46,000 yen
- Regular Closing Days: Sunday, Monday, national holidays (irregular), summer season (mid-August), year-end and New Year holidays
Ginza Kojyu: Japanese Minimalism - 3 Stars
Focusing on the natural flavor of the carefully selected ingredients, Ginza Kojyu aims to use as little seasoning as possible. As with true Japanese cuisine, the menus are highly seasonal. Ingredients are sourced from across Japan ensuring each dish showcases the countries best produce. The interior manages a fine balance of minimalism paired with a traditional Japanese design of wood, shoji-style lighting and ikebana (flower arranging) displays. The kitchen is lead by Chef Okuda, who has held the restaurant’s three Michelin stars since 2007.
Spot Information
- Name: Ginza Kojyu (銀座 小十)
- Address: 4F Carioca building, 5-4-8, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Ginza Kojyu is on the 4F of the Carioca Building, between exits B5 and B6 of Ginza Metro Station.
- Hours: 12:00 - 13:00 and 18:00 - 21:30
- Regular Closing Days: Sundays and National Holidays
Tempura Kondo: Tempura Perfection - 2 Stars
Following the strict belief that less is more, Chef Fumio Kondo serves simple ingredients elevated to new heights with his delicate tempura process. Focusing on the after-effects of the heat, he likens the cooking technique to steaming, believing it brings out the deeper flavors of the hand-selected ingredients. One of their signature dishes is the tempura sweet potato - the thick piece is fried for 30 minutes, bringing a sweetness akin to roasting. Originally from Portugal, the dish has been adopted into Japanese cuisine and elevated by restaurants such as this, where the grease associated with fried food is a distant memory after your first bite. Chef Kondo was the first tempura chef to win the Modern Master Craftsman Award back in 1967 and has continued perfecting his art ever since. With each piece served individually, guests can savor the flavors and crisp batter, safe in the knowledge the next piece will be perfectly fresh. Only counter seats are available, meaning all diners can enjoy a view of the chef at work.
Spot Information
- Name: Tempura Kondo (てんぷら 近藤)
- Address: 9F Sakaguchi Building, 5-5-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Tempura Kondo is on the 9th floor of the Sakaguchi Building on Namiki Dori Street, two minutes from exits B5 or B6 of Ginza Station.
- Hours: 12:00 - 15:00 and 17:00 - 20:30.
- Cost: 8,000 yen - 21,000 yen
- Regular Closing Days: Sundays, or Mondays if Sunday is a National Holiday
Ginza Shinohara: Elegant Kaiseki - 2 Stars
A creative take on countryside cooking, Shinohara offers traditional kaiseki cuisine with a refined polish. Kaiseki is a Japanese multi-course meal, often featuring highly seasonal produce and a mixture of fish, meat and vegetables. Despite having a promising professional Karate career ahead of him, chef Takemasa Shinohara chose to become a chef when he left high school. After years of training at traditional kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto he eventually opened a restaurant in Shiga before opening the Ginza branch nine years later in 2016. Bringing the soul of Shiga with him to the capital, he is slowly but surely changing the image of country cooking in Japan. Dishes are small and perfect, similar to the tasting menu style of Western restaurants, allowing guests to savor each item as it is served.
Spot Information
- Name: Ginza Shinohara (銀座しのはら)
- Address: B1 Habiulu GINZA II building, 2-8-17, Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo
- Location: Ginza Shinohara is on the B1 Floor of the Habiulu GINZA II building a few minutes away from exit 9 of Ginza-Itchome Station.
- Hours: 17:00 - 23:00 (12 seatings )
- Cost: 26,000 yen (approx, but may vary depending on ingredients of the day)
- Regular Closing Days: Sundays
Ginza Hachigo: Refined Ramen
Eschewing the apparently vital ramen ingredient of ‘tare’ (the broth seasoning), the ramen at Hachigo is ranked among Japan’s best. Only opened in 2018, the restaurant is one of a handful run by the lead chef Osamu Matsumura. With decades of experience in French cooking, he moved from Tokyo’s top hotels to start his own restaurants, presenting ramen as a full-course, high-quality meal. Using additional ingredients such as prosciutto to replace the saltiness of tare, and forming a base soup with duck and cohin (a breed of chicken), a double-cooking method ensures a uniquely refined flavor in the broth. Only a few dishes are served, with a small selection of additional toppings including egg or increased amounts of the original toppings. A bowl costs just 850 yen and will likely be one of the best value dishes you try in Japan!
Spot Information
- Name: Ginza Hachigou (中華そば 銀座 八五)
- Address: 3-14-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Ginza Hachigo is a short walk from exit A7 of Higashi-Ginza Station on the Asakusa and Hibiya Metro Lines.
- Hours: 11:00-15:00,17:00-21:00 (or until soup base runs out)
- Regular Closing Days: Wednesdays and Second and Fourth Thursday of each month
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