Scramble Crossing Sushi: 11 Must-Try Sushi Restaurants in Shibuya

With famous landmarks like the iconic Scramble Crossing, the Hachiko Statue and the iconic Shibuya 109 sign, Shibuya immediately springs to mind when visitors think of Tokyo. 

However, while districts like Ginza, Omotesando and Akasaka are typically more closely associated with high-end sushi, Shibuya also plays host to its own fair share of fantastic sushi restaurants. Though most of them are traditional Edomae sushi restaurants with omakase-style menus, each has its own distinctive trait that sets it apart. 

So what makes each of them worth a visit? Read on to find out!

First, we’ll need to clarify some terms along the way, the first being omakase. 

Every restaurant on this list is omakase, or at least has an omakase option — sounds luxurious. Omakase sushi is a term that’s thrown around a lot. But what does it actually mean? 

Meaning “chef’s choice,” an omakase course typically forgoes a fixed menu in favor of leaving the sushi served up to the chef behind the counter. All you have to do is eat what’s put in front of you, usually one course at a time.

The chef typically determines the items served based on what is freshest that day. Maybe they’ve secured an especially fatty cut of hon-maguro — bluefin tuna — or a whole batch of purple and green sea urchin, fresh from a port in Tohoku. 

Of course, chefs will typically have their signature dishes as part of the menu — it’s what they’ve built their reputation on, after all. Many of them will also have staples from the Edomae school of sushi, such as vinegared gizzard shad (kohada) or maguro-zuke (marinated tuna). 

But for the most part, guests won’t know what you’re being served until it’s placed in front of them. That’s one of the best parts of the experience!

Purists would argue that omakase sushi is the optimal way to enjoy sushi. The chef knows best, after all — who better to leave the menu selection to than someone with decades of training in the form? 

Furthermore, sushi is never enjoyed in isolation: a typical omakase course consists of anything between 10 to over 20 pieces of sushi. Sushi enthusiasts would argue that the order in which the sushi is served is another important aspect of the sushi experience. 

For instance, a lot of thought goes into whether squid should be enjoyed before maguro: Should squid come before maguro, because having a fatty fish like maguro after would overpower the more delicate taste of squid? Or does squid come after because its lighter taste would serve as a palate cleanser for other sushi to come?

What do you think? Are you an omakase person, or would you rather customize your own sushi experience? There’s only one way to find out. 

Omakase sushi and affordable are words not often associated with each other, but Shibuya Sushi Lab achieves the impossible by putting those two things together. 

That’s not to say the quality is lacking in any way either. A veteran of more than 25 years in the business, head chef Tahara Ryuichi relies on the Tsumoto style of preparing his fish — a style of bloodletting that keeps the fish fresh for as long as possible, while still drawing out the fish’s natural umami. Depending on the fish, Chef Tahara ages each piece for up to 40 days. 

It’s also easy to get to, situated right outside the Miyamasuzaka Exit of Shibuya Station, and impossible to miss. It’s no wonder that Shibuya Sushi Lab is so popular.

Reserve your table for Shibuya Sushi Lab!

Appropriately, Sushi Hajime — pronounced like the Japanese word for “begin,” but written with the character for “one” — is the first on this list. General manager and head chef Takahoshi Hiroshi gets his ingredients directly from personal suppliers in Toyosu Market, ensuring that nothing but the best is served to the customer.

But it’s the rice that really stands out at Sushi Hajime (sometimes known as Namikibashi Sushi Hajime). Chef Takahoshi uses only Koshihikari rice from Aizu, a sweet and sticky rice that is said to be among the best cultivated varieties in Japan. He sculpts it into shari that’s so expertly made, guests say each individual grain can still be felt beneath the tongue. 

Chef Takahoshi is first in many guests’ hearts as well for a different reason entirely; his good looks and charming demeanor are said to bring back just as many repeat customers as his immaculately crafted sushi and top-quality ingredients.

Reserve your table for omakase sushi at Sushi Hajime!

A 3-minute walk east of the Scramble Crossing, Sushi Nakano is a legend by a different name. Formerly known as Kurosaki, the only reason it no longer has a Michelin star is because the original restaurant shifted its operations to Minami-aoyama, but its reputation for excellence is still very much intact, regularly placing in the Top 100 on Tabelog every year.

Nakano is particular about its attention to the temperature of its shari: fattier fish like tuna and yellowtail are placed atop warmer rice, while squid and subtler toppings receive cooler rice. Even the cooking of each pot of rice is timed perfectly to coincide with each party’s arrival. 

Interestingly, Nakano’s popularity among Michelin seekers has made it one of the sushi restaurants more friendly to English speakers. The staff all speak it with some fluency, and English menus are available as well. 

Reserve your table for Shibuya sushi at Sushi Nakano!

Located on Shibuya’s bustling Dogenzaka Street, right outside JR Shibuya Station, Shibuya Sushiki is especially popular with foreign visitors. The former manager of two sushi restaurants in Australia, Chef Marui Takumi speaks fluent English — with a charming Aussie accent — and can often be heard bantering easily with visitors. 

Similarly, his sushi isn’t afraid to take influences from his travels overseas. Chef Takumi has all the Edomae favorites at the ready, and can whip them up with his eyes closed. But his most talked-about dishes are those that incorporate unorthodox ingredients, like Western vegetables. 

Whisky lovers shouldn’t miss out on his extensive whisky selection either. While most restaurants stick to the tried and tested combination of sushi and sake, and more recently sushi and wine, Chef Takumi has curated a selection of smoky single malts and blends alike that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning connoisseur. 

Reserve your seat at Shibuya Sushiki!

“Jukusei” in Japanese means “to age,” and the aging technique here at this Ebisu restaurant is immaculate. The restaurant’s specialties are its greater amberjack (kanpachi) and medium-fatty tuna (chutoro), both of which are aged for two and three weeks respectively to maximize the umami of each fish. 

But something truly distinctive about Jukusei Sushi Wagokoro is its interior. Many sushi restaurants are beautiful, but very few of them are beautiful like this: the lighting is especially dramatic, calling to mind a chiaroscuro painting. 

The space is decorated with a tasteful mix of traditional and contemporary decorations alike, with ikebana flower arrangements placed alongside paintings by famous names in the modern Japanese art scene.

But the real star of the show is the sushi, of course. The official site proudly shows off an extensive gallery of Wagokoro’s beautiful nigiri, each one breathtaking in its own way. The aged spear squid (yari-ika) takes a particularly high amount of skill to get right, painstakingly sliced crosswise dozens of times to create a feathering effect.

Reserve your spot at Jukusei Sushi Wagokoro!

Meaning “fifty-six steps” in Japanese, Sushi Gotoroppo’s name is well deserved. In a building just north of Ebisu Station, this sushi restaurant sits at the top of its building, on the fifth floor. Appropriately for a building so high up, the restaurant is beautifully decorated with motifs of the moon, like a perpetual tsukimi — moon-viewing — festival.

But the climb is well worth it. Some of the finest sushi not just in Shibuya Ward, but in the whole of Japan, can be found on the counter of this restaurant. Its head chef has worked in sushi restaurants all over the nation for almost 30 years, and can be seen every morning at Toyosu Market, handpicking his own fish. 

Interestingly for a sushi restaurant, Sushi Gotoroppo’s course menus feature an all-you-can-eat dessert service — a sweet finish to the meal. From daifuku (mochi filled with red bean paste) to warabi-mochi (soft jelly sprinkled with soybean flour), the menu changes every day. It’s an omakase experience not just for sushi, but for desserts as well. 

Reserve your seat for Shibuya sushi at Sushi Gotoroppo!

It’s true that Shibuya is haunted, but not in the way that you might expect. Here at Ajuta, just slightly northwest of the Scramble Crossing, Chef Hiroki Ajuta uses Hatsushimo rice in his shari, a cultivated variety grown exclusively in fields in Gifu Prefecture, and so rare that it’s called a “phantom rice.” 

Such a precious and rare rice is given the care it deserves. Chef Ajuta seasons the rice with four types of vinegar and two types of salt, all of which are sourced from various places all around the world. Fine ingredients from Toyosu Market are then carefully laid atop it with great skill.

Conger eel, or anago, is one of the staples of the Edomae sushi tradition, and is one of the standards by which a restaurant is judged. So it speaks volumes that Chef Ajuta’s conger eel nigiri is said to be one of the best in Tokyo — he forgoes the sweet sauce reduction used by most chefs in favor of just using salt. 

Reserve for Edomae sushi at Ajuta!

The former holder of a Michelin star, Chef Oana Kenji has one of the most storied careers of any sushi chef currently active in Japan. He cut his teeth at Sushi Sho, and is one of the most successful proteges of the legendary sushi master Nakazawa Keiji. 

“Takumi” means “artisan” in Japanese, and Chef Oana certainly deserves the title. Each nigiri is a work of art almost too beautiful to eat, crafted by the chef and his apprentices. Silver-skinned fish is topped with a teetering pillar of shredded spring onion and delicately dotted with tiny purple shiso flowers — picture-perfect.

He’s in good company among other fantastic sushi chefs in Ebisu, just south of the JR Ebisu Station. It might not seem possible that Michelin-level sushi would be so readily accessible, but Takumi Sushi Owana makes it a reality. 

Reserve your seat for Michelin-star sushi in Shibuya!

The pronunciation of Sushi Tomi’s name is confusing even to native Japanese speakers; it’s written with the character for “10” written three times. It’s indicative of just how perfect the sushi is — a perfect 10, three times over.

If you want to try it for yourself, be prepared to look, though. Located near Ebisu Station, Sushi Tomi is the perfect example of a restaurant that doesn’t mind staying hidden. It’s actually located on the second floor of an entirely different restaurant, Yakiniku Kokonomi — there’s no signage either, so it’s not visible from the street.

Nonetheless, its reputation alone has ensured that it’s got no shortage of clientele. Starting when he was just 15, Chef Onuki Masahiro has worked in the sushi business for over 30 years, including at the famous sushi restaurant Ginza Kyubey. 

At his own restaurant, the bluefin tuna is his pride and joy; it comes from the famous Toyosu market wholesaler Yamayuki, which he then expertly slices and lays out on Koshihikari rice from Nagano Prefecture. 

Reserve a table for stylish sushi in Shibuya at Sushi Tomi!

Located in the Oku-Shibuya part of Shibuya, Sushi Kourin is a bit of a walk from the station; a short meander northwest of the station towards Shibuya Parco and the Bunkamura performing arts center. You’ll know you’re getting close when you see the long line of eager visitors snaking down a basement staircase. 

Unlike most of the restaurants on this list, Sushi Kourin isn’t strictly omakase. Of course, an omakase course option is available at his restaurant, but Chef Nitta Shinji has also been known to be so accommodating that he’ll even serve guests who just want a single piece of sushi. Over 40 menu options are available to choose from, meticulously handwritten on a blackboard every day.

Fitting for Oku-Shibuya, the atmosphere is casual, but make sure to get there early or make a reservation: there are only 12 seats at the counter, and every one of them is guaranteed to have someone in it, especially since the restaurant’s receiving of a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2023. 

Reserve a memorable sushi experience at Sushi Kourin!

Formerly known as Ebisu Hoshi, Sushi Tenkawa is just east of Ebisu Station. 

Sushi Tenkawa is selective not just about its seafood, but also other things like vegetables, which the chef sources from Kyoto. 

But interestingly, while most omakase sushi restaurants prefer to serve their tuna raw or vinegared, the flame-grilled tuna is what every guest looks forward to at Sushi Tenkawa. Over an open flame, it’s a spectacular sight, and an even better taste. 

Reserve your spot for sushi dining at Sushi Tenkawa!

Ready to savor more sushi in Tokyo? Join some of the best sushi-making classes in the city, learn more about the types of fish served as sushi, or learn about the price tag associated with omakase sushi.

In general, even for restaurants that bill themselves as more casual, sushi restaurants typically require guests to wear smart casual attire. This means no sandals or shorts, and men should wear a collared shirt. 

In an omakase restaurant, this isn’t a concern at all — the chef will brush the sushi with just the right amount and kind of soy sauce for you. Some sushi aren’t even meant to be eaten with soy sauce — some might have a sprinkle of salt on top instead, or are meant to be eaten plain. 

Ebisu is actually a part of Shibuya Ward, and is popular for Shibuya visitors looking for a slightly quieter side of the city. Just a few minutes to the south of Shibuya Station, Ebisu is also widely known among Tokyoites for its vast collection of gourmet restaurants and eateries. 

From small traditional kappo establishments and smoky yakitori grills to high-end sushi and haute French, Ebisu is a must-visit for foodies in particular. 

As the name suggests, it’s not typically the practice to, as omakase means leaving everything up to the chef. However, it doesn’t hurt to make your preferences known when submitting your reservation request, although it’s no guarantee that they’ll accommodate them. 

Of course, chefs have every right to turn down your reservation if you have certain dietary restrictions — many of them are especially strict about fish and vegetables in particular.

Don’t wear anything that smells too strong. This is serious: a lot of sushi chefs believe that strong smells will affect the taste of the sushi. It’s also why a lot of sushi restaurants don’t even have designated smoking areas. (If you are a smoker and smell too strongly of smoke, there’s a chance that you may be denied entry too.)

Pro tip: It’s best to avoid wearing aftershave or perfume when you’re planning to visit a sushi restaurant!