Ginza (literally "silver seat") was named after the silver coin mint that was established there during the Edo period. It has become the gold (or rather, silver) standard of modernization after being rebuilt following the 1872 fire that destroyed most of the area, and today Ginza still exudes luxuriousness.
This Tokyo district is the picture of extravagance, where men in power suits and posh women dressed to the nines strut and shop along streets lined with boutiques and international luxury brands. It's no surprise that some of the best restaurants in Tokyo call this fancy neighborhood home. When you have sufficiently shopped around and explored Ginza, check out the many bars and restaurants in Ginza, some of which are Michelin-starred!
Wondering where to eat in Ginza? This Ginza Food Guide covers Michelin-starred restaurants in Ginza along with other delicious eateries, restaurants, and bars. If you're up early, check out the best spots for breakfast in Ginza, too!
Where to eat in Ginza
1. Ginza Ugai
Ginza Ugai is perhaps one of Ginza’s finest kaiseki course menu restaurants, offering dishes that thrill the palate by maximizing ingredients’ natural flavors, deftly walking the fine line between umami, sweetness and bitterness.
For the true Ugai experience, select the byFood-exclusive course menu, specially conceptualized by Chef Fujii to bring out the multifaceted nature of every ingredient, revealing the myriad layers of flavor and texture across multiple mouthwatering courses.
2. Ginza CAVE
Escape the bright lights of central Tokyo at Ginza CAVE, tucking you away with the Japanese-Italian fusion cuisine of owner-chef Manabu Miyama. This restaurant is the destination on a journey that took Manabu from behind the bar and all the way to Tuscany, Italy.
There, he learned about wine, its place in cuisine, and returned to Japan as a trifecta: restaurant owner, chef and sommelier, pairing his unpretentious cuisine with his extensive knowledge of wines.
His most famous dish is a sandwich of Japanese wagyu beef chateaubriand, of which only 10 are made a day, inspired by the traditional pork cutlet sandwiches of the restaurants where he trained early in his career.
Worried you won’t manage to snag one? Select the byFood-exclusive dinner course menu and you’re guaranteed the famed wagyu chateaubriand sandwich along with a glass of Jean Noel Haton champagne from the Vallee de la Marne region of France. Cheers!
3. Ginza Saisho
You may know Ginza Saisho as the home of the “Sea Urchin Festival,” an event that shines the spotlight on buttery, premium sea urchin-based delicacies. Understandably, seats fill up fast as soon as this irregularly held event is announced.
Equally deserving of attention is their two omakase sushi menus, each perfectly paired with sommelier-selected sake for an especially extravagant experience.
4. Emit Fishbar
Ginza is considered one of the swankiest areas of Tokyo, and with the signature oysters of Emit Fishbar waiting for you, it’s easy to see why. Farmed at depths exceeding 384 meters in Toyama Bay, you can expect only the freshest, purest of ingredients.
Nowhere is this more evident than in their Oyster Abundance Course with All-You-Can-Drink Plan, treating you to an assortment of oysters in various dishes alongside appetizers, sherbet for dessert, and nomihoudai all-you-can-drink tipples.
5. Ginza Yamashina
For a touch of luxury that only Japanese wagyu beef can deliver, head to Ginza Yamashina. Some might be surprised to find that this restaurant’s signature dish is a sandwich, but not all sandwiches are built equal. This is a wagyu beef sandwich, breaded and deep-fried before being drizzled in demi-glace sauce.
This effortlessly elegant dining space is the perfect place to treat your taste buds, featuring several private rooms for special occasions, domestic and imported whiskies, fine wines, sake and a selection of extravagant course menus to explore.
6. Niku no Himaraya to Nomuno (Shintomicho/Tsukiji Branch)
Only a 15-minute walk away from the heart of Ginza is Niku no Himaraya to Nomuno. Named after the Himalayas, you can expect a literal mountain of meat that’s as delicious as it is Insta-worthy.
From 200g to 1kg of premium meat, you won’t be leaving this Tokyo restaurant hungry, that’s for sure. Especially once you discover their equally luxurious yakiniku grilled meat course menus; the most expensive of which will open the door to appetizers, salads, a selection of meats and more, perfectly paired with all-you-can drink options.
Find out more: 13 Tokyo Restaurants Meat Lovers Will Adore (Ft. Wagyu, Kobe Beef & More)
7. Ginza Shibahama
Named after a famous rakugo (traditional comic storytelling) play, Ginza Shibahama is a sushi kappo restaurant that will prove two things: love is real, and sushi and kappo can be combined.
Dubbed “sushi kappo”, Chef Nakashita’s uses the season’s best ingredients to highlight his masterful sushi sculpting and expertly-prepared kappo dishes, finding a perfect balance between traditional Japanese cuisine and innovation.
Nakashita’s wife plays the role of host and sommelier effortlessly, recommending sake pairings and interacting with diners in a refreshing representation of Edo-Period hospitality.
8. Yamagata San-Dan-Delo
Another contender for Ginza’s throne of best Italian restaurant is Yamagata San-Dan-Delo: a beautiful synthesis of Italian technique and Japanese ingredients, just outside Ginza-itchome Station.
As a prefecture called a “treasure trove” of ingredients, the high quality of Yamagata meat, produce and seafood stems from the convergence of the Mogami River and the Sea of Japan, and the rich fertile mountains, of which there are over 300.
It’s this quality of ingredients that lends itself so well to the Italian style of cuisine, masterfully made by chef Okuda Masayuki into dishes like veal cutlet and seafood acqua pazza, and countless others from Chef Okuda’s creative culinary mind.
9. Blue Lily Steak House & Chinese Restaurant
Wagyu beef is a delightfully versatile ingredient — but it’s difficult to find restaurants that will serve it outside of the usual methods of teppanyaki, yakiniku and hot pot (sukiyaki and shabu-shabu). That’s where Blue Lily comes in: for those who prefer a thick, juicy steak to sink their teeth into over the traditional thin-sliced wagyu, this Ginza steak house has you covered.
Blue Lily Steak House & Chinese Restaurant doesn’t just serve any kind of steaks; it uses some of the finest wagyu beef available, including Kobe and Matsusaka beef, two of Japan’s Three Great Beefs. The rest is a rotating roster of Japan’s best, like a hall of fame of beefs.
Making up the other half of Blue Lily’s name is the Chinese restaurant part; the beautifully marbled wagyu steak is served alongside a delectable selection of dim sum, from shumai dumplings to scallion pancakes, which will have diners spoiled for choice.
10. Yakitori Ginza I
Yakitori (charcoal-grilled chicken skewers) is typically a cuisine that’s accompanied with late-night after-work beers. So pairing yakitori with some of the finest Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir might make for strange bedfellows anywhere else, but not at this restaurant.
The concept behind Yakitori Ginza I is to elevate this humble salaryman food, and Chef Inoue Koichi does this with aplomb, thanks to more than 25 years of experience grilling yakitori. His signature skewer is the tsukune (chicken mincemeat) with foie gras, the latter of which acts as a butter-smooth, rich binding that packs the tsukune with flavor.
Paired with the right glass of wine — of which Chef Inoue has dozens — it’s an absolutely life-changing experience.
Its small and intimate atmosphere also makes it a great place for a romantic date — go and have all your existing ideas of yakitori completely upended.
11. Ginza Kuki
Miso fiends rejoice. Ginza Kuki is a celebration of one of Japan’s most famous ingredients, and one that is at the core of almost all its cuisine: miso. Ginza Kuki takes this humble fermented bean paste and makes it into an art form, using the expertise of four generations of miso masters accrued over 80 years of constant experimentation and refinement.
While every dish in the restaurant’s extensive course menus is delicious in its own right, the signature miso-marinated beef has to be experienced to be believed. The beef is left overnight in a mixture of sweet rice malt sake and aged miso, letting proteolytic enzymes break it down for maximum tenderness. It’s then marinated in 3-year-aged miso before undergoing slow-cooking at 58°C before finally being seared to seal in the flavor.
12. Ginza Konoha
When it comes to Japan’s Three Great Beefs, Kobe and Matsusaka are the first two that spring to mind. The third? Omi beef from Shiga Prefecture, which dates back even further than the other two. It’s this rare and vaunted beef that is the centerpiece of every kaiseki meal at Ginza Konoha.
But Ginza Konoha’s Omi beef isn’t just any “regular” Omi beef, insofar as Omi beef could ever be called “regular.” Konoha makes sure to use only meat from “otome-gyu” heifers that have not born calves, which gives the meat an especially marbled texture and rich flavor that is not found in more mature cattle.
While the beef is the star attraction, it isn’t the only one. Seasonal ingredients from all over Japan are served kaiseki-style, course after course, including grilled tilefish and mixed rice with snow crab and sea urchin.
13. Torafugu-tei Ginza
Always wanted to try the deadly poisonous fugu puffer fish, but never found the right place to do it? Sate your curiosity on your next trip to Ginza by making a reservation at Torafugu-tei Ginza.
It doesn’t get fresher than the fugu at Torafugu-tei Ginza, which sources its tiger puffer fish from Nagasaki Prefecture, and transports them live in a 15-hour overland journey, where on arrival they are placed in tanks, letting them swim freely up until the moment of preparation.
The puffer fish is then served in a number of different ways, from tessa sashimi to tecchiri hotpot, letting visitors decide on their favorite way to eat it. And rest assured: every chef at Torafugu-tei Ginza is fully licensed, rendering the extremely toxic fish completely harmless.
14. Yakiniku Inoue Ginza
Yakiniku Inoue Ginza should be on any Ginza visitor’s list just for aesthetics alone. Odds are, you’ve probably already seen it on social media; a cloudy bubble filled with swirling smoke is gently placed atop a carefully assembled square of beautifully marbled wagyu tartare. With a sprinkle of salt, the bubble bursts, sending the smoke spilling out all over the plate.
Though videos of the “smoked wagyu tartare” may have hundreds of thousands of collective views on the internet (not to mention the restaurant’s distinctive red brick interior, which is a visual homage to old Tokyo’s attempts at fireproofing) it can’t be stressed enough that Yakiniku Inoue Ginza isn’t all style and no substance.
The highest quality wagyu beef is served alongside fresh seafood from all over Japan, including oysters and sea urchin from ports in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures. An excellent spot for a date night or celebration.
15. Ginza Hassen
If you’re looking for sake in Ginza, there is only one restaurant to look for: Ginza Hassen. Few sake breweries in Japan are held in as high regard — or as decorated — as Hachinohe Shuzo Sake Brewery on the Aomori coast. Everything that goes into the sake comes from Aomori Prefecture: the rice, the yeast, and most importantly the ultra-pure Kanisawa spring water, which gives the sake an ephemeral lightness.
Hachinohe Shuzo has been making this sake for more than 250 years, and it’s this sake that is served alongside the flawless kappo cuisine of Ginza Hassen’s head chef Sugimoto Shuichi. Few chefs are worthy of having their food paired with such legendary sake, but Chef Sugimoto is one of them.
With just eight seats at the counter, a service at Ginza Hassen is a wildly exclusive experience — so make sure to make reservations well in advance.
16. Ginza Mitsukoshi Food Hall
The second-floor basement of Mitsukoshi is a depachika (literally "department store basement") where you can find a wonderland of food. Depachika are a must-visit for foodies and Ginza Mitsukoshi, in particular, is a sprawling paradise of delicious treats.
The food basement offers limitless food options that showcase Japan’s local food culture and seasonal ingredients. It is home to food stalls such as bento shops, Japanese sake stores, and confectionaries. After you're done shopping, head to the rooftop garden to find a nice spot to indulge in your loot. Then, be sure to hit the food kiosks one last time to stock up on Japanese treats to take home.
17. Luxury Brand Dining at Armani Ristorante, Bvlgari La Terra & More
For those who prefer branded dining experiences, Ginza has brands aplenty. Visit the upscale Armani Ristorante for a sumptuous lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner. Or visit Bvlgari La Terrazza Lounge for an open-air tea experience and indulge in the Bulgari Afternoon Tea Box, a three-tiered box of sweet and savory treats that's served with coffee or tea.
Of course, Japanese cosmetic company Shiseido joins the branded-cafe experience with Shiseido Parlour Salon de Cafe. The signature dish, meat croquette, is quickly fried before being cooked to crispy perfection in the oven. They also serve other yoshoku (Japanese western cuisine) dishes such as Japanese currry rice and omurice, as well as classic desserts such as strawberry and chocolate parfaits.
18. Bar Lupin
Bar Lupin, established in 1928, is a renowned bar in Ginza which was flocked to by famous Japanese writers, painters, actors, and photographers. Notable patrons include members of the buraiha ("the school of irresponsibility and decadence"), like writers Dazai Osamu and Sakaguchi Ango, who conveyed the loss of identity and feelings of aimlessness following World War II.
But Bar Lupin was a gathering place for not just writers, but artists of all kinds to share drinks and converse, and its walls are still adorned with photographs that harken back to its heydays. It has withstood war and come out even stronger, and today, the bar remains the perfect spot to have intellectual and literary discussions while sipping a martini or Moscow mule.
19. The Bar Orchard
The Bar Orchard is one of the most unique bars in Tokyo, transforming bartending into something like performance art. Their bartenders have mastered the art of combining seasonal fresh fruits and the science of using liquid nitrogen to create spectacular cocktail concoctions. And if you don't know what to order, the bartenders will personalize one just for you. Just pick one of the seasonal fruits at the bar and the mixology team will make a drink that's innovative, wild, and bubbly!
Michelin-starred restaurants in Ginza
Any guide covering where to eat in Ginza would not be complete without mentioning the many Michelin-starred restaurants in Ginza. Aside from luxury brands, Ginza is blessed with many Michelin-starred restaurants.
Find out more: Taste the Best of Tokyo: 20 Michelin Star Restaurants in Tokyo
20. Oniku Karyu (Michelin)
Named by Chef Katayanagi Haruka’s after a Zen saying about beauty, Oniku Karyu is determined to show every lucky diner the true beauty of wagyu beef.
Every cut of A4- and A5-grade kuroge wagyu is sourced from Japan’s finest suppliers before being presented in kaiseki-style course menus with luxurious seasonal ingredients.
Read our review of Oniku Karyu to learn more about this Tokyo dining experience.
21. Hortensia
Finding its way onto the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2025 with a Michelin Star is Hortensia. Surprisingly for a French restaurant, Hortensia makes heavy use of Japanese ingredients like dashi stock, bonito flakes and konbu kelp in its cuisine, giving all of its dishes a subtle umami undercurrent.
Head chef Koga Tetsuji refers to his culinary philosophy as revolving around the “three harmonies”: the harmony of seasons, the harmony of flavors and the harmony of gentleness.
A meal at Hortensia doesn’t just taste good, however; the aesthetics are just as important. Chef Koga serves his guests on priceless Japanese ceramics, including Arita-yaki and Mino-yaki ceramic plates from Saga and Gifu Prefectures respectively.
22. Primo Passo
Also newly added to the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2025, Primo Passo — “first step” — sets itself apart with its combination of Italian technique and Japanese ingredients. Its current head chef used to be the pasta chef at the famed three-Michelin-starred restaurant Quattro Passi — appropriately, “four steps” — and now boasts a Michelin Star of his own.
Primo Passo’s primary focus is on pasta — in fact, five out of the 12 dishes in the course menu are some form of pasta, which is the chef’s way of getting people to understand its deliciousness and versatility.
The open kitchen adds to the lively atmosphere of the restaurant, somehow compressing the vibrant energy of a trattoria into a dignified space of dark wood furniture.
23. Birdland Ginza
Let's start with the most accessible Michelin Selected restaurant in Ginza, a yakitori joint called Birdland. The owner-chef tends to the yakitori grill himself, serving up high-quality chicken from Okukuji, Ibaraki, where he grew up.
You can choose between two omakase courses which come with pâté, skewers, grilled yam, and a small oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl), to name just a few courses. To go with the skewers, you can enjoy some sake or beer, or order from the extensive wine selection.
24. Ginza Kojyu
Ginza Kojyu, a 2-star Michelin kaiseki restaurant headed by Chef Toro Okuda, is famous for serving Japanese haute cuisine using ultra-seasonal ingredients. You can choose to sit at the counter for a view of the chef as he prepares the dishes, or dine in a private room (tatami or Western style).
Some of Ginza Kojyu's offerings include prawn dumplings floating in dashi stock broth, salmon grilled over charcoal, and rice with steamed parrotfish. There is no single set menu for kaiseki, as the offerings change depending on the seasonality of ingredients.
25. Tempura Kondo
Tempura Kondo is a restaurant in Ginza with 2 Michelin stars and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's vote. In fact, Tempura Kondo was the restaurant he had intended to take President Obama to in 2014, but the restaurant was fully booked and Tempura Kondo decided to honor the existing reservations rather than make an exception for the President and Prime Minister. As a result, Abe and Obama dined at Sukibashi Jiro, instead.
Tempura Kondo boasts a wide assortment of vegetables and seafood cooked by a skillful tempura chef. While conventional shrimp tempura is headless, this Michelin-starred tempura restaurant in Ginza uses shrimp heads and fries them as an appetizer. And unlike the usual tempura, the crust enveloping each piece is paper-thin and leaves a crunch that pops in your mouth with each bite.
From historical bars frequented by the literati to sumptuous Michelin-starred restaurants, this Where to Eat in Ginza food guide has covered some of the best eateries and restaurants in Ginza, the Tokyo district that exudes sophistication. Ginza has an array of world-class dining experiences, which elevate Japanese cuisine to a whole new level.
Watch as Shizuka dines with a demon at the Akita Dining Namahage Restaurant in Ginza, and subscribe to the Japan by Food YouTube channel for more videos!
Restaurants in Ginza FAQs
What food is Ginza known for?
What is the most popular street in Ginza?
Chuo-dori, meaning "Central Street," is where the most glamorous shops in Ginza are located, filled with shiny brands and the even more eye-catching buildings that house them.
Is Ginza worth going to?
Yes! Much like Oxford Street in London, you must visit Ginza at least once to see how the other half live (and shop). Plus, with Japan's relatively affordable pricing, you'll still be able to experience the art of fine dining without breaking the bank.
