Azabujuban Hanabusa

Restaurant Details

Ask any Japanese person where the best unagi (freshwater eel) comes from, and they will probably tell you Aichi Prefecture. Ask anyone from Aichi where the best unagi comes from, and they will probably tell you Nishio City.

Within Nishio, Isshiki Town has one of the longest histories of eel cultivation, having raised the fish for over a century in the pristine, clear waters of the Yahagi River that flows down from the mountains of Gifu. The eels are raised as naturally as possible in very small quantities, giving them much more space to roam and grow than most other unagi. Everything is closely monitored, right down to the water temperature at specific stages of the eel’s life cycle.

It is from Isshiki’s pure waters that Hanabusa exclusively sources its eels, which is why Hanabusa’s unagi notably lacks a “fishy” odor that is sometimes present in other eels.

Unusual for a Tokyo restaurant, Hanabusa subscribes to the Kansai method of grilling, “jiyaki”, which eschews the steaming process typically used in the Kanto school of unagi preparation in favor of directly grilling the eel over a charcoal flame. This gives it a crispier surface texture and smokier flavor — which is enhanced by the use of Hanabusa’s secret sauce.

The restaurant takes just as much pride in its sauce as it does its carefully-cultivated eels. A secret mixture of Mikawa-made mirin, tamari soy sauce and a long aging process gives the sauce a deep, rich umami flavor that is uniquely Hanabusa’s.

Azabujuban Hanabusa Remarks

• Guests with dietary restrictions and/or food allergies should inform the restaurant beforehand. The restaurant might not be able to accommodate guests who make same-day requests.

• The restaurant reserves the right to refuse reservations to guests who have excessive dietary restrictions, particularly those of fish or vegetables.

• The course menu content listed below is an example, and is subject to change based on seasonal availability.

• The restaurant cannot always guarantee that it can provide guests with their preferred seating options after a reservation due to availability.

• The pictures provided are for illustrative purposes.

Azabujuban Hanabusa Business Days

Azabujuban Hanabusa Address

Hanabusa Bldg 2F, 2-7-11 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0045

Azabujuban Hanabusa Access Info

• Azabujuban Hanabusa is located a 5-minute walk from Azabu-juban Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku and Toei Oedo Lines.

Azabujuban Hanabusa Phone Number

Azabujuban Hanabusa Cancellation Policy

Cancel your reservation at least 2 days before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.