Kifu

Restaurant Details

Against the dark, Kifu’s black-paneled facade, designed by architect Chiba Manabu, casts a shy, enigmatic glow. Tucked away in a back alley near Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple in Kagurazaka, an Edo-style neighborhood with hilly streets and hidden cafes, Kifu’s name — meaning “time flows” in Japanese — reflects the chef’s desire for guests to relax and savor their time at the restaurant.

All the elements of a high-end sushi experience are present: the minimalist, bleached wood interior designed by architect Ashihara Hiroko. Standing behind the counter is the chef, who served as a head chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Ginza, preparing the dozen or more nigiri courses that await.

The menu, like the atmosphere, possesses a rare transportive power, whisking diners into an immaculate world of pristine fish before gently releasing them back onto the streets of Tokyo. Applying the techniques of Edo-style sushi — developed during the Edo period — chef Yuki Sato cuts wild-caught fish harvested from Japan’s coasts. For sushi rice, the "Akitakomachi" grain from Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, is cooked slightly firmer to soften just enough by the time it is served to guests, then seasoned with two types of rice vinegar from Kyoto and red vinegar. Fillets become neta, and neta becomes nigiri; each item, from the wild bluefin tuna to the boiled conger eel, is prepared according to its condition.

The soup stock, made from ma-konbu kelp from southern Hokkaido and carefully selected bonito flakes, perfectly complements the secondary ingredients — dried gourd from Tochigi, nori seaweed from Ariake, and Okukuji eggs from Ibaraki.

Though relatively new, having opened in 2020, Kifu’s underdog appeal only adds to its charm. The friendly staff ensures that everyone feels right at home, whether they are a regular local or a first-time visitor.

Kifu 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.

Kifu Business Days

Kifu Address

Kif 1F, 14-7 Wakamiyacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0827

Kifu Access Info

• Kifu is a 5-minute walk from JR Iidabashi Station (West Exit), a 3-minute walk from the B3 exit from the same station on the Tokyo Metro Line, or a 7-minute walk from Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station (Exit A3) on the Toei Oedo Line.

Kifu Phone Number

Kifu 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.