Sushi Academy Itsuki

Omakase sushi is one of the most iconic ways to eat sushi. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum from the common kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurants meant for quick bites, omakase sushi is a luxurious experience, in which sushi is handmade by a sushi chef in front of guests’ eyes, then presented piece by piece in an affair that usually takes about two hours. Of course, omakase sushi often has a price tag commensurate with its luxury. But Sushi Academy Itsuki is changing the scene by making omakase sushi available at a much more accessible price range. While its initial incarnation was offering an all-you-can-eat sushi experience with premium ingredients, the Ginza branch of Sushi Academy recently reopened with the intention of making the sushi omakase experience available to a wider range of people. In comparison to most omakase sushi restaurants in Ginza — the holy land of Tokyo omakase sushi restaurants — Itsuki offers courses that can be half, or even one-third the price of its neighbors. Its roots as an all-you-can-eat restaurant doesn’t mean it sacrifices quality by any means. Even during its all-you-can-eat days, Sushi Academy Itsuki’s selling point was its balance of quality and quantity, offering premium ingredients (like medium-fatty tuna) at affordable prices. Premium ingredients like ikura (salmon roe), sea urchin and chutoro (medium-fatty tuna) are sourced from Toyosu Market, lovingly placed atop domestically produced rice and coated with a special blend of sushi vinegar. This spirit of commitment to quality and affordability continues to live on in Itsuki, which offers traditional Edomae sushi alongside more modern offerings like smoked sushi — all of which remain extremely popular.