Tokyo, Japan Hotels and City Guide

Tokyo - Restaurants

Tokyo Dining

There are said to be more than 80,000 restaurants in Tokyo, which makes eating out an exciting proposition. Every neighbourhood is well endowed with a vast array of eating houses catering for all tastes and budgets.Japanese cuisine is, of course, represented in all its glory and visitors are recommended to take the plunge and try foods that may be unfamiliar, but will probably be delicious.

Cooks in Japan place enormous importance on the process of preparation and presentation. Basically, a formal meal will have numerous courses, some of which may contain no more than a single morsel. This system of serving food lends itself to more artistic decoration and happens to be easier to eat with the ubiquitous chopsticks. Seafood lovers will be in heaven; with its long coastline and age-old ban on meat eating, it's not surprising to find that Japan consumes a greater variety of marine life than any other single nation.

Tokyo Dining Customs: Sake

Sake is more than a drink, it's a tradition that almost passes as the very life-blood of Japanese social and cultural life. Sake ranges greatly in price and quality. The cheapest factory brews are best consumed at blood temperature while the top-quality, handmade nihonshu, known as ginjo-shu or daiginjo-shu, is served chilled. Sake is usually served in ceramic flasks (tokkuri) and drunk from thimble-sized cups (choko). It is customary to only pour for your drinking partners, never for yourself. They, in turn, will pour for you.

Restaurants by Cuisine

- Japanese

Inakaya
A very popular theatrical dining experience with food prepared before your eyes. Reservations not accepted. Open 5pm-5am.
Reine Bldg., 1st fl., 5-3-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tel: +81 3 3408 5040

Happo-en
Upscale restaurant, shrine and traditional teahouse. Reservations essential. Jacket and tie required.
1-1-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku
Tel: +81 3 5401 2820

- Chinese

Heichinrou
Fine Cantonese cuisine with excellent seafood dishes. Closed Sundays.
Fukoku Seimei Bldg., 28th fl., 2-2-2 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: +81 3 3508 0555

- Brazilian

Barbacoa Grill
All-you-can-eat Brazilian grilled chicken and barbecued beef.
4-3-24 Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku
Tel: +81 3 3796 0571

- French

Chez Matsuo
Nouvelle French food in a sophisticated Western-style setting. Reservations essential.
1-23-15 Shoto, Shibuya-ku
Tel: +81 3 3485 0566

Le Papillon de Paris
Very fashionable French dining with an excellent dessert selection. Reservations essential. No dinner on Sundays.
Hanae Mori Bldg., 5th fl., 3-6-1 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku
Tel: +81 3 3407 7461

Chez Inno
Innovative French cuisine in elegant surroundings. Reservations essential. Jacket and tie required.
Meiji Seika Honsha Bldg. 1F, 2-4-16 Kyo-bashi, Chuo-ku
Tel: +81 3 3274 2020

- Indian

Ashoka
An upscale Indian dining experience in very fashionable surroundings.
Ginza Inz Bldg. 1, 2nd fl., 3-1 Nishi Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tel: +81 3 3567 2377

- Italian

La Granata
A trattoria style restaurant which is very popular with media professionals
TBS Garden, 1F, 5-1-3 Akasaka, Minato-ku
Tel: +81 03 3582 3241

- Contemporary

Tableaux
Superb contemporary cuisine served in glitzy ambience. Jacket and tie required. No lunch.
Sunroser Daikanyama Bldg. B1, 11-6 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku

Lovenet
Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine accompanies karaoke in 33 private themed rooms. Reservations essential.
Hotel Ibis 3F-4F, 7-14-4, Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tel: +81 3 5771 5511

Tipping

The Japanese do not give or expect tips. To them it is a Western tradition that is considered a little vulgar. Service charges tend to be included in the bill - a 5% consumer tax and a service charge of around 10–15% may be added in pricier restaurants. The Japanese often insist on picking up the tab for their foreign friends. It's polite to refuse three times, then let them pay, promising to get the next one. At table, guests should wait for their host to indicate where they should sit. It's the Japanese custom to place guests in the most comfortable chairs facing the best view.

Hotels in Tokyo, Japan