Japan · best-of list
The 13 Best Restaurants in Japan
All 13 restaurants our route editors picked in Japan, across 6 destinations, gathered in one list. Each one is a stop on a route you can open and copy into a trip.
Our curated picks
13 restaurants in Japan, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Osaka 3 picks
Kuromon Ichiba Market
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Covered market with grilled scallops, wagyu skewers, sea urchin and fruit stalls.
Tip: Go before lunch; prices are high but portions are small.
Photo: Jensen Chua Photography · Google
Kushikatsu Daruma Shinsekai
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Original 1929 shop for deep-fried skewers; no double-dipping in the shared sauce.
Photo: 元祖串かつ だるま 新世界総本店 · Google
Mizuno
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Family-run okonomiyaki shop on Dotonbori since 1945, with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Tip: Expect a queue; order the yam-based Yamaimo-yaki.
Photo: お好み焼 美津の · Google
Tokyo 3 picks
Omoide Yokocho
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
Smoky postwar alley of tiny yakitori stalls by Shinjuku station.
Tip: Small cover charges are common; cash helps.
Photo: Hieu Loki · Google
Tonki
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
Meguro tonkatsu counter since 1939, cooks working in a calm open kitchen.
Tip: Order the hire (fillet) katsu set; closed Tuesdays.
Photo: とんかつ とんき 目黒本店 · Google
Tsukiji Outer Market
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
Lanes of stalls selling tamagoyaki, grilled seafood and sushi near the old fish market site.
Tip: Go 8–11am; many stalls close by early afternoon.
Photo: Kevin Wong · Google
Kyoto 2 picks
Nishiki Market
Kyoto · On our Japan Golden Route
Covered five-block food market for pickles, tamagoyaki, tofu and knives.
Tip: Go before noon; eating while walking is discouraged.
Photo: matsuyuki · CC BY-SA 2.0
Omen Ginkakuji
Kyoto · On our Japan Golden Route
Long-running udon restaurant serving thick noodles with seasonal vegetables to add yourself.
Photo: 1 ace · Google
Otaru 2 picks
Masazushi
Otaru · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Family-run sushi house on Otaru's sushi street, open since 1938.
Tip: Book ahead for counter seats.
Photo: おたる政寿司 本店 · Google
Sankaku Market
Otaru · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Small market by Otaru Station serving seafood rice bowls and grilled crab.
Tip: Pick your own crab and have it cooked on the spot.
Photo: 宋文文 · Google
Sapporo 2 picks
Ganso Ramen Yokocho
Sapporo · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Narrow alley of small ramen counters in Susukino, home of Sapporo miso ramen.
Tip: Try butter-corn miso ramen after a night out.
Photo: M · Google
Nijo Market
Sapporo · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Downtown seafood market selling crab, sea urchin and kaisendon rice bowls.
Tip: Come for breakfast; stalls wind down by afternoon.
Photo: 서미란 · Google
Furano and Biei 1 pick
Furano Cheese Factory
Furano and Biei · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Dairy workshop with cheese tastings, ice cream and a pizza kitchen.
Photo: K S · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in Japan?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 13 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Japan has the most restaurants on this list?
Osaka and Tokyo lead with 3 each; the other picks are spread across 4 more destinations.
More lists for Japan
Best restaurants nearby
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.