How Many Restaurants Are There in Tokyo, Japan?

Tokyo is widely considered one of the greatest food cities in the world, and the numbers prove it. In 2020, the Tokyo census reported that the Tokyo metropolis is home to more than 190,000 eateries, ranging from tiny ramen counters and neighborhood izakayas to elegant fine-dining establishments. With tons of places to eat packed into one sprawling metropolis, Tokyo offers one of the most diverse dining scenes on Earth.

Tokyo's food reputation is also reflected in the prestigious Michelin Guide, which recognized more than 500 restaurants in the 2026 Guide. In fact, Tokyo consistently ranks as the city with the most Michelin-recognized restaurants in the world, highlighting just how extraordinary its dining scene truly is.

Having more than 190,000 restaurants is an impressive feat on its own, but what truly sets Tokyo apart is the quality and diversity of its dining scene. 

One reason Tokyo has so many restaurants is its culture of specialization and craftsmanship. Many chefs dedicate their careers to mastering a single type of dish, whether it’s sushi, ramen, tempura, yakitori, or soba. This focus on perfecting one cuisine has created a dining landscape filled with highly skilled experts and unique culinary experiences in nearly every neighborhood. Many restaurants focus on mastering a single dish (whether it's sushi, tempura, ramen, yakitori, or soba), resulting in an incredible variety of flavors and experiences across the city.

Tokyo’s massive population also plays a role. With millions of residents and commuters moving through the city each day, eating out is a regular part of daily life. Small eateries tucked into train stations, office districts, and residential neighborhoods bolster the enormous number of restaurants across the capital. Visitors exploring the city will find endless dining options, whether they're searching for historic establishments or modern hotspots featured in guides to the best restaurants in Tokyo.

Tokyo’s dedication to culinary excellence has also earned international recognition. From sushi masters to traditional kaiseki chefs and yakitori specialists, Tokyo’s restaurant scene continues to set the global standard for dining.

From the oldest restaurant in Tokyo to the most viral eateries, food is the main event in the Japanese capital. 

In 2020, there were more than 4000 sushi restaurants in the Tokyo metropolis, 3500 of which were located within the 23 wards. Fifty-four of those sushi restaurants were recognized in the 2026 Michelin Guide. Of those, here’s a selection we think are the best picks for traveling foodies.  

If you're looking for sushi crafted to perfection by the hands of an expert, head to Nishiazabu Sushi Shin. Chef Shintaro Suzuki personally inspects the catch of the day at the market each morning, rejecting any that fail to meet his lofty standards. "Only fish that have been treated with care are flavorful enough," he says, testing the texture of each fish by hand.

So exacting is he that his staff even use different brushes to apply soy sauce to various nigiri, depending on the fish. For instance, tuna belly contains pungent oils that would otherwise overpower the taste of a more neutral fish. To use the same brush to apply sauce to both would be equivalent to contamination.

This eye for detail has cemented Sushi Shin in the annals of Japanese culinary history: When the Michelin Guide first expanded to Japan, it was one of the first sushi restaurants to be awarded a Star. 

Want to taste Chef Suzuki's delicious sushi for yourself? Reserve your seat at Nishiazabu Sushi Shin on byFood.

Three pillars prop up the philosophy of service at Sushi Kanesaka, located inside Tokyo’s Palace Hotel: premium ingredients, attentive service, and skilled preparation. It may seem a simple approach, but the care with which they attend to all three aspects goes above the norm. The proprietors here compare sushi with the art of calligraphy: it’s easy to create the basic forms, but true skill and attention can bring out altogether more beautiful results. This means that the chefs pay attention to the ingredients' temperature, moisture, and ripeness to ensure the best balance of flavor.

The most up-to-date count of nihon-ryori restaurants, those serving classical Japanese cuisine, was held in 2016 by Todo-ran. At that time, Tokyo was home to the largest number of washoku restaurants in Japan, reportedly just over 8000, but likely more. According to Tabelog, there are 37,641 Japanese restaurants in Tokyo right now.

While you'll find many French, Spanish, and Italian Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo, if you're in Japan, you should also try to make time for a dinner at a Michelin Guide-recommended nihon-ryori (Called simply “Japanese” in the guide, or washoku in Japanese) establishment. 

Simplicity and delicacy. These are the two hallmarks that define Chef Seiji Tanimoto's cuisine. He opened his eponymous restaurant in 2017 and earned his first Michelin Star two years later. The foundation of all Japanese cuisine is dashi, and Chef Tanimoto's kaiseki is no exception. Sourcing the ingredients from all over Japan, he combines them to present a gustatory picture of the mountains, the sea, and Japan's four seasons, all through the myriad flavors of a single seasonal dish. "Soups are the flower of Japanese cuisine," he says, which is why his menus place so much emphasis on them. 

The restaurant relocated to its current Kagurazaka location in September 2023, and in the updated guide, Tanimoto keeps his accolade. 

Seasonal cuisine is big in Japan. Whether it's for the return of wild geese in spring or autumn's first descent of fog, Tsunokamizaka Koshiba's head chef and owner, Takeshi Koshiba, carefully imbues each of his menus with the spirit of the current micro-season.

Like an artist, Chef Koshiba uses cuisine to preserve an exact moment in time only as a chef of his caliber could, using hyper-seasonal ingredients and careful preparation techniques centered around binchotan charcoal grilling.

To dine at Tsunokamizaka Koshiba's hinoki cypress counter is to partake in an experience that leaves one with a full stomach and a heightened appreciation for the essence of Japanese cuisine.

Chef Sakuragi imbues his establishment with a homey sense of care. A made-to-order approach to cuisine allows diners to slowly relish the moment and space as the chef tenaciously prepares each of the 10 courses. Pair your meal with fine wine, sake, and Ebisu beer, all chosen to elevate the ingredients and dishes of the day.

Sakuragi has been on the radar of many foodies, and this recognition from the illustrious guide only confirms that this eatery should be on your bucket list. 

Hungry yet? Reserve a table at Sakuragi on byFood.

Tokyo, and the Michelin Guide also has tons of subgenres of Japanese cuisine like tonkatsu, soba, and ramen.. There are 6729 active yakitori restaurants in Tokyo right now, according to Tabelog. Chicken specialists are also featured in the Michelin Guide, with 13 Tokyo establishments making the list this year. Here are our three favorite spots for delicious Japanese chicken.

Yakitori Omino has raised the bar when it comes to this classic Japanese bar food. The Michelin-starred restaurant uses Fukushima free-range chicken exclusively, using every part of the animal. The space offers a good view of the kitchen so that you can see the staff at work, and the seating areas are well-ventilated so that it doesn't get too smoky. Be warned: If you'd rather avoid eating raw chicken, tell the staff when they sit you. 

Along with Yakitori Omino, Torishiki is the only other yakitori restaurant awarded a Michelin Star at the time of writing. Located only a short walk from Meguro Station along Tokyo's Yamanote Line, Torishiki is a chic establishment that offers high-level comfort food. 

To eat at Torishiki requires a bit of planning, as the restaurant only sits twelve and is said to have a two-month waiting list. So, if you know your dates, see if you can't book your place. 

Diners come first at Yakitori Sanka. Here, the chef takes a unique approach to yakitori, assembling every skewer to suit the customer's preferences and drink orders for the best experience. Think of it like wine or sake pairing but with yakitori. The Michelin Guide writes, "he starts beer drinkers off with chicken breast and wine tipplers with chicken heart." If that doesn't sound like the perfect yakitori dinner, we don't know what is. 

The above recommendations are but the tip of the iceberg of the incredible selection of Tokyo restaurants, and those in the Michelin Guide. You'll also find Michelin-starred restaurants in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, and special editions of the Michelin guide throughout the rest of the country

If you're visiting Kyoto, we've got you covered: check out one of these eight affordable Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand-recommended restaurants. 

Tokyo may dominate global headlines with its enormous dining scene, but it’s far from the only culinary powerhouse in Japan. Across the country, major cities boast thriving restaurant cultures shaped by regional traditions, local ingredients, and centuries of culinary craftsmanship. Historic Kyoto is famous for refined kaiseki dining and elegant seasonal cuisine, while Osaka proudly embraces its reputation as “Japan’s Kitchen,” known for lively street food and comfort dishes. Together with Tokyo, these cities form the heart of Japan’s foodscape. 

• Osaka: ~70,000 restaurants

• Kyoto: ~137,000 to 160,000 restaurants 

• Yokohama: ~12,600 restaurants 

• Nagoya: ~18,000–22,000 restaurants

With hundreds of thousands of restaurants across Japan, choosing where to eat can feel overwhelming. One of the best ways to explore the country’s incredible dining scene is through guided food tours that introduce travelers to local specialties and hidden culinary gems. From sushi tastings in Tokyo to street food adventures in Osaka and traditional dining in Kyoto, food tours offer a delicious way to experience Japan’s diverse culinary culture. 

Explore a quieter side of Osaka’s dining scene on this small-group food tour led by a former professional chef. The experience takes guests beyond busy Dotonbori into the historic neighborhoods of Tanimachi and Karahori, with stops at four local venues including a teppanyaki restaurant, yakitori grill, and retro izakaya. Along the way, participants sample 13 Japanese tapas dishes, including premium Wagyu, paired with four local drinks while learning about Osaka’s culinary traditions.

Stroll through the lively streets of Togoshi Ginza, one of Tokyo’s longest and most beloved shopping streets, on this guided street food tour. Along the way, sample local favorites like crispy karaage, smoky charcoal-grilled yakitori, handmade onigiri, savory curry bread, and silky Japanese pudding. As you explore neighborhood stalls and hidden gems, your guide shares the stories and traditions behind these everyday comfort foods that make Tokyo’s street food scene so special.

See a different side of Fukuoka on this scenic e-bike adventure along the Katsuura coast. The route winds through quiet fishing villages, rice fields, and seaside paths, with stops at a historic sake brewery, local markets, and the peaceful grounds of Miyajidake Shrine. Along the way, enjoy a fresh sushi lunch by the beach and a relaxing café break while meeting locals who shape the region’s food culture. It’s a refreshing way to explore coastal Japan beyond the city.

Japan’s incredible restaurant culture is defined not only by numbers but by the passion, craftsmanship, and creativity behind every dish. With more than 160,000 restaurants in Tokyo alone and hundreds of thousands across the country, diners are spoiled for choice. From Michelin-starred sushi counters and traditional kaiseki restaurants to neighborhood street food stalls and guided food tours, each experience reveals another layer of Japan’s culinary story. Whether you’re savoring Wagyu in Osaka, exploring Kyoto’s refined dining traditions, or sampling snacks along a Tokyo shopping street, Japan’s dining scene offers something unforgettable for every traveler.