Kagurazaka Sushi Kimoto

The recipient of a Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2018 and for several years after, word of Ginza sushi restaurant Shiorian Yamashiro’s excellent nigiri has spread all throughout Japan, and even attracted the attention of overseas gourmets. While this has resulted in a glut of positive press for the establishment and its various branches scattered across the country, the restaurant’s popularity has also served to be an unexpected source of distress for diners looking to secure a spot at any of its counters in the Kanto and Kansai regions. Enter Kagurazaka Sushi Kimoto: an innocuously-named sushi restaurant in Tokyo’s upscale district of Kagurazaka. Almost entirely bereft of its predecessor’s branding, most would be completely unaware that Kimoto is produced by the same culinary masterminds behind the Ginza original. But the first step into the restaurant instantly reveals its Michelin-starred pedigree. Sushi Kimoto’s serene, sophisticated atmosphere is immediately reminiscent of the Ginza original, with a 10-seat counter and several separate rooms for guests looking for a more private dining experience. And that’s not even to mention the food: behind the counter, expert chefs use the finest ingredients, such as hon-maguro bluefin tuna, to make omakase courses of Edomae-style sushi prepared with traditional means. The utmost care goes into every part of the preparation process. It starts with choosing the origin of the fish based on the season, ranging from Hokkaido in the north to Nagasaki in the west. Each carefully made nigiri can also be paired with a wide variety of sake, specially chosen by the chefs to best suit the ingredients featured in the course menu of the day.