Sagaya Ginza

While Kobe beef, Omi beef, and Matsusaka beef may be among the most renowned of wagyu varieties — colloquially called the “three great beefs of Japan” — one of the best-kept secrets of the wagyu world is Saga beef. As the name suggests, Saga beef comes from Kyushu’s northern prefecture of Saga, where the cows live a life of luxury, roaming free as they enjoy the prefecture’s fresh air, green pastures and crystal-clear water. Each cow is fed by hand, rather than relying on machines. This lifestyle and environment is what gives this meat its characteristic tsuya-sashi marbling, giving it a distinctive glossy sheen that instantly sets it apart from other wagyu beef, even the legendary great three. Of course, to Tokyo visitors, making their way west to Saga might be a bit of a tall order. Not to worry though: Saga beef specialty restaurant Sagaya Ginza brings this extremely luxurious breed of beef to one of Tokyo’s most expensive, upscale districts. Aged for three weeks to soften the texture and bring out the meat’s natural umami, each cut of meat is served with pride, alongside carefully selected seasonal ingredients handpicked from all over the nation. It's then complemented with some of Japan's best sake and the finest wines from the world over, mainly the Burgundy region of France. Such luxurious beef deserves the best tableware to go with it, which is why the restaurant also serves its dishes on Saga’s finest ceramics — Imari and Arita-yaki porcelain. Each plate is just as beautiful as the finely marbled beef atop it. Conveniently located directly outside Ginza-itchome Station, a luxurious meal at Sagaya is the perfect way to end a day of shopping and sightseeing in one of Tokyo's most upmarket districts.