Sushi Arai

A relative newcomer on the competitive Ginza sushi scene, Sushi Arai has achieved widespread acclaim since the very start. The chef seasoned himself at the highly reputable Kyubey and Sushisho stores before opening his own Michelin-starred restaurant (Michelin Guide 2020) in 2015. More recently, a second counter was added to the store to accommodate the rising demand from foreign diners. This provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to experience the full sushi dining experience, by interacting with the English-speaking chef who mans this counter. Of course, some might prefer to be served by Arai-san himself, but unfortunately the main counter is now largely restricted to regulars and their invitees. Given the rare opportunity to learn about the complexities of the sushi-making process from a charismatic expert, I’m sure you’ll agree that taking a seat at the second counter is a worthwhile compromise. The food itself mainly consists of generously-sized pieces of nigiri, prepared in the traditional Edomae style in which the fish is marinated for several days. The bluefin tuna is of particularly high quality. Michelin Stars: 2020 - 1 Michelin star 2021 - none