Sushi Kazuya

Using fish caught from Fukuoka’s bay, the young but venerated Kazuya Tanaka presents a deeply personal and local take on the traditional realm of sushi.
Restaurant Details
Fukuoka native Kazuya Tanaka began his sushi apprenticeship at just 15 — an age considered young even in the world of sushi.
So it’s no surprise that after more than a decade under the venerable Yamaka, despite being only 28 years old, he opened his namesake venue in the same town he grew up in to deliver a deeply personal and refined take on traditional sushi.
Idyllically set in a quiet residential area of Fukuoka, Kazuya pulls out all the stops, offering countless ways to experience omakase through his ever-evolving menu. He often lets the fish take center stage — a natural choice given his close ties with small-scale farmers and fishmongers in Fukuoka’s bustling markets.
The meal often begins with appetizers that highlight the seasonal catch, followed by a carefully calibrated progression of nigiri. The nigiri typically starts with lighter-bodied fish and progresses to more robust, silver-skinned ocean dwellers and shellfish. One item that has received constant praise and has now become a mainstay is the conger eel, sourced from Kanezaki Fishing Port. His sushi rice, or sashi, is made with grains harvested in Niigata Prefecture, cooked to perfect plumpness and mixed with both white and red rice vinegar.
Sitting at the counter, diners get a good look at the store’s tranquil Japanese garden and, more importantly, a microscopic view of Kazuya’s masterful knifework. He scores a single deep incision on mackerel, slices through fatty tuna and makes even more intricate cuts for squid. The result is a sushi experience with varying textures, each piece melting in a different way on the tongue, yet all spectacularly melodic.
Now a favorite spot in Fukuoka — and notoriously difficult to book — Kazuya’s success led him to open a sister restaurant, Hajime, in 2022, dedicated to his signature move: the conger eel.
Sushi Kazuya Access Info
Sushi Kazuya is a 7-minute walk from Yakuin Odori Station.
Sushi Kazuya Phone Number
Sushi Kazuya Business Days
Sushi Kazuya Address
Ko Building 1F, 4-15-29 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0022
Sushi Kazuya Cancellation Policy
Cancel your reservation at least 1 week before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Restaurant location
Fukuoka is Japan’s up-and-coming foodie prefecture, which was put on the map by the 2014 Michelin Guide and has been consistently featured ever since. Roam food markets in Fukuoka, taste the authentic Hakata tonkotsu ramen in its birthplace, and fill up at yatai street food stalls during your trip to Fukuoka!
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