Tokusen

Anglerfish may not be so prominent on the radar of most first-time gourmet visitors to Japan, but it’s an interesting and delicious ingredient that you won’t find in many other places. This kaiseki restaurant is an excellent place to try it. At Toku-sen you can enjoy hot pots of lobster, prawn, and anglerfish: the fearsome-looking deep-sea fish which is a winter delicacy in Japan. Photography is banned inside, so remember to keep your phone in your pocket, and chat with the landlady instead. She’ll be happy to talk you through the dishes of the evening, assuming that you know enough Japanese to understand. There are only tatami mat tables available, and a group of dedicated local regulars pretty much hold a monopoly on them, so you’ll likely need an invitation to stand any chance of dining here.