Unagi Komagata Maekawa Marunouchi Branch

With its rich, fatty and complex flavor, unagi — freshwater eel — is one of Japan’s greatest luxuries. Having been in business for 220 years, Maekawa is one of the most storied unagi restaurants in Japan. For over two centuries, their signature dishes have remained fundamentally untouched, particularly the secret sauce. As such, each bite is a demonstration of perfect culinary harmony, with hot rice and fluffy, crispy eel. Furthermore, as the Japanese eel is considered an endangered species, Maekawa uses its own traditional farming methods to sustainably and humanely them, creating the most natural environment for them to grow. Though still deeply traditional at their core, it cannot be said that Maekawa has failed to keep up with the times. The restaurant has recently caused a stir with its hand-selected wine pairings, particularly Spanish wine. While unagi and wine remain an unorthodox pairing, Maekawa has single-handedly piqued interest in the concept, and sees reservations growing by the day. The Shin-Marunouchi building is located only a minute walk away from Tokyo Station ー for travelers, it’s a great place to stop before hopping on the shinkansen. Table seating means that the restaurant is well suited for traveling families with children as well.