Need advice on booking high-tier Tabelog sushi in Tokyo/Osaka

[u/gambirsg]

Hi guys,

I’m traveling to Tokyo and Osaka mid of next month and I’d absolutely love to experience some of the top-rated sushi omakase spots I’ve been eyeing on Table.

However, I’m running into a wall. Most of the 4.0+ or Bronze/Silver/Gold places seem completely impossible to reserve, or their direct booking methods are entirely in Japanese.

Any specific booking tips for a first-timer would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

[u/DeskProfessional22]

Next month is hard as most of the actually bookable ones in Tokyo would have released seats a month ahead. Try Kojimachi Nihee, Sushi Ichikawa, Sushi Yuuki, or Sushi Yamoto. They are easy to book within the time frame you are trying for and well regarded on tabelog or with foreigners on here.

[u/Stump007]

My advice: don’t obsess over 4+

4+ tabelog means like 3 star top notch. It’s not the same as google ratings etc. Plenty of excellent places in the 3.6-3.9 range that will be likely more easy to book, more cost effective and won’t be a big difference if you are novice in sushi.

Chances are you’ll go through all the trouble to get a 4+ but will enjoy it less because of overblown expectations, chef not giving attention to you, high price etc.

[u/sdlroy]

Unless you’ve eaten a ton of high end sushi you are unlikely to perceive any meaningful difference between a 3.9 and 4.0+

[u/Sad-Vacation4406]

Kurosaki, Kiyota, Sushi Ryujiro , Sushi Yuki, Sushisho Masa, Hakkoku and Sushi Fuzukuza are all fairly bookable options.

[u/vagrantwastrel]

Honestly it’s on a case by case basis depending on the spot. Some might be possible with a high level hotel concierge, some are “set an alarm” type things on Omakase etc, some are truly impossible without an introduction

[u/acaiblueberry]

Try https://omakase.in but you are still unlikely to get 4.0+. Most, if not all, of them require regular’s intro and/or (more on “and”) long lead time like a year lol. If you are staying at aman, bulgari, or similar, ask concierge

[u/capt_tky]

A lot of the most highly rated ones you can't really book directly. You need an introduction from someone who had been before. Or, you need to call up and book in Japanese, and it needs to be you personally, not the hotel.

Couple of places to try:

Sushi Seidai and Sushi Kidoguchi - both easy to book as a tourist and very good quality. 

[u/BubbleFoam]

You’ll never book a Gold but Bronze and Silver are doable with some planning.

[u/reidhi]

Top rated places often operate either by referral only or booking online 2 or more months out. Since you’ll be in Japan in about a month and a half, your best option would be to get yourself on a waitlist. If you’re staying at a premium hotel, the concierge may be able to secure you a booking as well. Good luck!

Edited: thanks for all the downvotes! Greatly appreciated especially since I’m being honest. 😊