Tokyo is one of the greatest food paradises in the world. This ancient city of 14 million not only boasts 226 Michelin-starred restaurants, it is also a melting pot of flavors and culinary traditions of many different countries and cultures. Visitors can spend days, weeks, and even months trying out the various gastronomical delights available in the city. If you're a sophisticated foodie who wants to experience the local cuisine in Tokyo's most expensive restaurants, check out our list below.
• Aragawa | Nishi-Shimbashi
A set lunch or dinner for two at the world-famous Aragawa can cost up to ¥112,000 ($1,023), excluding a compulsory 15% service tax. And yet, when you consider the fact that the restaurant's signature wagyu beef originates exclusively from its own herd of Tajima cattle, the price suddenly makes sense—well, almost.
The best wagyu steaks use Tajima cattle raised in Sanda City. Image courtesy of Nishimuraya Kinosaki Onsen
• L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon | Roppongi Hills
Established by the late legendary French chef Joël Robuchon, L'Atelier is one of the gourmet chain's 12 branches located around the world. This two-star Michelin restaurant, designed to mimic traditional Sushi counters, has a distinctive glossy black and red décor and a cozy dim-lit ambiance. L'Atelier (literally, “the workshop”) serves arguably the finest French haute cuisine in Japan, along with contemporary Western and Japanese dishes. Prices for set meals here range from ¥5,300 ($49) to ¥13,500 ($123).
All L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon restaurants share the same attractive red & black theme. Image courtesy of Wikimedia
• Kitcho | Ginza
This kaiseki restaurant is regularly cited as the most expensive three-star Michelin restaurant in the world. Kitcho is helmed by award-winning master chef Kunio Tokuoka, the grandson of Kitcho's founder, Teiichi Yuki. A typical 10-course kaiseki for two costs around ¥122,503 ($1,200).
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better kaiseki restaurant than Kitcho. Image courtesy of Nishimuraya Kinosaki Onsen
• Morimoto | Roppongi Hills
Famed chef Masaharu Morimoto, one of the original Iron Chefs for both the Japanese and Food Network's versions, spent close to two decades opening restaurants in North America and Europe before opening the Morimoto in Roppongi's Art Triangle. Nonetheless, the restaurant quickly achieved cult status and is now a haven for celebrities and VIPs. Multi-course dinner sets cost around ¥10,000 ($91), but ala carte orders can easily cost three to five times more.
Chef Morimoto's wasabi guacamole. Image courtesy of Caroline Phelps
• Sushi Masuda | Minato
To get a seat at Tokyo's best sushi joint, you have to make a reservation reportedly three months in advance. Since the staff don't speak English, you'll probably have to ask a Japanese acquaintance to make the reservation at this two-star Michelin restaurant. It's worth mentioning that this is not the place for novice sushi fans. The spread by Chef Rei Masuda, including such delicacies as shirako (cod sperm sacs), is designed for more experienced taste buds. The price per person is around $350.
Creamy and delicious Shirako can take some getting used to. Image courtesy of Jos Purvis
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