Counters I've eaten at, one entry at a time

I've been eating my way around Japan — tabearuki — since 2016. Everything here is from my own visits: my photos, my notes, my opinions, and nobody else's.

There are good restaurants and bad ones, but I only write up the good — the places I'd happily go back to. It's an ongoing record rather than a finished guide, so I'll keep adding as I go. If you want my honest take on a particular restaurant, here or not, mail me.

Aug 2026

Sushi Yasu: a self-taught counter in Saitama that shops to your order

Sushi · ¥¥¥¥ · 7 min read

Jul 2026

Sakamoto Sushi: a neighbourhood Bib Gourmand

Sushi · ¥¥ · 4 min read

Jul 2026

Kinotomi: Setouchi-mae sushi, another chef with deep love of his hometown

Sushi · ¥¥¥ · 5 min read

Jun 2026

Takaoka: with the deep love of Chiba

Sushi · ¥¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Isoda: Kyomi-lineage kappo in Ningyocho

Kappo · ¥¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Sushi Namba Hibiya: where every piece has a temperature

Sushi · ¥¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Nishiazabu Otake: pared-back Japanese cooking near Roppongi

Kaiseki · ¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Sushi Marufuku: a jukusei specialist in Tokyo's outlying district

Sushi · ¥¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Wayoshusai Hide: one of Japan's best izakaya, in Osaka

Izakaya · ¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Seizan: a two-star Kaiseki built on its broths

Kaiseki · ¥¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Sushidokoro Yamato: Sugita lineage at Tsukiji

Sushi · ¥¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Sushi Hashimoto: generous Edomae nigiri a block from the old Tsukiji

Sushi · ¥¥¥¥ · 4 min read

Jun 2026

Sushi Mizukami: Space Full of Elegancy and Gentleness

Sushi · ¥¥¥¥ · 5 min read

Jun 2026

Sushi Ei: Chiba's best-known sushi place

Sushi · ¥¥¥¥ · 6 min read