Restaurant in Akita, Japan

Sushisho

Name: Sushisho
Address: 3 Chome-2-36 Omachi, Akita, 010-0921, Japan, Akita, JP
Telephone: +81 18-866-0014

400Pearl Points

Akita's best counter. Book before Tokyo.

About Sushisho

Sushisho is Akita's most decorated sushi counter, a three-time Tabelog Bronze Award winner and Tabelog Sushi EAST Top 100 selection with a score of 4.09. The eight-seat Edo-style counter serves dinner only at JPY 30,000 to JPY 39,999 per person. Easier to book than comparable counters in Tokyo, it is the right choice for solo diners and couples who want serious sushi without the capital city competition for seats.

Who Should Book Sushisho — and When

If you are visiting Akita specifically to eat well, Sushisho is the reservation to secure first. It is the city's most decorated sushi counter, recognised in the Tabelog Sushi EAST Top 100 in 2021, 2022, and 2025, and a Tabelog Bronze Award winner in 2022, 2025, and 2026. For a solo diner or a couple serious about Edo-style sushi at a proper counter, this is the booking that justifies the trip. If you are after a group dinner, a casual meal, or anything other than focused, counter-based sushi, look elsewhere — the room seats eight, there are no private rooms, and the format demands your full attention.

The Room and the Format

Sushisho runs an eight-seat counter in a space described as stylish with generous seating proportions, compact by design, but not cramped. The atmosphere is quiet and concentrated, the kind of room where conversation stays low and the focus shifts to what is in front of you. This is not a venue for a celebratory group drinking session; the energy is deliberate and calm. Expect counter seating only, no private rooms are available, though the venue can be booked for exclusive private use if your party fills the eight seats. The drink list leans toward sake, with shochu and wine also available, and the sourcing is particular about fish quality.

Seasonal Rotation and What It Means for Your Booking

The kitchen describes itself as particular about fish, and in Akita that has real seasonal meaning. The prefecture sits on the Sea of Japan, which produces distinct fish across the calendar year: buri (yellowtail) and white fish dominate colder months, while warmer months bring different species through the local market. Edo-style sushi at this level tracks those cycles closely, which means the counter's composition shifts with what is available. There is no fixed tasting menu publicly disclosed, so the leading approach is to book when your schedule allows and trust that the seasonal selection has been curated, but if you have a choice of months, late autumn through winter is generally when Sea of Japan fish is at peak condition. Check directly with the restaurant before booking if the season matters to your decision.

Booking Sushisho

Booking difficulty here is rated easy relative to comparable counters in Tokyo, which makes it a genuine advantage. Reservations: Available online through Pocket Concierge 24 hours a day, or by phone on 018-866-0014 (note that calls during business hours may be difficult to connect, online is the more reliable route). Hours: Monday through Saturday, 18:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 20:30. Closed Sundays, public holidays, and the Monday following a public holiday. No lunch service. Budget: JPY 30,000 to JPY 39,999 per person at dinner, based on Tabelog review data. Payment: Credit cards accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners). Electronic money and QR code payments not accepted. Parking: Not available on site. Smoking: Non-smoking throughout.

Pearl Ratings

Tabelog Score: 4.09 (2026 data)
Google Rating: 4.4 from 84 reviews
Tabelog Sushi EAST Top 100: 2021, 2022, 2025
Tabelog Bronze Award: 2022, 2025, 2026

How It Compares

See the comparison section below for how Sushisho sits against other leading tables in Akita.

Pearl Picks, More High-Quality Dining in Japan

If Sushisho is the anchor of your Akita itinerary, these are worth knowing about for wider Japan travel: Harutaka in Tokyo for Edomae sushi at a similarly intimate Tokyo counter; HAJIME in Osaka for a very different register of Japanese fine dining; Gion Sasaki in Kyoto if kaiseki is the comparison you want to make; Goh in Fukuoka for creative Japanese cuisine in the south; and akordu in Nara for a sharp alternative outside the major cities. For sushi at a counter format in a major international city, Le Bernardin in New York City and Atomix in New York City represent what the format looks like transplanted westward. For a comparable counter in Yokohama, see 1000 in Yokohama.

For more options in the region: our full Akita restaurants guide, our full Akita hotels guide, our full Akita bars guide, our full Akita wineries guide, and our full Akita experiences guide.

FAQ, Sushisho, Akita

Can I eat at the bar at Sushisho?

Yes, the entire venue is counter seating. There are no table seats or private rooms. All eight places are at the counter, which is the format the kitchen is built around. If you prefer a table setting, this is not the right venue; if you want the full counter experience with the chef in front of you, it is the only option here.

Can Sushisho accommodate groups?

Up to eight people can dine together, which is the full capacity of the counter. For groups of that size, private use of the entire venue is available, contact the restaurant directly on 018-866-0014 or via Pocket Concierge to enquire. Groups larger than eight cannot be accommodated. At JPY 30,000 to JPY 39,999 per person, budget accordingly for a full-table booking.

Is Sushisho good for solo dining?

Yes, and the venue specifically flags solo dining as a recommended occasion. An eight-seat counter is one of the better formats for eating alone in Japan, you are part of the room without needing a companion. The calm, low-noise atmosphere suits solo diners well. At JPY 30,000 to JPY 39,999 for dinner, the per-head cost is the same regardless of party size, so there is no financial penalty for coming alone.

Is lunch or dinner better at Sushisho?

Dinner is the only option, Sushisho does not serve lunch. The kitchen opens at 18:00 Monday through Saturday with last orders at 20:30, so arriving early in the dinner window gives you the most time. If you are hoping to fit in a long lunch and a sushi dinner on the same day in Akita, plan the sushi for the evening and use the daytime for something else.

What are alternatives to Sushisho in Akita?

For a different register of high-end dining in Akita, Nihon Ryori Takamura offers kaiseki rather than sushi, a useful alternative if your group includes people who prefer a multi-course Japanese format over a sushi counter. For a more casual or different cuisine style, affetto akita, f, giueme, and Kyu are worth considering depending on your preferred format and price point.

Is Sushisho good for a special occasion?

Yes, with the right expectations. The price point (JPY 30,000 to JPY 39,999 per person), the award credentials (Tabelog Bronze 2022, 2025, 2026; Tabelog Sushi EAST Top 100 three times), and the intimate eight-seat counter all make it suited to a serious celebratory dinner for two. It is less suited to large-group celebrations, there are no private rooms, no table seating, and the atmosphere is quiet and focused rather than festive. For a birthday dinner for a couple or a solo treat, it fits well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat at the bar at Sushisho?

Yes — the entire restaurant is a counter. Sushisho runs an 8-seat counter format, so every guest sits at the bar. There are no table seats and no private rooms available.

Can Sushisho accommodate groups?

Small groups only. With just 8 seats total, the largest practical group is 4–6, and the venue is available for private hire as a whole. No private rooms exist within the space, so if your party wants exclusivity, booking out the full counter is the route. Contact via Pocket Concierge or phone (+81-18-866-0014) to enquire about private use.

Is Sushisho good for solo dining?

Strongly yes. Tabelog reviewers specifically flag solo dining as a recommended occasion here, and a counter format with 8 seats is well-suited to it. At ¥30,000–¥39,999 per head for dinner, solo diners get the full experience without any group coordination overhead.

Is lunch or dinner better at Sushisho?

Dinner only — there is no lunch service. Hours run Monday through Saturday, 18:00–22:00 with last orders at 20:30. Sunday and public holidays are closed, as are Mondays following public holidays.

What are alternatives to Sushisho in Akita?

Within Akita city, Nihon Ryori Takamura covers Japanese cuisine at a comparable tier for those wanting a broader menu beyond sushi. affetto akita is the go-to if you want Italian rather than Japanese. For a more casual or lower-price-point evening, giueme and f offer alternatives in the local dining scene. Kyu rounds out the options for those seeking a different format entirely.

Is Sushisho good for a special occasion?

Yes, provided the occasion suits an intimate counter format. The 8-seat room, Tabelog Bronze recognition across 2022, 2025, and 2026, and a dinner spend of ¥30,000–¥39,999 per head position it as Akita's most credentialled sushi counter for a celebratory meal. Note that private rooms are unavailable, so conversations carry across the counter — suited to couples or small groups rather than large celebrations.

Location

3 Chome-2-36 Omachi, Akita, 010-0921, Japan

Akita, Japan

Also Consider

Nihon Ryori Takamura, Kaiseki, Kaiseki
affetto akita, Notable alternative
f, Notable alternative
giueme, Notable alternative
Kyu, Notable alternative

Among Akita's top restaurants, Sushisho occupies a clear position: it is the city's most credentialled sushi counter, and there is no direct competitor at the same format or price tier. If sushi is the reason you are eating out, no other Akita venue matches its award record. The question is whether sushi at JPY 30,000 to JPY 39,999 per person is the right spend for your trip, or whether a different format delivers more for your group.

Nihon Ryori Takamura is the most useful comparison for a serious dinner alternative. It serves kaiseki rather than sushi, which means a longer multi-course meal with broader seasonal ingredients and a different kind of hospitality pace. If your group includes people who are less focused on sushi specifically, Takamura may be a better fit. For something in a lower price tier or a more casual European-influenced format, affetto akita and giueme are worth considering, and both are easier to approach as a group without the eight-seat counter constraint.

f and Kyu round out the options for diners who want a high-quality meal in Akita without committing to the sushi counter format. The practical recommendation: if sushi is your priority and you are travelling as a solo diner or a pair, book Sushisho first and plan the rest of your Akita dining around it. If you are with a group of four or more with mixed preferences, Takamura or one of the more flexible formats will give you an easier evening.