Sushi Miyakawa
Sushi · Chūō, Sapporo
Restaurant in Sapporo, Japan
Book with PearlThe Read
Hokkaido Omakase Precision
Chef
Masaaki Miyakawa
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Sushi Miyakawa is Sapporo's most credentialled omakase counter; seven seats, reservation-only, a Tabelog Silver Award in 2024, 2025, 2026. At JPY 32,000 all-inclusive, it delivers serious Hokkaido seafood at a price point well below comparable Tokyo counters. Book by phone on the first business day of the month for the following month's slots.
About Sushi Miyakawa
Should You Book Sushi Miyakawa?
Seven counter seats. Reservation-only. New bookings open by phone at 11 AM on the first business day of each month. If you are planning a serious sushi meal in Sapporo, Sushi Miyakawa is the counter to target; it holds a Tabelog Silver Award for 2024, 2025, 2026, a score of 4.52, a place in the Tabelog Sushi EAST Top 100 for 2025. The Opinionated About Dining list ranked it #60 in Japan in 2025, up from #87 in 2024. That trajectory matters: this is a restaurant getting harder to book, not easier.
What Sushi Miyakawa Is
Opened in November 2022 in Sapporo's Chuo Ward, Sushi Miyakawa is the work of chef Masaaki Miyakawa. The venue's own framing; "simple yet dedicated, focused solely on bringing out the true flavors of seafood", is an accurate description of the omakase format you will encounter here. This is not a restaurant built around showmanship or elaborate garnish. The case for booking rests on the quality of Hokkaido's cold-water seafood and the precision brought to it at the counter.
Hokkaido's position as Japan's primary seafood prefecture is relevant context. The island's cold Sea of Japan and Pacific waters produce sea urchin, snow crab, scallop, salmon roe, herring at a quality and freshness that chefs in Tokyo work hard to source. Eating sushi in Sapporo, at a counter of this calibre, means the supply chain is shorter than almost anywhere else in the country. That geographic advantage is built into the price.
Price and Format
The course is priced at JPY 32,000 inclusive of consumption tax and service charge, roughly USD 210 at current rates. That sits at the upper end of Sapporo's sushi market but is materially cheaper than comparable omakase counters in Tokyo or Osaka. For context, Harutaka in Tokyo operates at a similar quality tier with a higher price point, Sushi Shikon in Hong Kong runs considerably more expensive for a three-Michelin-star equivalent experience. Miyakawa's pricing makes it one of the more accessible entry points to serious omakase in Japan.
There is no lunch service. Dinner runs in two sessions: the first from 17:00 to 19:15, the second from 19:30 onward. Wednesday is the weekly closing day. If you want a longer, unhurried evening, the second session is the practical choice, confirm timing directly with the restaurant before visiting, as hours can change.
The Room and the Counter
The counter seats seven. A private room is available for parties of two, which makes this workable for a couple who want separation from the main counter, a rarer feature at small sushi venues. Smart casual dress is required; shorts, flip-flops, sweatpants are explicitly not permitted. The room is non-smoking throughout. No parking is on-site; the nearest public option is a short walk away. The venue is approximately five minutes on foot from Nishi 28th Street Station on the Tozai Subway Line.
Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners). Electronic money and QR code payments are not.
Beverage Program
No drink list data is available in the venue record. At counters of this format and price in Japan, sake pairings are the standard offering, expect a curated selection rather than an extensive wine list. If a specific pairing or beverage preference is important to your booking decision, contact the restaurant directly at 011-613-2221 or via the venue's website before confirming.
Awards and Recognition
- Tabelog Silver Award: 2024, 2025, 2026
- Tabelog Sushi EAST Top 100: 2025
- Tabelog score: 4.52
- Opinionated About Dining, Leading Restaurants in Japan: #60 (2025), #87 (2024), Recommended (2023)
The OAD ranking improvement from #87 to #60 in a single year is a meaningful signal. For comparison, HAJIME in Osaka and Gion Sasaki in Kyoto operate at the highest tier of Japan's restaurant recognition ecosystem. Miyakawa is not yet at that level, but its upward trajectory since opening in late 2022 is faster than most counters at this price point.
Booking
Reservation only. Phone lines open at 11 AM on the first business day of each month for the following month's slots. Call 011-613-2221. With seven seats and two sessions per evening, available spots fill fast, plan at least a month out, ideally more if your travel dates are fixed. Booking difficulty is rated Easy relative to top-tier Tokyo counters, but that reflects the category, not the venue's actual availability. Do not treat this as a walk-in option.
For a broader view of where Sushi Miyakawa sits in the city's dining options, see our full Sapporo restaurants guide. For where to stay, our Sapporo hotels guide covers the main options near Chuo Ward.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 5–10 pm · Tuesday: 5–10 pm
- Location
- Japan, 〒064-0824 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Kita 4 Jonishi, 25 Chome−2−2 リヒトラーレ円山 1F
- Website
- sushi-miyakawa.com
- Phone
- +81 11-613-2221
- Cuisine
- Sushi (omakase)SushiSushi
- Price (dinner)
- JPY 30,000–39,999
- Booking
- Phone, 1st business day of month
- Lunch
- No
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Cards accepted
- Visa, MC, JCB, Amex, Diners
- Access
- 5 min walk, Nishi 28th St Station
- Awards (2025–26)
- Tabelog Silver, OAD #60
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Sushi Miyakawa presents a concentrated, classical sushi experience centered on a single seven-seat counter. The small scale shapes everything: the chef works in full view, conversation carries across the room, and the meal unfolds as a collective, tightly choreographed performance. The kitchen’s proximity to Hokkaido’s cold-water harvests lends a quiet confidence to the menu—ingredients arrive with a clarity and freshness that the counter format deliberately showcases. It feels like an old-school sushi room translated for Sapporo, with an understated, discovery-oriented charm rather than overt flashiness.
Best For
This is a place for focused, chef-led meals—best suited to date nights and special occasions where the dining act itself is the centerpiece. The counter invites engagement with technique and provenance, making it ideal for diners who want an uninterrupted omakase sequence and to watch the chef at work. A private room for two is available when you want the same menu with added privacy. Groups larger than the counter will find the format limiting, since the room’s pace is set collectively rather than by individual diners.
Ordering Tips
Embrace the omakase approach: the counter format and the kitchen’s rhythm determine pacing, so allow the chef to lead the sequence rather than requesting many substitutions. Expect Hokkaido-focused specialties—examples include abalone with liver stewed sauce, bluefin tuna, uni, and yellowtail—so mention any allergies up front. If you prefer more privacy, reserve the two-person private room; otherwise choose counter seating to experience the full performance of the sushi service. Be prepared for a tightly staged, ingredient-forward tasting rather than à la carte flexibility.
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 5–10 pm
- Tuesday
- 5–10 pm
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- 5–10 pm
- Friday
- 5–10 pm
- Saturday
- 5–10 pm
- Sunday
- 5–10 pm
Location
Japan, 〒064-0824 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Kita 4 Jonishi, 25 Chome−2−2 リヒトラーレ円山 1F · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Arima; Sushi, Sushi
- Hanakoji Sawada; Kaiseki, Kaiseki
- Menya Saimi; Ramen, Ramen
- Nukumi; Crab, Crab
- Sushi Tanabe; Sushi, Sushi
Restaurant context
Among Sapporo's sushi counters, Sushi Miyakawa sits at the top of the documented quality tier alongside Arima and Sushi Tanabe. Miyakawa's OAD ranking (#60 in Japan, 2025) and three consecutive Tabelog Silver Awards give it the strongest verifiable credentials of the three. If award-backed assurance matters to your booking decision, Miyakawa is the clearer choice. Arima and Sushi Tanabe are worth considering if Miyakawa's phone-booking system proves impossible to navigate around your travel dates.
For a different format entirely, Hanakoji Sawada offers kaiseki rather than sushi; a longer, more ceremonial multi-course experience that suits diners who want broader culinary range rather than a seafood-focused counter. If your Sapporo itinerary allows one serious meal, the choice between Miyakawa and Sawada comes down to format preference: omakase sushi versus kaiseki. Both are at the high end of the city's price range.
If budget is a constraint, Menya Saimi (ramen) and Nukumi (crab) operate at a much lower price point and represent Hokkaido's other dominant food categories. Neither competes with Miyakawa on sushi quality, but both deliver a strong regional eating experience for considerably less outlay. A practical Sapporo itinerary might combine one meal at Miyakawa with lunch at Menya Saimi; the two restaurants don't overlap on format or price, so there's no trade-off involved.
Explore Sapporo
Around this place
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Unlock the full Sushi Miyakawa guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Sushi Miyakawa
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| Sushi Miyakawa | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #402026 Tabelog Silver · #802025 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #60Tabelog 100 - Sushi - EAST - 2025 · #892025 Tabelog Silver2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #872023 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Recommended |
| Arima | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #26Tabelog 100 - Sushi - EAST - 2025 · #542025 Tabelog Bronze2023 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Recommended |
| Hanakoji Sawada | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan RecommendedTabelog 100 - Japanese cuisine - EAST - 2025 · #62025 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #1982024 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #1932023 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Recommended |
| Menya Saimi | 2026 OAD Casual in Japan Highly RecommendedTabelog 100 - Ramen - HOKKAIDO - 2025 · #362025 OAD Casual in Japan Ranked · #932024 OAD Casual in Japan Ranked · #932023 OAD Casual in Japan Ranked · #72 |
| Nukumi | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #3302026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan RecommendedTabelog 100 - Japanese cuisine - EAST - 2025 · #592023 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Recommended |
| Sushi Tanabe | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #4952024 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked · #4332023 OAD Top Restaurants in Japan Recommended |
How Sushi Miyakawa stacks up against the competition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Sushi Miyakawa?
There is no à la carte at Sushi Miyakawa; the format is a single omakase course at JPY 32,000 inclusive of tax and service. Chef Masaaki Miyakawa's stated philosophy is to let the seafood speak for itself, so expect Hokkaido-sourced product to drive the menu. If you want choice or flexibility, this counter is not the right fit.
Is lunch or dinner better at Sushi Miyakawa?
Dinner only; Sushi Miyakawa does not offer lunch service. Sessions run 5:00–7:15 PM and from 7:30 PM onwards, Tuesday through Sunday (closed Wednesdays). Book the first session if you prefer a fixed end time; the second session runs open-ended.
How far ahead should I book Sushi Miyakawa?
At minimum one full month. Reservations open by phone at 11 AM on the first business day of each month for the following month's slots; with only seven counter seats, availability goes fast. Call 011-613-2221 at opening time; mid-month enquiries for the same month are effectively futile.
Can I eat at the bar at Sushi Miyakawa?
The entire dining room is the counter; all seven seats face the chef. A private room is available for parties of two if you prefer separation, but it is the same counter-style experience. Walk-ins are not accepted; every seat requires a reservation.
Does Sushi Miyakawa handle dietary restrictions?
No dietary restriction policy is documented for Sushi Miyakawa. At a seven-seat reservation-only counter running a single set course, the kitchen has limited room to accommodate significant modifications. Confirm directly by phone (011-613-2221) before booking, particularly for shellfish or fish allergies given the Hokkaido seafood focus.
