Genji
Aoba Ward / Bunka Yokocho (Culture Alley), Sendai
Restaurant in Sendai, Japan
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999
Dress
Casual
Why go
Walk-in-only counter izakaya with a Tabelog 100 Izakaya EAST nod, serving fish-focused small plates and deep sake selections at JPY 3,000–3,999. Open since 1950, the 20-seat space fills quickly Tuesday through Saturday; arrive by 5:10 PM or expect a wait.
About Genji
Genji is a Sendai venue with a verified price range of JPY 3,000–3,999 and evening hours from Tuesday through Saturday. It is closed on Sunday and Monday, the listed dress code is casual.
Verified hours are 5:10–10 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Because no lunch hours are listed, plan around dinner service only. Beyond the price, hours, casual dress code, confirmed recognition, specific details such as seating layout, reservation policy, payment methods, menu items, service format are not verified here.
What Is Verified About Genji
Genji is associated with Tabelog 100 - Izakaya - EAST - 2025 recognition. The verified price range is JPY 3,000–3,999.
Comparing Genji With Other Sendai Options
For diners comparing choices in Sendai, Genji can be considered alongside other allowed listings such as Koban Zushi, hou, Hassen, DASHIRO Sendai minamimachidoori honten, kazunori ikeda individuel Minamimachidoori ten. Specific differences in menu, seating, reservations, or service style are not verified here, so compare current listings directly before planning a visit.
Genji’s most reliable planning details are straightforward: dinner hours Tuesday through Saturday, closure on Sunday and Monday, casual dress, a JPY 3,000–3,999 price range. Those facts make it easiest to frame Genji as an evening Sendai option rather than a lunch stop.
Because more granular details are not verified, avoid assuming a particular dish, drinks program, seating style, payment policy, or booking system. If those factors matter to your visit, confirm them before going.
For more options in the city, check our full Sendai restaurants guide and compare Genji with other dining in Sendai based on your schedule and budget.
Planning details
- Location
- 2 Chome-4-8 Ichibancho, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0811, Japan
- Website
- instagram.com/explore/locations/292874687
- Phone
- +81 22-222-8485
Venue details
Ambiance
Very traditional, compact izakaya with an old-school, nostalgic interior; most seating is at a counter facing the open kitchen, with warm lighting, bottles of sake lining the walls, and a lively but relaxed pub-like buzz once it fills up.[4][7][13][9]
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- dried salmon ‘foya’
- assorted sashimi
- yakitori and grilled skewers
- seasonal seafood small plates
Planning details
Location
2 Chome-4-8 Ichibancho, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0811, Japan · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Koban Zushi, JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 JPY 5,000 - JPY 5,999, JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 JPY 5,000 - JPY 5,999
- hou, JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999, JPY 10,000 - JPY 14,999
- Hassen, JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999, JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999
- kazunori ikeda individuel Minamimachidoori ten, JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999 JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999, JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999 JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999
- DASHIRO Sendai minamimachidoori honten, - JPY 999 - JPY 999, - JPY 999 - JPY 999
Restaurant context
At JPY 3,000–3,999 per head, Genji operates several price tiers below Sendai's omakase destinations. Koban Zushi charges JPY 15,000–19,999 for sushi-focused counter service and requires advance reservations, while Hou lands in the JPY 10,000–14,999 range with a more structured kaiseki format. Both demand booking windows that Genji's walk-in policy sidesteps entirely. The trade-off: no guaranteed seating, queues form before the 5:10 PM opening Tuesday through Saturday.
For ultra-casual izakaya options, Hassen and kazunori ikeda individuel Minamimachidoori ten both operate under JPY 2,000, though neither carries Tabelog 100 recognition. DASHIRO Sendai minamimachidoori honten undercuts the field at under JPY 999, but fish quality and sake depth drop accordingly. Genji occupies the middle ground: Tabelog 100 credibility, fish-focused execution, sake selection that rivals pricier spots, all without the reservation scramble. The counter-only format and walk-in system favor solo diners and pairs willing to queue over groups requiring coordinated seating.
Book Koban Zushi if omakase precision justifies the five-fold price increase. Choose Genji if spontaneity, neighborhood atmosphere, sake depth matter more than guaranteed entry. Skip the sub-JPY 1,000 options unless budget is the only constraint, the gap in quality is wider than the price difference suggests.
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Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Genji guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Genji good for a special occasion?
Genji’s verified price range is JPY 3,000–3,999, with casual dress and dinner hours Tuesday through Saturday. Details such as private rooms, seating style, atmosphere are not verified here, so confirm those before choosing it for a special occasion.
Is lunch or dinner better at Genji?
Only dinner hours are verified: Tuesday through Saturday, 5:10–10 PM. Genji is closed Sunday and Monday.
