Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
12 seats, award-backed, book early.
Koho is a 12-seat Chinese counter in Roppongi with a decade of sustained Tabelog recognition, currently sitting at a score of 4.23 and Bronze status since 2021. Budget JPY 30,000–39,999 per head for dinner. Book two to three weeks out via the OMAKASE portal, which handles English reservations. No private rooms, no outside drinks, and a strict cancellation policy.
Getting a seat at Koho is genuinely achievable for international visitors, but you need to plan ahead. The restaurant operates on a reservation-only basis with just 12 counter seats, and the English-friendly booking portal OMAKASE (omakaseje.com/restaurants/pj729564) makes the process direct for non-Japanese speakers. Solo diners and pairs can book directly by phone (between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM) or online; groups of three or more must go through TableCheck. The short answer on whether it is worth the effort: yes, if you are serious about Chinese cuisine at a formal counter level and are prepared to spend JPY 30,000–39,999 per person at dinner.
Koho is a counter-only Chinese restaurant in Roppongi, led by chef Masashi Yamamoto, that has held Tabelog recognition every year since at least 2017. The award trajectory tells you something useful: Tabelog Silver in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, then a shift to Bronze from 2021 onward alongside consistent selection for the Tabelog Chinese TOKYO "Tabelog 100" list in 2021, 2023, and 2024. That pattern suggests a kitchen operating at a sustained, high level rather than a one-season flash. On Opinionated About Dining, Koho ranked #446 among Japan's leading restaurants in 2024 and #545 in 2025, with a Tabelog score of 4.23 and 4.4 on Google (146 reviews). Those numbers put it in a competitive bracket with the leading specialist Chinese kitchens in Tokyo.
The format is counter-only, 12 seats, no private rooms, and no outside beverages permitted. The drink program has a sommelier on hand and a clear focus on sake, shochu, and wine, with the listing noting particular attention to all three. A 10% service charge applies. The kitchen lists a strong emphasis on fish and a health-and-wellness menu orientation, which is consistent with the lighter, technique-forward direction that characterises Tokyo's most acclaimed Chinese counters. Expect food last orders at 20:00 Monday to Thursday, with two seatings on Friday and Saturday (5:30–7:45 PM and 8:30–10:30 PM), which makes Friday and Saturday dinner the better choice if you want a longer evening window or prefer the energy of a second seating.
Koho opened on 1 April 2016, so it has had nearly a decade to build its reservation base, but the 12-seat counter means availability is consistently tight. Book two to three weeks out as a baseline; for weekend seatings, go further. The Friday and Saturday split-seating structure means the second seating (8:30 PM) is a useful option if early evenings are difficult during a Tokyo trip. Sunday is closed. Phone inquiries are accepted only between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM Japan time. The cancellation policy carries weight: 50% from two days prior and 100% on the day, so treat any reservation as firm once made.
For special occasions, Koho accommodates birthday plates and offers sommelier service, which makes it a credible choice for a celebration dinner. Children under high school age are not admitted. Dress expectations are light: the only stated code is to avoid strong perfumes. No parking is available, but the restaurant is a three-minute walk from Exit 5 of Roppongi Station on the Toei Oedo Line, and four minutes from Exit 3 on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
Tokyo has a handful of high-end Chinese counters that operate at this price point, and the relevant comparison is not to casual Chinese dining but to the city's broader ¥¥¥¥ counter-dining category. Comparable options include Chugoku Hanten Fureika and Chugoku Hanten Kohakukyu (Amber Palace), which represent the larger-format end of Tokyo's Chinese fine dining. Ippei Hanten and Koshikiryori Koki offer different registers of the city's Chinese and cross-cultural cuisine offer. itsuka operates at a similarly intimate scale. What Koho offers specifically is a decade of sustained Tabelog recognition, a 12-seat counter format that keeps service ratios high, and a fish-focused menu approach that sits closer to the Japanese culinary tradition than most Chinese restaurants at this level. That combination is the argument for booking here rather than a larger room.
If you are travelling across Japan and want to benchmark Koho against the wider fine-dining circuit, consider HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa. For a global reference point on what high-end Chinese cuisine looks like outside Japan, Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin and Mister Jiu's in San Francisco represent strong comparators in their own markets.
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For high-end Chinese cuisine at a similar price point, Chugoku Hanten Fureika and Chugoku Hanten Kohakukyu (Amber Palace) are the obvious comparators and offer more seats if group size is a factor. Ippei Hanten is worth considering if you want a different stylistic register. If you are open to ¥¥¥¥ counter dining outside the Chinese category, RyuGin (kaiseki) and Harutaka (sushi) operate at a comparable spend level with more international name recognition.
No. The reservation policy is explicit: multiple allergy ingredients cannot be accommodated. If you or anyone in your party has serious dietary restrictions, contact the restaurant before booking. Email is the most reliable route outside phone hours: koho@32lime.com.
Yes. The 12-seat counter format is well-suited to solo diners, and solo guests can book directly without going through TableCheck. At JPY 30,000–39,999 per head, it is a significant spend for a solo meal, but the counter setting means you are not paying for a table you cannot fill. This is one of the stronger solo fine-dining formats in Tokyo's Chinese category.
Two to three weeks is a reasonable baseline for weeknights; aim for four or more weeks for Friday or Saturday. Koho holds Tabelog Bronze (score 4.23) and has appeared on the Tabelog Chinese TOKYO 100 list multiple years running, so demand is consistent. International visitors should use the OMAKASE portal, which operates in English, Chinese, and Korean.
Dinner only. Koho does not serve lunch (the Tabelog budget entry shows no lunch price). All seatings are in the evening, with the Friday and Saturday second seating (8:30–10:30 PM) being the leading option if you want more time and a later start. Monday through Thursday offers a single seating from 6:00 PM with a food last order at 8:00 PM.
Yes, with caveats. The restaurant accommodates birthday plates and has a sommelier, which covers the basics for a celebration dinner. The 12-seat counter is quiet and focused rather than celebratory in atmosphere. At JPY 30,000–39,999 per person plus a 10% service charge, the spend is occasion-appropriate. If you need a private room, this is not the venue: no private dining is available.
The entire restaurant is a counter, so yes. All 12 seats are counter seats. There is no separate bar area and no table seating. The counter format is the experience, not an alternative to it.
Three things matter most. First, the booking process: reservation only, groups of three or more must use TableCheck, and the cancellation fees are steep (50% from two days out, 100% on the day). Second, the format: 12 counter seats, no outside drinks, no large luggage, no private rooms. Third, the price: budget JPY 30,000–39,999 per person for dinner, plus 10% service. Koho has held Tabelog Bronze for six consecutive years (2021–2026) and was previously Silver for four years before that, so the track record is long enough to trust.
For high-end Chinese counter dining in Tokyo at a comparable price point, Koho sits in a small group with few direct rivals. RyuGin offers Japanese kaiseki rather than Chinese cuisine but matches the counter format and Tabelog pedigree. If you want to stay in the Roppongi area with a French tasting-menu alternative, L'Effervescence operates at a similar spend. Koho's specific draw is its Chinese cuisine framing in an otherwise Japanese-dominated fine-dining scene.
Koho explicitly states it cannot accommodate multiple allergy ingredients simultaneously, so if you have several dietary restrictions, this is likely not the right venue. Single allergies may be manageable but must be declared at booking. check the venue's official channels before reserving: phone inquiries are accepted 11am–3pm at 03-3478-7441, or by email at koho@32lime.com.
Yes, and arguably it is the format Koho suits best. The 12-seat counter is the entire restaurant, so solo diners are entirely at home here rather than conspicuous. Reservations for one or two people can be made directly; groups of three or more must book through TableCheck, which means solo reservations have a simpler path to a seat.
Book as early as possible, and plan for at least several weeks lead time. The 12-seat counter fills quickly given consistent Tabelog recognition since 2017 and a Tabelog score of 4.23. International visitors should use the OMAKASE reservation platform (omakaseje.com/restaurants/pj729564), which supports English, Chinese, and Korean. Note the cancellation policy: 50% fee from two days prior, 100% on the day.
Koho is dinner only. The Tabelog budget listing shows no lunch service, and all listed hours are evening sittings. On Fridays and Saturdays there are two seatings (5:30pm and 8:30pm); Monday through Thursday runs a single seating from 6pm. The 8:30pm Friday and Saturday sitting gives more scheduling flexibility if you have daytime plans.
It works for a special occasion for two, with birthday plates available if requested at the time of reservation. However, no private rooms exist and the restaurant cannot be booked for exclusive private use, so it is not suitable for group celebrations. The no-strong-perfume dress code and non-smoking environment keep the counter experience focused. At JPY 30,000–39,999 per person before the 10% service charge, the spend signals the occasion clearly enough.
The entire restaurant is a counter, so every seat is effectively a counter seat. There are 12 seats and no tables, no private rooms, and no bar area separate from the main dining counter. If you prefer a table setup, Koho is not the right choice.
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