Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
Makimura
1,320Pearl PointsSerious kaiseki far from the tourist circuit.
About Makimura
A 14-seat kaiseki room in Shinagawa's Minamioi with a Tabelog score of 4.47, Tabelog Silver Awards from 2019 to 2026 (Gold in 2024), and consecutive Tabelog Tokyo Top 100 selections. Dinner runs JPY 30,000–50,000 all-in. Easier to book than comparable Tokyo kaiseki, with private rooms for groups up to 20. Dinner only; closed Wednesday and Sunday.
Should You Book Makimura?
If you are comparing Makimura to kaiseki restaurants in central Tokyo, like RyuGin in Roppongi or Kikunoi Tokyo in Akasaka, Makimura asks you to go further out of your way. The reward for making that trip to Shinagawa's Minamioi neighbourhood is a 14-seat room with a Tabelog score of 4.47, consecutive Tabelog Silver Awards from 2019 through 2026 (with a Gold in 2024), selection for the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine Tokyo Top 100 in 2021, 2023, and 2025, and a La Liste score of 97 points in both 2025 and 2026. For kaiseki at this price tier — dinner runs JPY 30,000 to JPY 39,999 per person before the 10% service charge and 10% consumption tax — the credentials are hard to argue with. Book if you want serious Japanese cuisine without the crowds and profile of a destination-district address.
What Makimura Is
Makimura opened in May 2010 and has since relocated within the same Minamioi pocket of Shinagawa, now operating out of a building that carries the restaurant's own name. The room holds 14 seats split between a six-seat counter and tables for eight, with private room configurations available for groups of four, six, or eight. The atmosphere is described as a relaxing space, and at that scale the room is quiet enough for conversation at any hour. This is not the high-energy counter experience you get at a sushi bar; the mood reads closer to a private dining room than a performance kitchen. If you are coming for atmosphere as much as food, that low-key register is part of the value proposition.
Chef Makimura Akio's kitchen is noted for being particular about fish, which aligns with kaiseki's seasonal seafood emphasis. The drinks program leans on sake, with the venue flagging a specific focus on nihonshu alongside shochu and wine. For a kaiseki dinner at this price, sake pairing is the natural choice and the list appears to be taken seriously.
The location in Minamioi puts Makimura firmly in neighbourhood-anchor territory. Shinagawa as a district is transit-efficient but not a dining destination in the way Ginza, Roppongi, or Azabu-Juban are. Restaurants that earn Tabelog Top 100 status here do so on cooking alone, not on foot traffic from tourists or the corporate expense-account circuit. That context matters for diners choosing between Makimura and more centrally located kaiseki rooms: you are travelling for the food specifically, which is a reasonable trade at 97 La Liste points. For broader context on dining in the city, see our full Tokyo restaurants guide.
Google reviewers rate Makimura at 4.7 across 155 reviews, and the Opinionated About Dining ranking places it at #242 in Japan in 2025 (up from #268 in 2024). That upward trajectory over consecutive years is a useful signal. For kaiseki comparison in Kyoto, Ifuki and Ankyu offer a similar register if your itinerary takes you west. Within Tokyo's Japanese cuisine tier, Hirosaku, Ajihiro, and Akasaka Ogino are worth comparing before you commit.
Booking and Logistics
Makimura is dinner-only: service runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6 pm to 10 pm. Wednesday and Sunday are closed, as are public holidays that fall on Mondays and some Wednesdays. There is no lunch service. Reservations are available and the booking difficulty is rated easy relative to comparable Tokyo kaiseki rooms, which typically require weeks or months of lead time. That said, with only 14 seats, any given evening fills quickly. Book two to three weeks out as a baseline; if your travel dates are fixed, booking earlier removes the risk entirely.
The restaurant accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners). Electronic money and QR code payments are not accepted. The 10% service charge and 10% consumption tax are added to the menu price, so factor an effective bill closer to JPY 36,000 to JPY 44,000 per person at the listed range. Review-based spend data suggests actual bills have been running JPY 40,000 to JPY 49,999, so budget at the leading of that band to avoid surprises.
Access is on foot: 12 to 15 minutes from JR Omori Station or five to six minutes from Keikyu Omorikaigan Station. There is no on-site parking; paid parking is available nearby. The venue is entirely non-smoking. For planning the rest of your stay, our full Tokyo hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide are good starting points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Makimura?
Makimura runs a set kaiseki format, so there is no à la carte ordering. The kitchen has a documented focus on fish, and the sake programme is taken seriously — the venue is flagged on Tabelog as particularly attentive to nihonshu selection. Budget JPY 30,000–40,000 for the meal at listed price, with reviews suggesting the actual spend often lands closer to JPY 40,000–50,000 including drinks and the 10% service charge.
Is Makimura good for solo dining?
Yes. The 6-seat counter is well-suited to solo diners, and kaiseki format works naturally for one person. With only 14 seats total, the room stays quiet enough that a solo visit does not feel exposed. Book ahead — counter seats at a restaurant with a Tabelog 4.47 score and consistent Silver Award recognition do not go spare.
What should I wear to Makimura?
No dress code is listed in the venue data, but the price point (JPY 30,000–50,000 per head) and format — small counter, set kaiseki, long service — suggest smart, understated clothing is appropriate. Avoid anything loud or casual. This is not a venue where arriving in athletic wear would fit the room.
What are alternatives to Makimura in Tokyo?
For kaiseki at a comparable award level but more central location, RyuGin in Roppongi is the direct comparison — it carries Michelin recognition and is easier to reach. Harutaka is worth considering for seafood-forward omakase at a similar price tier. If you want to stay in the kaiseki format but prefer a venue with an English-language booking interface, Kikunoi Tokyo in Akasaka is more accessible for international visitors.
Is lunch or dinner better at Makimura?
Dinner only — Makimura does not serve lunch. Service runs 6 pm to 10 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Wednesday and Sunday are closed, as are public holidays that fall on Mondays and some Wednesdays. Plan your Tokyo itinerary around this; there is no midday fallback option here.
Is Makimura good for a special occasion?
It is a strong choice for a small-group occasion. Private rooms are available for 4, 6, or 8 people, and the entire restaurant can be reserved for private use for up to 20 guests. The format — set kaiseki, fish-focused, sake-attentive — suits a celebratory dinner more naturally than a casual gathering. The Tabelog Award track record since 2017, including a Gold in 2024, gives it the credibility to anchor a significant meal.
What should a first-timer know about Makimura?
Makimura sits in Minamioi, Shinagawa — about 12 to 15 minutes on foot from JR Omori Station, or 5 to 6 minutes from Keikyu Omorikaigan Station. It is not in a dining district, and the low profile is deliberate. Budget for the full cost: the listed JPY 30,000–39,999 dinner price excludes the 10% service charge and 10% consumption tax, and drinks (sake is the focus) will add to the bill. Reservations are available by phone; there is no official website.
Location
3 Chome-11-5 Minamioi, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 140-0013, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Also Consider
- Harutaka — Sushi, ¥¥¥¥
- L'Effervescence — French, ¥¥¥¥
- RyuGin — Kaiseki, Japanese, ¥¥¥¥
- HOMMAGE — Innovtive French, French, ¥¥¥¥
- Crony — Innovative, French, ¥¥¥¥
For kaiseki at the ¥¥¥¥ tier in Tokyo, RyuGin is the most obvious comparison. It carries three Michelin stars and a higher public profile, which means harder reservations and a steeper bill. Makimura's 97 La Liste points and Tabelog 4.47 score put it in the same conversation on quality, but the Shinagawa location and easier booking make it the more accessible entry point. If you want the credential without the booking friction, Makimura is the stronger practical choice.
Against French-influenced fine dining at a similar price, L'Effervescence and HOMMAGE offer a different register entirely: more theatrical plating, European technique, and a dining room energy that reads less meditative than kaiseki. If your priority is Japanese cuisine in its traditional seasonal structure, neither replaces Makimura. If you are weighing a single Tokyo splurge dinner and your background is more European fine dining, L'Effervescence is the safer orientation. Crony sits at the innovative end and is worth considering if you want something that pushes format harder.
For a sushi counter at the same price tier, Harutaka is the benchmark comparison, but it is considerably harder to book. The decision between sushi omakase and kaiseki is mostly a format question: sushi counters tend to run shorter and more focused, while kaiseki at Makimura is a two-to-three-hour structured progression. Solo diners and pairs who want depth and conversation time are better served by Makimura's format; groups of four or more who want a private room should note that Makimura is one of the few venues at this tier with that option readily available.
Hours
- Monday
- 6–10 pm
- Tuesday
- 6–10 pm
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- 6–10 pm
- Friday
- 6–10 pm
- Saturday
- 6–10 pm
- Sunday
- Closed
