Primo Passo

Primo Passo, Tokyo: Pearl Verdict

Primo Passo earns its Michelin star and Tabelog 4.10 rating with a focused concept that rewards the right diner. This is reservation-only Italian in a 14-seat basement room in Tsukiji, built around pasta as the primary creative statement. If you want a technically ambitious dinner that blends Italian craft with Japanese ingredients and sensibility, this is one of the more coherent executions of that idea in Tokyo. If you are expecting a conventional Italian trattoria or a sprawling menu, book elsewhere.

What to Expect on Your First Visit

Primo Passo opened in May 2023, which makes it a relatively young restaurant operating at a high level quickly. Chef Tomoyuki Fujioka spent time on the pasta program at Quattro Passi in Naples before establishing this room, and that background shapes everything here. The format centres on pasta as the headline course, presented across several dishes within a progression of smaller plates. The kitchen works with dashi and Japanese seasonal ingredients alongside Italian technique, and that meeting point is the actual point of the meal — not a gimmick, but a structural approach to the menu.

First-timers should know the room is small. Eight seats at the counter face the kitchen directly; a private room accommodates two, four, or six guests. The counter is the better choice for a solo visit or a pair — you get a close read on the cooking. The private room suits a business dinner or a group wanting privacy. The space is described as stylish and relaxed, with a coffered ceiling, mud walls, and a vertically written menu that signals the Japanese design references are deliberate, not decorative.

Dinner runs JPY 20,000 to JPY 29,999 per head based on Tabelog review data. Add a 10% service charge on leading of that. The wine program is taken seriously , a sommelier is on hand, and the list covers both wine and sake. BYO is accepted, which is a practical option if you have a bottle you want to bring. Credit cards are accepted (JCB, AMEX, Diners); electronic payments are not. For a first visit, factor in JPY 25,000 to JPY 35,000 per person all-in as a working budget.

Service and Value

The 10% service charge is standard at this tier in Tokyo, and at Primo Passo it reflects a deliberate service philosophy: the room is small enough that the team can give each table genuine attention. The sommelier presence at a 14-seat restaurant is a meaningful commitment at this scale. For a special occasion , the venue is specifically flagged as business-appropriate by Tabelog reviewers , the private room with sommelier guidance makes the spend feel structured and purposeful rather than incidental.

Compared to Michelin-starred Italian peers in Tokyo, the price point sits in a reasonable range. Aroma Fresca and PRISMA operate in a similar bracket. Principio and AlCeppo offer other Italian perspectives across the city. For Italian dining in Asia at a comparable creative ambition level, 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong and cenci in Kyoto are the natural reference points. Primo Passo sits closer to the cenci model: a single chef's creative vision in an intimate room, rather than a larger production.

Booking and Logistics

Booking is currently rated Easy, which is notable for a Michelin-starred Tokyo restaurant. Primo Passo is reservation-only , walk-ins are not accepted , but availability is comparatively accessible relative to harder-to-book rooms like Harutaka. Book through the restaurant's website (ppasso.jp) or via Tabelog. The restaurant runs two shifts on open evenings: a first seating from 17:00 and a second from 20:30. Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Closed 30 December through 7 January for the year-end period.

The address is ACN Tsukiji Building B1F, 1-5-11 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo. The most direct access is a two-minute walk from Shintomicho Station (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, Exit 1). Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Line, Exit 4) is a four-minute walk. No parking on site , arrive by train. The basement location is consistent with the room's atmosphere: the kitchen smells of stock and reduction reach you before you sit down, which sets the tone for what the cooking is actually about.

Children are welcome with a reservation. The maximum party size for standard seating is eight people, with private use available for up to 20. The room is non-smoking throughout.

Primo Passo holds the Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze and was selected for the Tabelog Italian Tokyo Top 100 in 2025, placing it among the top-ranked Italian restaurants in the city by Japan's most widely used restaurant review platform. It also holds a Michelin star for 2026. See our full Tokyo restaurants guide for broader context across cuisines, or browse Tokyo hotels, bars, and experiences to plan the wider visit. For dining comparisons across Japan, see HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa.

FAQ

• What should a first-timer know about Primo Passo? It is a small, reservation-only room built around a pasta-focused tasting format that blends Italian technique with Japanese ingredients. Budget JPY 25,000 to JPY 35,000 per person including the 10% service charge and drinks. The counter seats eight and gives the leading view of the cooking. A sommelier is on hand and BYO is accepted. The room is non-smoking and operates two dinner shifts nightly.
• How far ahead should I book Primo Passo? Booking is currently rated Easy for a Michelin-starred Tokyo restaurant. That said, it is reservation-only with only 14 seats, so book at least one to two weeks ahead for a standard weeknight and two to three weeks out for a Friday or Saturday. The second shift (from 20:30) may have more availability than the first. Book via ppasso.jp or Tabelog.
• Does Primo Passo handle dietary restrictions? The database does not include specific dietary accommodation details. The kitchen is noted as particularly focused on fish, which suggests seafood features prominently. Contact the restaurant directly at +81-3-6826-9672 or through ppasso.jp before booking if you have specific requirements. Do not assume allergen or vegetarian accommodation without confirming in advance.
• What are alternatives to Primo Passo in Tokyo? For Italian at a comparable price tier: Aroma Fresca offers a longer-established Italian-Japanese approach; Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura Tokyo is a higher-profile option if brand and setting matter; Principio and AlCeppo cover different registers of Italian cooking in the city. If you are open to other cuisines at the same spend level, Harutaka for sushi or RyuGin for kaiseki are strong alternatives.
• Is Primo Passo good for a special occasion? Yes, with conditions. Tabelog reviewers specifically flag it as a business occasion venue, and the private room (available for two, four, or six people) provides the setting for a proper celebration. The Michelin star and Tabelog Award recognition give it credibility as a choice you can present to guests. The 10% service charge, sommelier service, and birthday plate option mean the occasion logistics are handled. For a group larger than six wanting a full buyout, private use is available for up to 20 people.