Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
8-seat counter, serious Edomae credentials.
Sushi Akira is an 8-seat Edomae omakase counter in Ebisu with a Tabelog score of 4.52, three consecutive Tabelog Silver Awards, and an OAD Japan ranking of #206 in 2025. At JPY 40,000–59,999 per head, it sits at the top of Tokyo's sushi tier and stays open until 23:00 — rare for a counter at this level.
Sushi Akira is one of the stronger bets in Ebisu for creative Edomae sushi at the ¥¥¥¥ tier. With an 8-seat counter, a Tabelog score of 4.52, and three consecutive Tabelog Silver Awards (2024, 2025, 2026), it has earned a consistent following among Tokyo sushi regulars. At JPY 40,000–49,999 per head (with some diners reporting closer to JPY 50,000–59,999 based on reviews), the price sits firmly in Tokyo's upper omakase bracket. Book it if you want a counter with genuine craft and a less tourist-saturated room than Ginza alternatives. Skip it if you need private dining or easy walk-in access.
Sushi Akira opened in November 2019 in Ebisu, Shibuya, operating from the ground floor of the Grande Duo Hiroo building. The counter seats just 8 guests, which means every service is effectively an exclusive sitting. The venue is non-smoking throughout, asks guests to arrive fragrance-free to preserve the integrity of the course, and has a strict 30-minute late-arrival policy: show up more than 30 minutes past your reservation time and it is treated as a cancellation. These are not unusual rules for Tokyo omakase at this level, but they are worth knowing before you book.
The editorial angle at Tabelog describes the kitchen as "leading the next generation of Edomae sushi with rich creativity and meticulous craftsmanship" — a framing that positions it as progressive rather than purely traditional. For repeat visitors, that creative orientation matters: it suggests the menu evolves, which gives regulars a reason to return rather than simply repeat an experience they already know.
The venue runs Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays from 12:00 to 23:00, closing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That extended 23:00 close is worth noting for late-night plans: at the ¥¥¥¥ tier in Tokyo, very few sushi counters stay open past 22:00, making Sushi Akira a practical option if you're working around an evening schedule or want a late omakase sitting after theatre, a business dinner, or a prior engagement. Confirm the late seating window when you reserve, since course timing depends on when you book in.
Drinks program covers sake, shochu, wine, and cocktails, with the venue noted as particularly selective about all four categories. For a sushi counter, that range is broader than average and gives you more pairing flexibility than a sake-only list. Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners). No private rooms are available, but the full venue can be hired exclusively for private events. Children and strollers are accommodated on a private-hire basis.
On rankings: Opinionated About Dining placed Sushi Akira at #206 in Japan for 2025, up from #313 in 2024 and a recommended listing in 2023. That three-year trajectory is a meaningful signal — the restaurant has gained traction with the kind of reviewer base that cross-references multiple credentialing systems. It has also appeared in the Tabelog Sushi Tokyo 100 in 2021, 2022, and 2025.
If you have dietary restrictions, disclose them at the time of booking, not on the day. The kitchen states it may need to decline reservations for guests with a wide range of allergies, and same-day disclosures risk additional charges or incomplete accommodation. Phone reservations are easiest between 15:00 and 17:00. A dedicated reservation website also exists, though no public URL is currently listed.
| Detail | Sushi Akira | Harutaka |
|---|---|---|
| Cuisine | Edomae Sushi (creative) | Traditional Edomae Sushi |
| Price per head | JPY 40,000–59,999 | ¥¥¥¥ |
| Seats | 8 | Counter format |
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Harder |
| Late seating (to 23:00) | Yes | No (standard hours) |
| Private room | No (full buy-out available) | No |
| Tabelog score | 4.52 | High |
| OAD Japan rank (2025) | #206 | Top tier |
Expect a creative Edomae omakase course at an 8-seat counter in Ebisu. Budget JPY 40,000–59,999 per head and arrive on time , the 30-minute late rule is enforced. Disclose dietary restrictions when booking, not on arrival. The kitchen asks guests not to wear perfume or strong fragrance. For first-time omakase in Tokyo at this price tier, Sushi Akira is more approachable to book than Ginza counters like Harutaka, and the venue is noted as both solo- and family-friendly.
No formal dress code is stated. At JPY 40,000–49,999 per head with three Tabelog Silver Awards, smart-casual is the practical baseline. More importantly: avoid perfume, cologne, or heavily scented fabric softener. The kitchen explicitly asks guests to arrive fragrance-free so the aromas of the course are not affected. This is a firm house rule, not a suggestion.
Yes , the entire 8-seat venue is counter seating. There is no table dining here. That counter format is the experience, not a secondary option. It also means the room is intimate and the pacing is communal, so solo diners and couples tend to find it more comfortable than large groups. Parties larger than 8 cannot be seated together, and there are no private rooms.
Yes, and Tabelog reviewers specifically flag it as solo-friendly. An 8-seat counter is a natural format for dining alone , you are part of the room rather than isolated at a table for one. At this price point, compare it against Harutaka if you want a more traditional Edomae style, or consider Crony if you prefer an innovative French counter for solo dining instead.
With caution. The restaurant states that guests with a wide range of allergies may be declined. Single ingredient avoidances are generally manageable if communicated at booking , not on the day. Same-day disclosures risk incomplete accommodation or additional charges. Call between 15:00 and 17:00 to discuss specifics before confirming. Do not rely on the assumption that a high-end counter will automatically work around complex dietary needs without advance notice.
| Venue | Price | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Akira | Easy | — | |
| Harutaka | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
| L'Effervescence | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
| RyuGin | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
| HOMMAGE | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
| Crony | ¥¥¥¥ | Unknown | — |
What to weigh when choosing between Sushi Akira and alternatives.
Budget ¥40,000–¥50,000 per head based on listed pricing, and reserve well in advance given the 8-seat counter. The venue describes its approach as creative Edomae sushi, so expect a chef-led course rather than à la carte choices. Arrive on time: if you are more than 30 minutes late, the reservation is treated as a cancellation. Dietary restrictions must be declared at booking, not on the day.
No dress code is listed, but the venue explicitly asks guests to skip perfume, cologne, and heavily scented fabric softeners, so that is the only confirmed house rule on presentation. For a ¥40,000–¥50,000 counter experience that has held Tabelog Silver three consecutive years, most guests dress neatly without going black-tie. When in doubt, err toward business casual and go fragrance-free.
Yes — the entire restaurant is an 8-seat counter, so every seat is the bar. There are no tables and no private rooms. For parties that want separation or a private dining room, Sushi Akira is not the right format; consider venues with private room availability instead.
Sushi Akira is explicitly recommended for solo dining on its Tabelog profile. An 8-seat counter is one of the more comfortable formats for eating alone in Tokyo: conversation with the chef is natural, pacing is controlled, and a single diner occupies the same course structure as any other guest. At ¥40,000–¥50,000 it is a significant solo spend, but the counter format makes it easier to justify than a table-service room of the same price.
The venue will accommodate restrictions, but they must be communicated at the time of reservation. Requests flagged on the day may not be possible to fulfill, and additional charges may apply for late notice. Guests with wide-ranging allergies should be aware that the kitchen may have to decline the reservation outright, as noted in the official remarks.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
