Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
Sake-first sushi counter, serious OAD ranking.
Sushi Matsumoto is a sake-forward sushi counter in Shinjuku holding a Michelin Plate (2025) and ranked in Opinionated About Dining's top Japan restaurants. At ¥¥¥ with easy booking, it's the right call for a relaxed special-occasion dinner where sake and sushi share equal billing — less formal than the Ginza prestige counters, but technically grounded and deliberately sequenced.
Yes — with a clear caveat. Sushi Matsumoto is a Michelin Plate-recognised counter in Shinjuku's Tsukudocho that has climbed steadily through the Opinionated About Dining Japan rankings, reaching #76 in 2023 before settling at #320 in 2024 and #374 in 2025. That trajectory tells you something useful: it was once considered a sharper find than it is today, but the underlying experience — relaxed, sake-forward, technically grounded , remains intact. If you want a sushi counter for a date night or a small celebration that doesn't demand the formality of the top-tier Ginza rooms, this is a practical, well-priced choice at ¥¥¥.
Sushi Matsumoto is structured around sake as much as sushi, which makes it a different proposition from a pure nigiri counter. The kitchen alternates between snacks and nigiri deliberately , a sequencing decision designed to keep the sake pairing coherent across the meal. Glasses replace traditional ochoko cups, and the selection of accompanying snacks is broad enough that the drinking side of the evening genuinely competes with the eating side for attention. For a special occasion where you want conversation to flow alongside the meal, that format works better than the intense, silent focus some high-end omakase rooms impose.
The kitchen's commitment to detail shows in the small things. Toro is served first , not because it's the showpiece, but because the heat of freshly cooked vinegared rice is needed to melt the fat properly at that point in the sequence. Nori is toasted fresh. Tea arrives in Nambu ironware teapots, a cast-iron tradition from the Iwate region with centuries behind it. These are not decorative touches; they reflect a kitchen that has thought carefully about the mechanics of what it's serving. The atmosphere is deliberately relaxed, with jazz in the background , low enough to talk over, present enough to set a mood. For a date or a birthday dinner, the register is right.
The editorial angle here matters. Sushi Matsumoto's sake list is the lens through which the entire meal is designed, and that is not typical. Most sushi counters treat sake as an accompaniment; here, the progression of snacks and nigiri is explicitly sequenced to support what's in the glass. The result is an experience closer to a wine-pairing dinner at a serious French restaurant than to a conventional omakase. If sake is something you want to explore seriously , sampling across styles, learning the range , this counter offers structured access to that in a way that counters focused purely on fish technique generally do not. At ¥¥¥ pricing, it also does so without requiring the ¥¥¥¥ outlay of the city's most decorated rooms.
For context: Tokyo has sushi counters that prioritise knife technique above everything else, counters built around sourcing rare fish, and counters where the chef's personal philosophy dominates the room. Sushi Matsumoto sits in a narrower category , counters where the drink program is genuinely co-equal with the food. That specificity is useful when deciding whether to book. If sake doesn't interest you, the case for this counter over a comparably priced alternative weakens. If it does, the case strengthens considerably.
The address is in Shinjuku City's Tsukudocho district, in the basement of the ASK Building. Shinjuku is one of Tokyo's most accessible hubs , multiple rail and subway lines converge there , so getting to the restaurant is direct from most parts of the city. The basement setting is common among serious Tokyo sushi counters; don't read anything into the address. Google reviews sit at 4.6 across 33 reviews, a small sample but consistently positive. Booking difficulty is rated as easy, which is a meaningful advantage over the leading Ginza counters where reservations can require months of lead time or a hotel concierge connection. See our full Tokyo restaurants guide for broader context on the city's dining options, or check our Tokyo hotels guide if you're still planning accommodation.
If you're building a Japan trip itinerary and want to benchmark Sushi Matsumoto against other cities, the closest regional comparisons are Sushi Shikon in Hong Kong and Shoukouwa in Singapore , both serious omakase counters at higher price points. Within Japan, the range extends from HAJIME in Osaka and Gion Sasaki in Kyoto at the high-ceremony end, to more accessible options like Goh in Fukuoka and 1000 in Yokohama. Within Tokyo itself, Harutaka, Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongiten, and Sushi Kanesaka represent the more technically focused, prestige end of the spectrum. Edomae Sushi Hanabusa and Hiroo Ishizaka are worth considering if you want Edomae tradition at a similar price tier. For broader Tokyo planning, our Tokyo bars guide, Tokyo wineries guide, and Tokyo experiences guide cover the surrounding context. For Japan-wide context beyond Tokyo, akordu in Nara and 6 in Okinawa round out the picture at opposite ends of the country.
Quick reference: Sushi Matsumoto, Shinjuku, Tokyo , ¥¥¥, Michelin Plate (2025), OAD Leading Restaurants Japan #374 (2025), sake-forward counter with easy booking.
Booking difficulty is rated as easy, which puts it well ahead of the heavily competed Ginza counters where two to three months' lead time is standard. A week or two of advance notice should be sufficient in most cases, though for specific dates , weekend evenings, public holidays, or Golden Week , book earlier to be safe.
At ¥¥¥, yes , particularly if the sake pairing format appeals to you. You're getting a Michelin Plate-recognised counter with a deliberate drink-food sequence and genuine technical care, at a price point below the ¥¥¥¥ rooms that dominate Tokyo's prestige sushi tier. If your priority is pure nigiri technique and you're indifferent to sake, counters like Edomae Sushi Hanabusa or Hiroo Ishizaka may be a closer match at a similar price level.
Seat count is not confirmed in available data, but the counter format typical of this style of restaurant generally suits groups of two to four more comfortably than larger parties. If you're planning for five or more, contact the venue directly to confirm capacity before booking.
The structured alternation between snacks and nigiri , designed explicitly around the sake pairing , is what makes the format here worth committing to fully rather than ordering selectively. The progression is the point. If you engage with it as intended, particularly on the sake side, it delivers meaningfully more than the sum of individual dishes. If you're not interested in sake, the value proposition narrows, and a counter with a stronger a la carte offering might suit you better.
Specific dietary accommodation details are not confirmed in available data. The fish-and-rice nature of a sushi counter means shellfish allergies or strong aversions to raw fish will be difficult to work around in the omakase format. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if dietary requirements are a concern , attempting to manage significant restrictions on arrival at a counter-format restaurant is not recommended.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Matsumoto | Sushi | The atmosphere is relaxed, with jazz playing in the background. To ensure the most enjoyable sake experience, the chef alternates between snacks and nigiri. This is a great place to try a variety of sakes, served in glasses and accompanied by an extensive selection of snacks and sushi. Toro (fatty tuna) is served first, so that the heat of the freshly cooked vinegared rice melts the fat. Fresh-toasted nori and tea served in Nambu ironware teapots show commitment without compromise.; Michelin Plate (2025); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #374 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #320 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #76 (2023) | Easy | — |
| Harutaka | Sushi | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| L'Effervescence | French | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| RyuGin | Kaiseki, Japanese | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| HOMMAGE | Innovtive French, French | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Crony | Innovative, French | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Book at least four to six weeks in advance, especially for weekend seatings. Sushi Matsumoto has climbed steadily through Opinionated About Dining's Japan rankings — reaching #76 in 2023 before settling at #374 in 2025 — which means demand from serious diners remains consistent. If your Tokyo dates are fixed, lock in the reservation before you book flights.
At ¥¥¥, Sushi Matsumoto sits in a mid-to-upper price bracket for Tokyo omakase. The value case rests on the sake program: the meal is designed around sake pairings rather than pure nigiri progression, which gives you more for your money if sake interests you. If you want a stripped-back nigiri-only counter at this price point, compare alternatives first — Sushi Matsumoto's format is a different proposition.
The counter format in the basement of the ASK Building in Tsukudocho suggests limited seating, making it better suited to parties of two or three than large groups. Groups of four or more should check the venue's official channels to confirm availability, as counter-only sushi restaurants in Tokyo rarely accommodate larger parties without advance arrangement.
Yes, if the sake-and-snacks structure suits you. The kitchen alternates between snacks and nigiri to complement sake service — toro is served first so the rice's warmth melts the fat, and nori is freshly toasted, which signals genuine craft. If you want a traditional, sake-free omakase progression, this format may feel unconventional; if sake pairings are a draw, it's a well-considered meal.
No dietary restriction policy is documented for Sushi Matsumoto. For a counter restaurant with a fixed sake-and-sushi format in Tokyo, the kitchen's flexibility is likely limited — pescatarian guests are probably fine, but vegetarian or allergen-specific needs should be confirmed directly before booking. Do not assume accommodation without checking in advance.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
