Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
Credentialled Tokyo sushi, easier to book.
A credentialled neighbourhood sushi counter in Daikanyama, Sushi Takeuchi holds OAD recognition and a 4.6 Google rating without the booking difficulty of Tokyo's most-hyped omakase rooms. It is the right call for a first-timer who wants serious, sourcing-led sushi in a calm setting — book lunch for the best value entry, and confirm pricing directly before you go.
Sushi Takeuchi is the right call for a first-timer who wants a serious, neighbourhood-rooted sushi experience in Tokyo without the booking gauntlet that comes with the city's most-decorated counters. Situated in Sarugakucho, a quiet residential pocket of Daikanyama in Shibuya, this is a counter for people who care about craft over credentials — and who are willing to show up on their own terms rather than wait months for a confirmation email. If you are planning a special lunch in Daikanyama or want a reliable dinner anchor for a Shibuya evening, this is a strong candidate.
Ranked #569 on Opinionated About Dining's 2025 Leading Restaurants in Japan list , and carrying an OAD Recommended designation from 2023 , Sushi Takeuchi sits in the tier of Tokyo sushi that serious eaters track without it being a household name outside Japan. A Google rating of 4.6 across 194 reviews suggests consistent execution rather than occasional brilliance, which is exactly what you want from a neighbourhood counter you plan to revisit. This is not the place to benchmark against Jiro or the city's Michelin-starred omakase giants; it operates in a different register, one that rewards diners who value the sourcing decisions behind each piece over the prestige of the address.
The editorial angle worth understanding here is sourcing. Edomae sushi at this level lives or dies on ingredient decisions: which fish market, which seasonal cut, which rice vinegar ratio. Without published menu details in the public record, the OAD recognition is the clearest signal that those sourcing choices are being made thoughtfully. At restaurants in this OAD tier, the ingredient logic is typically what separates a memorable meal from a generic one , and Daikanyama's location, away from the tourist-heavy Ginza sushi corridor, suggests a kitchen working for regulars rather than for the room. Compare this to Edomae Sushi Hanabusa or Sushi Kanesaka, where the Edomae tradition is more formally documented , Takeuchi offers a less institutionalised take on the same lineage.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy, which is a meaningful differentiator in Tokyo's sushi scene. You do not need a concierge connection or a three-month lead time here. Reservations: Recommended but manageable , book directly or through your hotel concierge. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday , lunch 12:00–2:00 pm, dinner 6:00–10:30 pm. Wednesday and Thursday are closed. Location: MI代官山 1F, Sarugakucho 5-8, Daikanyama, Shibuya, Tokyo. Dress: No stated code, but smart casual is the appropriate register for a counter at this level. Budget: Price range is not published , contact the venue directly or ask your hotel to confirm current per-head costs before booking, as omakase pricing in this tier can vary significantly by season and course count.
For context on where Takeuchi sits in the broader Tokyo sushi picture, Harutaka and Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongiten operate at a higher price point and with considerably more booking friction. Hiroo Ishizaka offers a comparable neighbourhood feel in a different part of the city. If you are building a broader Tokyo itinerary, our full Tokyo restaurants guide covers the range, and our Tokyo hotels guide can help you position your stay relative to the Daikanyama area. For sushi at this level of OAD recognition outside Japan, Sushi Shikon in Hong Kong and Shoukouwa in Singapore are the regional reference points worth knowing. Elsewhere in Japan, serious eaters cross-reference against Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, HAJIME in Osaka, and Goh in Fukuoka when planning a multi-city Japan trip. For more experimental options beyond sushi, our Tokyo bars guide and Tokyo experiences guide fill out the picture.
Book Sushi Takeuchi if you want a credentialled, lower-friction sushi counter in a neighbourhood setting rather than a destination performance. The OAD recognition is a credible quality signal, the booking process is direct by Tokyo standards, and the Daikanyama location gives you a more local feel than the Ginza omakase corridor. Confirm pricing before you go , and go for lunch if your schedule allows, since the daytime sitting tends to be the easier entry point at counters like this.
Lunch is the better starting point for a first visit. The 12:00–2:00 pm sitting typically runs at a lower price point than dinner at comparable counters, and the daytime light suits a sushi meal well. Dinner (6:00–10:30 pm) gives you more time if you want to pace through a longer course sequence, but if you are weighing value, lunch is the smarter entry. Either way, book in advance , walk-ins at an OAD-recognised counter in Daikanyama are not a reliable strategy.
Sushi Takeuchi is a counter-format restaurant, which is standard for serious sushi in Tokyo. That means all seats are effectively at the bar, facing the itamae. This is the intended experience , you watch the preparation, receive each piece directly, and eat at the counter's pace. If you prefer a table format with more separation from the kitchen, this style of sushi is not the right match; consider a larger kaiseki restaurant instead.
No specific menu or signature dishes are published for Sushi Takeuchi, which is typical of omakase-style counters , the chef sequences the meal based on what is leading that day. Trust the format: let the kitchen lead. The OAD recognition suggests the sourcing decisions are strong, so the leading strategy is to eat whatever is in season when you visit rather than arriving with a specific dish in mind. Ask your server at the start what the kitchen is working with that day if you have any dietary considerations.
Yes, with a caveat on expectations. Sushi Takeuchi carries OAD credentials and a 4.6 Google rating, which is a solid foundation for a meaningful meal. It is not in the same tier as Tokyo's most celebrated omakase counters for sheer theatrical prestige , but if the occasion calls for a thoughtful, well-sourced sushi meal in a calm Daikanyama setting rather than a high-profile Ginza address, it is a sensible choice. For a bigger occasion statement, Harutaka or Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongiten carry more name weight.
For a step up in prestige and price, Harutaka and Sushi Kanesaka are the natural comparisons in Tokyo's serious sushi tier. For a similar neighbourhood feel with Edomae focus, Edomae Sushi Hanabusa is worth considering. Hiroo Ishizaka offers a different style in a comparable residential setting. If you want to move beyond sushi entirely, our full Tokyo restaurants guide covers the breadth of the city's options across cuisines and price points.
Three things matter most. First, the counter format means the pace of the meal is set by the kitchen , arrive on time and do not rush. Second, pricing is not publicly listed, so confirm per-head costs when you book; omakase in this OAD tier can range considerably depending on course length and season. Third, Wednesday and Thursday are closed, so plan your Tokyo schedule accordingly. The Daikanyama location is residential and quiet , factor in travel time from central Tokyo, and consider pairing the visit with a walk through the neighbourhood before or after.
Seat count is not published for Sushi Takeuchi, but counter-format sushi restaurants in Tokyo typically seat between 8 and 14 guests. Groups larger than 4 or 5 should contact the venue directly before assuming availability , a private booking or full counter buyout may be required, which changes the logistics and likely the price. For groups of 2, this counter format works well. For larger parties wanting a shared table experience, a kaiseki format such as Gion Sasaki in Kyoto may be a more practical fit.
No dietary restriction policy is published, which is common for counter-format sushi restaurants in Japan. Vegetarian and vegan diets are difficult to accommodate in an omakase fish-focused format , if you have significant restrictions, contact the venue directly before booking. Shellfish or specific fish allergies should also be communicated at the time of reservation, not on arrival. If dietary flexibility is a priority, a more menu-driven restaurant format will give you more control over what you eat.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Takeuchi | Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #569 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Recommended (2023) | — | |
| Harutaka | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| RyuGin | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| L'Effervescence | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| HOMMAGE | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| Florilège | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | ¥¥¥ | — |
What to weigh when choosing between Sushi Takeuchi and alternatives.
Lunch is the stronger practical case. Sushi Takeuchi runs the same 12–2 pm service Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and lunch sittings at mid-tier Tokyo sushi counters are typically easier to book and easier on the wallet. Dinner runs to 10:30 pm on the same days, which suits a slower pace if you want the full counter experience without a midday time constraint. Wednesday and Thursday are closed, so plan around that.
Counter seating is the standard format at a sushi-ya of this type, so bar dining is effectively the default experience here. The venue is a neighbourhood counter in Daikanyama, Shibuya, not a large multi-room restaurant, so there is no meaningful distinction between bar and table seating.
Specific menu items are not documented in Pearl's venue data, so naming dishes here would be guesswork. At an OAD-ranked sushi counter at this level, omakase is the typical format and the right way to let the kitchen direct the meal. Ask the chef or confirm the format when booking.
Yes, with the right expectations. Sushi Takeuchi carries an OAD Top Restaurants in Japan ranking (#569 in 2025) and an OAD Recommended designation from 2023, which gives it real credibility without the pressure-cooker formality of a Michelin three-star. It is a better fit for an occasion where you want serious food and a relaxed neighbourhood setting than for a full destination-dining performance.
Harutaka and Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongiten operate at a higher price point and with harder booking, so they suit a different budget and commitment level. If you want to stay in the credentialled-but-accessible tier, Sushi Takeuchi is the cleaner call. For something entirely different in Tokyo's broader fine-dining scene, RyuGin (Japanese kaiseki) and Florilège (French) are OAD-recognised options, though neither is a like-for-like sushi comparison.
Booking difficulty is rated Easy by Pearl, which is a genuine advantage in Tokyo's sushi scene where top counters often require months of lead time or a concierge connection. The restaurant is on the ground floor of a building in Sarugakucho, Daikanyama. Wednesday and Thursday are closed, so double-check your dates before planning around it.
Specific group capacity data is not available in Pearl's venue record. As a neighbourhood sushi counter, seating is likely limited in the way most small Tokyo sushi-ya are. For groups larger than four, check the venue's official channels to confirm availability before planning around it.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
