Sushisho Masa

Verdict: Book Sushisho Masa If You Take Omakase Seriously

Sushisho Masa in Nishiazabu is the kind of sushi counter that rewards commitment. Chef Masakatsu Oka runs an evening-only operation; Tuesday through Sunday, 6 pm to midnight; in a basement room beneath a quiet Nishiazabu building. There is no lunch service, no walk-in culture, no price posted publicly, which tells you something about the audience this counter is built for. If you are already thinking seriously about where to eat sushi in Tokyo, this belongs on your shortlist. If you are new to omakase or watching your budget closely, start somewhere more accessible before working up to this level.

What You Are Paying For

Opinionated About Dining, one of the more credible third-party ranking systems for serious restaurants, placed Sushisho Masa at #105 in Japan in 2023, #148 in 2024, #172 in 2025. That three-year arc is worth understanding before you book: the counter has moved down the OAD rankings over that period, not up. That does not mean quality has dropped, OAD rankings shift as the competitive field around a venue changes, but it does mean you are not booking the hottest counter in Tokyo right now. For a food and travel enthusiast who prefers depth over novelty, that is often the better call.

The Room and the Experience

The address places you in Nishiazabu, one of Tokyo's quieter upscale neighbourhoods, in a basement space (B1F) of a building on Nishiazabu 4-chome. Visually, the setting is intimate and counter-focused, the kind of room where the chef's movements become the main event and there is nothing competing for your attention. Sushi at this level in Tokyo is typically a two-to-three-hour progression of seasonal nigiri and small courses, paced by the chef. The midnight closing time on weekday evenings suggests the kitchen is not rushing anyone out, which is worth factoring into your plans if you have early commitments the following morning.

Drinks at Sushisho Masa

Specific drink list details are not publicly confirmed for Sushisho Masa, so take any claims about the sake or wine programme here with appropriate caution. What is standard at this tier of Tokyo sushi counter is a curated sake selection, usually a short list of seasonal and regional bottles chosen to work with the fish, plus whisky and beer for those who prefer them. If the beverage pairing matters as much to you as the food, confirm directly with the restaurant when you book. At comparable counters in Tokyo, the drinks tend to be an extension of the chef's sourcing philosophy rather than a standalone programme, so expect depth of curation rather than breadth of list.

Booking and Logistics

Sushisho Masa is listed as relatively easy to book by Pearl's standards, which is a meaningful distinction at this level. Many counters in the same bracket, including Harutaka and Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongiten, require weeks or months of advance planning, connections through a concierge, or fluency in Japanese to move through the booking process. If Sushisho Masa is more accessible than those, that is a practical reason to consider it over peers that require the same investment of time but more effort to secure. The restaurant has no website listed in our data, no phone number is publicly confirmed, so your leading route is through your hotel concierge or a specialist booking service if you do not speak Japanese. The Nishiazabu location is served by Hiroo and Roppongi stations, both within walking or short taxi distance.

How It Compares

For context on where Sushisho Masa sits in Tokyo's broader dining scene, see our full Tokyo restaurants guide. If you are planning a longer Japan trip, comparable serious dining is available at HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, and akordu in Nara. For sushi specifically at a similar level elsewhere in Asia, Sushi Shikon in Hong Kong and Shoukouwa in Singapore are the closest regional comparisons worth considering.

Pearl Picks Near Sushisho Masa

• Sushi Kanesaka, a strong alternative if you want a more formal Edomae counter
• Edomae Sushi Hanabusa, worth considering for a purer Edomae-style focus
• Hiroo Ishizaka, nearby in Hiroo, useful if Sushisho Masa is full
• 1000 in Yokohama, for a day trip pairing serious food with a different city
• 6 in Okinawa, if your Japan itinerary extends south
• Goh in Fukuoka, for a regional detour worth the journey

For broader planning, use our Tokyo hotels guide, our Tokyo bars guide, our Tokyo wineries guide, and our Tokyo experiences guide to build out the rest of your trip.