Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
Serious omakase. Easier to book than rivals.
Sushisho Masa is a serious evening-only omakase counter in Nishiazabu, run by Chef Masakatsu Oka and recognised by Opinionated About Dining among Japan's top restaurants. With a 4.7 Google rating and a reputation for consistent execution over novelty, it suits food-focused travellers who want depth without the extreme booking friction of Tokyo's hardest-to-reach counters.
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, and 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.
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, and #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. You are booking a respected, established room with a strong local following and a 4.7 Google rating across 239 reviews, which signals consistent execution rather than hype-cycle attention. For a food and travel enthusiast who prefers depth over novelty, that is often the better call.
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.
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.
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, and 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.
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.
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.
There is no à la carte menu. Sushisho Masa operates as an omakase counter, so Chef Masakatsu Oka determines the progression based on what is in season and what the kitchen is working with that evening. Your role is to show up, communicate any dietary restrictions in advance, and let the counter do its job. If you want to direct your own meal, this is not the format for you , look at a venue with a card menu instead.
Sushisho Masa does not offer lunch. The counter opens at 6 pm Tuesday through Sunday and runs to midnight. If a lunch sushi session fits your schedule better, consider Sushi Kanesaka or Harutaka, both of which offer midday sittings. For Sushisho Masa specifically, an early evening booking is the practical choice if you want the full experience without a late finish.
No seat count is publicly confirmed for Sushisho Masa, but counters of this type in Tokyo typically seat between 8 and 14 guests. That means large groups are not the right fit , this is a counter built for pairs or small parties of three or four who are comfortable eating at the same pace. If you are organising a group of six or more, contact the restaurant directly through your hotel concierge, who can confirm availability and whether a private arrangement is possible.
No formal policy is publicly confirmed. At omakase counters in Tokyo at this level, the standard expectation is that dietary restrictions are communicated at the time of booking, not at the table. Serious restrictions , shellfish allergies, vegetarian requirements , can be difficult to accommodate in an omakase format where the menu is built around fish and seafood. Flag anything relevant when you book, and confirm the restaurant can work with it before you commit.
No dress code is formally stated, but the venue's OAD recognition and Nishiazabu address place it firmly in Tokyo's upper tier of dining. Smart casual is the floor , clean, considered clothing without being black-tie formal. Avoid strong perfume or cologne, which is a meaningful point at a close counter where aroma affects the food experience. What you wear matters less than how you behave at the counter: attentiveness and respect for the pace of service are the real expectations.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushisho Masa | Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #172 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #148 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #105 (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 | ¥¥¥ | — |
How Sushisho Masa stacks up against the competition.
There is no ordering at Sushisho Masa — Chef Masakatsu Oka runs a set omakase format, so the menu is entirely in his hands. If omakase is not your preferred format, this is not the right counter. For Tokyo diners who want any à la carte flexibility, Harutaka is a closer fit.
Dinner is your only option. Sushisho Masa operates Tuesday through Sunday from 6 pm to midnight, with no lunch service. Plan accordingly if you are building a full day around the meal — Nishiazabu has enough nearby options to fill the afternoon.
The basement counter format at Nishiazabu 4-chome is designed for small parties — this is not a venue for large group dinners. Groups of two or three are the natural fit. If you are planning for four or more, confirm seat availability well in advance, as counter space is finite by design.
Omakase counters in this tier typically require guests to disclose restrictions at the time of booking, not on arrival — Sushisho Masa follows the same logic. Severe allergies or strict dietary requirements can be difficult for a single-menu format to accommodate cleanly. Flag anything significant when you make the reservation.
The basement setting in one of Tokyo's quieter upscale neighbourhoods points toward neat, understated clothing — not formal, but nothing casual either. Think the kind of outfit you would wear to a dinner you have been thinking about for weeks. Loud or sloppy dress is out of place at a counter where the chef's focus is the work, not the room.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
