Sushisho Saito

Should You Book Sushisho Saito?

At JPY 60,000–79,999 per head for dinner, Sushisho Saito is one of the more expensive Edomae counters in Tokyo — and it earns the price. A Tabelog Bronze winner every year from 2017 through 2026, and selected for the Tabelog Sushi Tokyo Top 100 in 2021, 2022, and 2025, this 11-seat Akasaka counter has a track record that few Tokyo sushi restaurants can match at this tier. If you have been once and are deciding whether to return, the answer is yes — the consistency of recognition over nearly a decade is the clearest signal available. If you are comparing it against the Silver-ranked Sushi Sho Yotsuya (JPY 50,000–59,999, Tabelog score 4.47 versus Saito's 4.32), the calculus is direct: Yotsuya scores higher and costs less, but Saito's private room availability and Akasaka location make it the better choice when you need flexibility for a small group or a discreet setting.

The Format and the Drinks

The format at Sushisho Saito is alternating snacks and nigiri , a rhythm that gives the kitchen room to pace the meal and gives you time to pay attention to what is in the glass. The drinks program is deliberate: sake and shochu are flagged as house specialties, and the venue is explicitly described as particular about both. Wine is also available. For a counter this price, that specificity matters. A well-curated sake list at an Edomae counter is not decoration , it is a second editorial layer on leading of the fish. If you treat the drinks as an afterthought here, you are leaving a meaningful part of the experience on the table. The leading approach for a return visit is to ask the chef or staff about seasonal sake pairings rather than ordering by the glass from a printed list. The venue's emphasis on fish sourcing (listed explicitly as a house priority) means the kitchen is making decisions about the day's ingredients that the drinks program is designed to complement.

The Room and the Setting

Eleven seats at the counter, with sunken seating and a stylish but relaxed space on the second floor of the Akasaka DN Plaza building. Private rooms are available for groups of four to six people, and the venue can accommodate private hire for up to 20 guests. Children are welcome on Saturdays and Sundays (not Tuesday through Friday). The room is non-smoking throughout. Credit cards are accepted (VISA, JCB, AMEX, Diners), and QR code payments via d Barai are also an option , useful to know given the price point. There is no parking on-site, but a Times car park is directly adjacent.

Getting There and Getting a Table

Sushisho Saito sits about 159 metres from Akasaka Mitsuke Station, which is served by the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Marunouchi lines , a three-minute walk. Nagatacho Station (Hanzomon Line) is five minutes away, and Akasaka Station (Chiyoda Line) is six minutes. The venue runs two seatings on Tuesday through Saturday (17:30 and 20:30) and two on Sunday (17:30 and 20:30, closing at 23:30 on Sundays). Monday is closed, as are the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Reservations are available, and booking difficulty is rated as easy by Pearl standards , meaning you should not need to plan months out, but confirming a few weeks ahead is sensible given the 11-seat counter. If you want the private room, book earlier and specify your group size (minimum four, maximum six for the in-house private room).

How It Compares

See the comparison section below for a full peer breakdown, but the short version: at this price and recognition tier, Sushisho Saito sits comfortably alongside Harutaka and Sushi Kanesaka as a reliable high-end Edomae option. For something at a lower price point in the same city, Edomae Sushi Hanabusa is worth considering. If you are building a broader Tokyo dining itinerary, Hiroo Ishizaka and Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongiten each occupy different positions in the sushi hierarchy and are worth comparing before you commit your one high-end sushi booking of the trip. For sushi outside Tokyo, Sushi Shikon in Hong Kong and Shoukouwa in Singapore carry the Edomae tradition to other Asian cities if you are travelling regionally. Across Japan, strong alternatives include HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa for those exploring beyond the capital.

Pearl FAQ , Sushisho Saito

• How far ahead should I book Sushisho Saito? Booking difficulty here is rated easy, so you do not need to plan months in advance. That said, with only 11 counter seats and two seatings per evening, a window of two to three weeks is sensible. If you want a private room for a group of four to six, add more lead time and specify your requirements when you call. The phone number is +81-3-3505-6380.
• Can Sushisho Saito accommodate groups? Yes, with some constraints. The main counter seats 11, and the private room accommodates four to six people. For full private hire, the venue can take up to 20 guests. If your group is larger than six but smaller than 20, private hire is the path to take. Call ahead , the venue does not have an official website.
• Is lunch or dinner better at Sushisho Saito? Dinner only. The Tabelog budget data shows no lunch service, and the hours confirm evening-only seatings (17:30 and 20:30). If you are looking for a high-end sushi lunch in Tokyo, Sushi Sho Yotsuya in Yotsuya runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday lunch at JPY 50,000–59,999 and is the more direct alternative.
• What should I order at Sushisho Saito? There is no a la carte menu to choose from , the format is a set omakase of alternating snacks and nigiri. Your job is to show up, engage with the pacing, and pay attention to the sake and shochu list, which the kitchen treats as a genuine pairing component rather than an add-on. The Tabelog description highlights Edomae technique and fish sourcing as the kitchen's core priorities.
• Can I eat at the bar at Sushisho Saito? The counter is the primary dining surface , 11 seats, counter-style. This is not a bar in the cocktail sense; it is a sushi counter with sunken seating. The counter is where you want to be. If you are two people, request counter seats when booking.
• What should I wear to Sushisho Saito? No dress code is specified in the venue data, but at JPY 60,000–79,999 per head with Tabelog Bronze recognition since 2017, smart casual is the floor. Avoid overpowering fragrances , standard etiquette at any serious sushi counter in Tokyo.
• What should a first-timer know about Sushisho Saito? The format alternates snacks and nigiri , do not eat before you arrive. The room is non-smoking. The venue is on the second floor of the Akasaka DN Plaza building, a three-minute walk from Akasaka Mitsuke Station. Budget JPY 60,000–79,999 for dinner and factor in sake if you intend to pair. Credit cards (VISA, JCB, AMEX, Diners) are accepted. A service charge may apply , confirm when you call.
• Does Sushisho Saito handle dietary restrictions? The venue does not publish a menu or dietary policy online, and there is no official website. If dietary restrictions are a factor, call directly on +81-3-3505-6380 well in advance of your booking. At this price point, kitchens typically want to know in advance , do not leave it until arrival.

Explore More in Tokyo and Beyond

For a broader view of where Sushisho Saito sits in Tokyo's dining scene, see our full Tokyo restaurants guide. If you are planning accommodation around your booking, our Tokyo hotels guide covers the leading options by neighbourhood. For drinks before or after, our Tokyo bars guide has the relevant picks near Akasaka. We also cover Tokyo wineries and Tokyo experiences for those building a fuller itinerary.