Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
Tabelog's top-rated yakitori. Book early.

Tabelog Gold three years running and ranked among Japan's top 63 restaurants, Kasahara is the most credentialed yakitori counter in Tokyo. Ten seats, two sessions nightly, and a JPY 30,000–39,999 course make this a serious commitment — but for food-focused travellers who treat yakitori as a destination eat, it is the booking to make first.
If you are weighing Kasahara against other high-end yakitori counters in Tokyo, book here first. Tabelog Gold three years running (2024, 2025, 2026), a score of 4.57, and consecutive selection to the Tabelog Yakitori East "100" list from 2022 through 2025 — that is a credential stack that puts Kasahara among the most consistently rated skewer counters in the country. At JPY 30,000–39,999 per head for dinner (plus a 10% service charge), this is a serious financial commitment, but the awards record makes the ask defensible for anyone who treats yakitori as a serious eating category rather than a casual night out.
Kasahara operates on a counter-only format with just 10 seats — the kind of room where the ambient energy is intimate and focused rather than loud or performative. There are no private rooms, no walk-in option, and no overflow seating. The atmosphere lands somewhere between a chef's table and a specialist tasting counter: quiet enough to follow each course, close enough to the grill to feel the intent behind it. Chef Kasahara Yuujin opened the restaurant in December 2021, and the Kagurazaka-area address places it a 15-minute walk from Iidabashi Station, roughly 567 metres from the Kagurazaka main drag. The location is low-profile by design , categorised as a "hideout" in venue data , which means first-timers should confirm the exact address before arriving.
The drink program is taken seriously: sake, shochu, and wine are all available, with the venue flagged as particularly selective about its nihonshu and shochu pours. For a counter where dinner runs three to four hours across two sessions, a considered drinks pairing matters, and Kasahara's approach here adds measurable value to the per-head cost.
Kasahara is reservation-only, and given its 10-seat capacity, Tabelog Gold status, and no walk-in policy, you should treat the booking window as competitive. Book as far in advance as the reservation system allows , realistically six to eight weeks out for most dates, longer if your trip is fixed. Two sessions run Monday through Saturday: the first from 17:30, the second from 20:45. Sunday is closed. There is no phone contact listed, so reservations are handled through Tabelog directly. Note the cancellation policy carefully: changes made 31 or more days before your reservation incur a 100% course fee. This is stricter than the standard Tokyo fine-dining cancellation window, so confirm your dates before booking. Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners), but electronic money and QR code payments are not.
On the editorial angle of takeout and delivery: Kasahara does not operate any off-premise service, nor would the format translate. Yakitori at this level is a counter experience , the sequencing, timing, and direct-from-grill service are structural to the value. There is no version of this meal that works as a takeaway.
This counter suits food-focused travellers who already understand the yakitori format and want the highest-rated expression of it in Tokyo. If you are building a Tokyo itinerary around serious eating and want one yakitori booking to anchor it, Kasahara is the logical choice. Solo diners fit naturally at a 10-seat counter. Pairs work well. Groups larger than four will find the single-counter layout limiting, and there is no private room option. For a comparable counter experience in the yakitori category, Yakitori Omino, BIRD LAND, and Asagaya BIRD LAND are the names most worth comparing. Within the Kagurazaka neighbourhood, 124. KAGURAZAKA and Aramaki are also worth checking if Kasahara is fully booked.
If you are exploring Japan beyond Tokyo, the yakitori category has strong representation elsewhere: Ichimatsu in Osaka and Torisaki in Kyoto are the peer references to check. For broader Tokyo eating, see our full Tokyo restaurants guide, and for planning the wider trip, our Tokyo hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest.
For serious dining elsewhere in Japan: HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa represent the broader field.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakitori Kasahara | Yakitori | {"Year":"2026","Award Source":"Tabelog","Award Type":"The Tabelog Award","Award Group":"gold","Award Group Rank":"11","Restaurant Name":"Kasahara","Score":"4.57","Budget":"Dinner: JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999; Lunch: -","Budget Dinner":"JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999","Budget Lunch":"-","Price":"JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999","Average Price":"JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999","Average Price (Based on reviews)":"JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999 View spending breakdown","Featured Item":"N/A","Full Address (with ZIP)":"東京都新宿区東五軒町5-5 2F, 1620813, Japan","Address":"東京都新宿区東五軒町5-5 2F","Postal Code":"1620813","City":"Higashigokencho Shinjuku Tokyo","State":"Tokyo","Country":"Japan","Phone":"+81","Phone Raw":"+81-不明の為情報お待ちしております","Website":"No official website found","Description":"Check out Kasahara (Kagurazaka/Yakitori (Grilled chicken skewers)) on Tabelog! A Genius in the World of Yakitori, Continuously Breaking Limits. [No Smoking] Discover Japanese restaurants featuring detailed information such as menus and maps, along with user-posted reviews, ratings, and photos!","Categories":"Yakitori (Grilled chicken skewers)","Awards & Recognitions":"The Tabelog Award 2026 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2026 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2024 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2024 Gold winner Selected for Tabelog yakitori EAST \"Tabelog 100\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog yakitori EAST \"Tabelog 100\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori EAST \"Tabelog 100\" 2024 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori EAST \"Tabelog 100\" 2024 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori EAST \"Tabelog 100\" 2023 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori EAST \"Tabelog 100\" 2023 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori \"Tabelog 100\" 2022 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori \"Tabelog 100\" 2022 受賞・選出歴 閉じる The Tabelog Award 受賞歴 2026年Gold受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2026 Gold 受賞店 2025年Gold受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2025 Gold 受賞店 2024年Gold受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2024 Gold 受賞店 百名店 選出歴 焼き鳥 百名店 2025 選出店 食べログ 焼き鳥 EAST 百名店 2025 選出店 焼き鳥 百名店 2024 選出店 食べログ 焼き鳥 EAST 百名店 2024 選出店 焼き鳥 百名店 2023 選出店 食べログ 焼き鳥 EAST 百名店 2023 選出店 焼鳥 百名店 2022 選出店 食べログ 焼鳥 百名店 2022 選出店","Reservation availability":"Reservation only ■Cancellation/Change of Person Policy For cancellations or changes in the number of people from the time of reservation, a cancellation/change fee of 10% of the course fee will apply. For cancellations or changes made 31 days prior, a cancellation/change fee of 100% of the course fee will be charged. In accordance with this policy, please pay the above fees at the restaurant in case of a change in the number of people.","Business hours":"■Business hours [Mon - Sat] First session from 17:30 onwards Second session from 20:45 onwards ■Closed on Sundays","Payment methods":"Credit card accepted (VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners) Electronic money not accepted QR code payments not accepted","Private rooms":"Unavailable","Non-smoking/smoking":"Non smoking Due to regulations, we do not allow smoking in front of the store or in the surrounding area.","Number of seats":"10 seats","Private use":"Unavailable","Parking":"Unavailable","Space/facilities":"Stylish space, Relaxing space, Spacious seating, Counter seating","Drink":"Sake (Nihonshu), Shochu (Japanese spirits), Wine, Particular about Sake (Nihonshu), Particular about Shochu (Japanese spirits), Particular about wine","Food":"N/A","Service":"N/A","Family friendly":"N/A","Service charge & fee":"10% service charge Original text 10% This section has been automatically translated. Please check with the restaurant for accurate information.","Dress code":"N/A","Maximum party size":"N/A","Location":"Hideout","Occasion":"N/A","Remarks":"N/A","The opening day":"2021.12.4","Receipt (Qualified simple invoice)":"N/A","Latitude":"35.70639353788619","Longitude":"139.7398162834955","Primary Image URL":"","Image URL Count":"20","Image URLs":"","Restaurant ID":"13266251","Source URL":"","Raw Details JSON":"{\"Restaurant name\":\"Kasahara\",\"Awards & Recognitions\":\"The Tabelog Award 2026 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2026 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2025 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2024 Gold winner The Tabelog Award 2024 Gold winner Selected for Tabelog yakitori EAST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog yakitori EAST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2025 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori EAST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2024 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori EAST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2024 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori EAST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2023 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori EAST \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2023 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2022 Selected for Tabelog Yakitori \\\"Tabelog 100\\\" 2022 受賞・選出歴 閉じる The Tabelog Award 受賞歴 2026年Gold受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2026 Gold 受賞店 2025年Gold受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2025 Gold 受賞店 2024年Gold受賞店 The Tabelog Award 2024 Gold 受賞店 百名店 選出歴 焼き鳥 百名店 2025 選出店 食べログ 焼き鳥 EAST 百名店 2025 選出店 焼き鳥 百名店 2024 選出店 食べログ 焼き鳥 EAST 百名店 2024 選出店 焼き鳥 百名店 2023 選出店 食べログ 焼き鳥 EAST 百名店 2023 選出店 焼鳥 百名店 2022 選出店 食べログ 焼鳥 百名店 2022 選出店\",\"Categories\":\"Yakitori (Grilled chicken skewers)\",\"Phone number (for reservation and inquiry)\":\"None\",\"Reservation availability\":\"Reservation only ■Cancellation/Change of Person Policy For cancellations or changes in the number of people from the time of reservation, a cancellation/change fee of 10% of the course fee will apply. For cancellations or changes made 31 days prior, a cancellation/change fee of 100% of the course fee will be charged. In accordance with this policy, please pay the above fees at the restaurant in case of a change in the number of people.\",\"Address\":\"東京都新宿区東五軒町5-5 2F Show larger map Find nearby restaurants Transportation 15 minutes on foot from Iidabashi Station. 567 meters from Kagurazaka.\",\"Business hours\":\"■Business hours [Mon - Sat] First session from 17:30 onwards Second session from 20:45 onwards ■Closed on Sundays\",\"Average price\":\"JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999\",\"Average price (Based on reviews)\":\"JPY 30,000 - JPY 39,999 View spending breakdown\",\"Payment methods\":\"Credit card accepted (VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners) Electronic money not accepted QR code payments not accepted\",\"Service charge & fee\":\"10% service charge Original text 10% This section has been automatically translated. Please check with the restaurant for accurate information.\",\"Number of seats\":\"10 seats\",\"Private rooms\":\"Unavailable\",\"Private use\":\"Unavailable\",\"Non-smoking/smoking\":\"Non smoking Due to regulations, we do not allow smoking in front of the store or in the surrounding area.\",\"Parking\":\"Unavailable\",\"Space/facilities\":\"Stylish space, Relaxing space, Spacious seating, Counter seating\",\"Drink\":\"Sake (Nihonshu), Shochu (Japanese spirits), Wine, Particular about Sake (Nihonshu), Particular about Shochu (Japanese spirits), Particular about wine\",\"Occasion\":\"None\",\"Location\":\"Hideout\",\"The opening day\":\"2021.12.4\"}","Matched Location ID":"15ad0165-9db6-4673-b188-fbd5a8632b15","Match Status":"matched","Match Method":"award_page_url_exact","Match Confidence":"high","Matched On URL":"","Matched DB Name":"Yakitori Kasahara","Matched DB Address":"Japan, 〒106-0031 Tokyo, Minato City, Nishiazabu, 2-chōme−2−2 NK 青山ホームズ A-3","Needs Review":"no","Review Reason":"","Fallback Score":"","Fallback Name Sim":"","Fallback Addr Sim":"","Fallback Loc Sim":"","Fallback City Sim":"","Fallback Country Sim":"","Fallback Phone Match":"","Fallback Domain Match":"","Fallback Explanation":""}; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #63 (2025); Tabelog Gold Award 2025 Score: 4.53 Cuisine: Yakitori/Poultry / Tokyo Hours: ■Business hours[Mon - Sat]First session from 17:30 onwardsSecond session from 20:45 onwards■Closed onSundays Address: 55 2F, Higashi五軒cho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo Tabelog:; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Japan Ranked #50 (2024) | 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 | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes, and it is one of the stronger cases for it in Tokyo's yakitori category. The 10-seat counter format, Tabelog Gold status three years running, and a dinner price of JPY 30,000–39,999 per person all signal a considered, occasion-appropriate meal. That said, there are no private rooms, so if you need a separated space for a group, this counter is not the right format.
Kasahara runs a reservation-only counter built around a yakitori course, which means the menu is fixed and chicken-centred. Dietary restrictions are not addressed in the venue data, but given the format, significant substitutions are unlikely. Contact the restaurant at the time of booking if you have specific requirements — the 10-seat counter leaves limited room to deviate from the course.
All 10 seats at Kasahara are counter seats, so eating at the counter is the only format available. There is no separate bar or lounge area. The space is described as stylish and relaxing with spacious counter seating, and the drink programme includes sake, shochu, and wine with a noted focus on all three.
Book as far ahead as possible — realistically, several weeks to a couple of months in advance. Kasahara is reservation-only with just 10 seats, Tabelog Gold recognition three consecutive years, and a strict cancellation policy that charges 100% of the course fee for cancellations 31 days or fewer before the reservation. That last detail tells you the demand is consistent enough to enforce it.
Within the yakitori category, Kasahara sits at the top of Tabelog's rankings, so direct comparisons are limited. If the JPY 30,000–39,999 price point or the booking difficulty puts you off, other Tabelog 100 yakitori counters in Tokyo offer a similar format at lower price points. For a broader high-end Japanese dining experience outside yakitori, RyuGin and L'Effervescence operate at a comparable spend but in entirely different formats.
Yes. Counter-only seating at 10 seats is well-suited to solo diners — you are seated directly in front of the grill, which is the intended vantage point for this format. Solo diners at high-end yakitori counters are common in Tokyo, and the focused, reservation-only structure means you are not at a disadvantage compared to a group booking.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.