Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo's major entertainment districts, alongside Shinjuku and Shibuya. It's packed with fun spots like shopping malls, live music venues, and game centers. Notably, the main store of "Animate," a specialty shop for manga and anime goods, and the popular area called "Otome Road" lined with shops and cafes related to manga and anime, attract attention from foreign tourists interested in Japanese culture.
With its large parks, Ikebukuro offers a green oasis despite easy access to the city center, adding to its charm. When visiting Ikebukuro, along with sightseeing and shopping, we'd like to introduce you to some delicious sushi restaurants that you should definitely enjoy.
About Japanese Sushi
Among the many Japanese foods, sushi is one of the most popular. In Japan, there are various types of sushi restaurants, from affordable "conveyor belt sushi" (Kaitenzushi) where you can eat a plate for about 100 yen, to high-end establishments for special occasions.
Basically, sushi refers to seafood combined with vinegared rice, but there are actually several different forms, each with its own name. Overseas, you often see "nigiri sushi" (hand-pressed sushi with toppings on vinegared rice) and "makizushi" (rolled sushi with ingredients wrapped in seaweed and rice). Besides these, there are various types such as "chirashizushi" (scattered sushi where rice and fish are placed in a bowl without shaping by hand) and "oshizushi" (pressed sushi made using a special mold).
While sushi can be eaten throughout Japan, each region has its own characteristics in terms of ingredients used and preparation methods. Experiencing the unique sushi of each region is one way to enjoy Japan.
The sushi eaten in Tokyo is called "Edomae sushi," characterized by many nigiri sushi using fresh seafood.
Recommended Sushi Restaurants in Ikebukuro: Best Sushi Ikebukuro 2024
Sushidokoro Uta
source：Tabelog
"Sushidokoro Uta" is known for its homey and warm atmosphere. The cheerful and friendly chef serves the best sushi using fresh, high-quality ingredients sourced daily. While relatively reasonably priced, all the sushi served is authentic and exquisite, offering taste beyond its price.
When visiting Sushidokoro Uta, be sure to order the "Omakase course." In Japanese sushi restaurants, "Omakase" is a way of ordering where you leave the menu selection to the restaurant. The sushi chef chooses particularly high-quality items from the daily stock, tailoring them to each customer. This method is possible only because of the sushi chef's discerning eye for quality. You can enjoy the most delicious sushi this way.
Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat 17:00-0:00 / Sun 12:00-0:00
Closed: Wednesdays
Address: 1F, 3-3-11 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6750-4950
Nearest station: Kanamecho Station
Sushi Tetsuya
source：Tabelog
"Sushi Tetsuya" uses "red shari," characteristic of Edomae sushi. The vinegared rice used in sushi is called "shari," and among them, rice mixed with "red vinegar" made from sake lees is called red shari. It has a slightly red color due to the nutrients in the sake lees and is characterized by its aromatic and gentle flavor.
Fewer sushi restaurants use red shari these days, but it has long been common in Edomae sushi. This restaurant follows this tradition and serves sushi using red shari.
The menu changes roughly every month to match the seasons, but my top recommendation is the flavorful "Koubako crab" available around late November. It's a female snow crab caught in the Hokuriku region, and the way it's beautifully arranged in its shell is truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 17:00-22:00 / Sat 16:00-22:00
Closed: Sundays
Address: 2F Palace Garden Milano, 2-63-6 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-5985-4201
Nearest station: JR Ikebukuro Station West Exit Ground Exit (20a, 20b)
Miyakozushi
source：Tabelog
"Miyakozushi" is a traditional Edomae sushi restaurant run by a bright and friendly chef and his wife, with counter seating only in a small shop. The hospitable chef carefully observes his customers and adjusts the size of each piece of sushi to fit each person's mouth size so it can be eaten in one bite.
The must-try item at this restaurant is the "lean tuna" (Maguro no akami). The glossy tuna with its smooth texture is exquisite. Although only the "Omakase course" is available at night, this tuna is so delicious you'll want seconds.
During the day, you can enjoy delicious sushi at quite reasonable prices. The lunch-only menu, which changes daily, is also very popular. The lunch menu is announced on Instagram, so be sure to check it out.
Opening hours: 12:00-13:30 / 17:30-22:30
Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Address: 3-7-22 Ikebukurohoncho, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3987-3853
Nearest station: Shimoimaizumi Station
Sushidokoro Momiji
source：Tabelog
The most recommended point at "Sushidokoro Momiji" is the shari. They use a unique blend of "Koshiibuki" rice, known for its gloss and stickiness, "red vinegar" made from sake lees, and "rice vinegar" made from rice.
While shari is the foundation of all sushi, Sushidokoro Momiji's shari has a soft acidity and well-balanced flavor that is exquisite. The combination of high-quality wild ingredients sourced from all over Japan and their particular shari creates the best taste.
The course includes not only sushi but also grilled and simmered fish, all of which are prepared to fully bring out the umami of the ingredients. The variety of takeout bento boxes are also filled with luxurious sushi that exceed their price.
Opening hours: 11:30-1:00
Closed: Sundays
Address: 1F Makita Building, 2-42-7 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 050-5890-7161
Nearest station: Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line Ikebukuro Station
Mawashizushi Katsu Seibu Ikebukuro Store
source：Tabelog
"Mawashizushi Katsu" is the only conveyor belt sushi restaurant introduced here and is always popular with long queues. While conveyor belt sushi is known for being affordable but lower in quality, Mawashizushi Katsu is different. Fresh seasonal ingredients are used, and sushi prepared by chefs right in front of you flows on the conveyor belt, allowing you to enjoy sushi as fresh as in high-end sushi restaurants. The chefs inside the conveyor belt area will tell you the day's recommended items, so be sure to try them.
You can enjoy high-quality sushi that doesn't seem like conveyor belt sushi for just a few hundred yen per plate. Also, the "Three-piece Shrimp" (Ebisankan), which allows you to enjoy three types of shrimp at once, is always fresh and delicious, so I recommend it.
Not only sushi but also a wide variety of side dishes are available, allowing you to enjoy delicious Japanese food to your heart's content on a low budget.
Opening hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: None
Address: 8F Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store, 1-28-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6914-1185
Nearest station: Directly connected to Ikebukuro Station East Exit
Sushikazu Ikebukuro Store
source：Tabelog
If you want to enjoy authentic nigiri sushi at low prices, "Sushikazu" is recommended. This popular restaurant, which has been in business for over 35 years, offers a wide variety of wild tuna and seasonal ingredients. They source extremely fresh seafood daily from "Toyosu Market," Japan's representative market, and from Toyama Prefecture.
The sushi is characterized by large toppings, allowing you to fully enjoy fresh and delicious fish. Not only seafood but also other ingredients like vegetables are all fresh and in season. The "Seasonal Vegetable Tempura'' (Shun no yasai no tenpura) is also delicious, so be sure to order it.
Sushikazu Ikebukuro Store is a casual restaurant, unlike high-end sushi restaurants, making it easy to enter even with small children and always lively. It's always full on weekends, so reservations are a must.
Opening hours: 16:30-23:30
Closed: Mondays
Address: 2-10-8 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 050-5570-5864
Nearest station: Ikebukuro Station West Exit
Sushi Sora
source：Tabelog
"Sushi Sora" is a sushi restaurant with a unique style, serving traditional Edomae sushi in a modern atmosphere using Tiffany tableware.
You can directly observe the chef's handiwork at the counter, allowing you to visually enjoy how exquisite sushi is made. The fish, which allows you to clearly taste the ingredients and umami, is accented with yuzu, green onion, truffle salt, etc., to maximize its flavor. This is a cooking method long used in Edomae sushi, and skillfully using the toppings and seasonings is truly a craftsman's technique.
My recommendation is the sea urchin (Uni). They source fresh and flavorful sea urchin, which you can enjoy in chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) or as a comparison tasting of different production areas.
Opening hours: 11:30-14:00 / 16:00-23:00
Closed: None
Address: 7F-B Fuji Building, 1-23-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 050-5457-0936
Nearest station: Ikebukuro Station East Exit
Summary
We've introduced seven recommended sushi restaurants in Ikebukuro, showcasing the best sushi Ikebukuro 2024 has to offer. These are all famous establishments that pursue even greater deliciousness while preserving the traditions of sushi, which has long been loved in Japan. Please choose a restaurant you'd like to visit based on the price range, atmosphere, and each restaurant's specialties.
The Ikebukuro area has developed even further over the past decade. With the increase in manga and anime-related shops, the number of tourists has been steadily increasing in recent years. While it's an area that disseminates new culture, please be sure to taste the delicious sushi full of dedication at these long-loved sushi establishments.