List of Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan
As of December 2025, a total of 351 restaurants in Japan hold a Michelin-star rating.
Michelin first started reviewing restaurants in Japan in November 2007 when they released the Michelin Guide Tokyo. Guides for Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and Osaka would follow. Tokyo would be expanded to cover Yokohama and Shonan.[1]
The Michelin Guides have been published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900. They were designed as a guide to tell drivers about eateries they recommended to visit and to subtly sponsor their tires, by encouraging drivers to use their cars more and therefore need to replace the tires as they wore out. Over time, the stars that were given out started to become more valuable.[2]
Multiple anonymous Michelin inspectors visit the restaurants several times. They rate the restaurants on five criteria: "quality of products", "mastery of flavor and cooking techniques", "the personality of the chef represented in the dining experience", "value for money", and "consistency between inspectors' visits".[2][3] Inspectors have at least ten years of expertise and create a list of popular restaurants supported by media reports, reviews, and diner popularity. If they reach a consensus, Michelin awards restaurants from one to three stars based on its evaluation methodology: One star means "high-quality cooking, worth a stop", two stars signify "excellent cooking, worth a detour", and three stars denote "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey".[4] The stars are not permanent and restaurants are constantly being re-evaluated. If the criteria are not met, the restaurant will lose its stars.[2]
Chūgoku
There are presently no restaurants from Chūgoku with a Michelin star rating from the Michelin Guide. Michelin reviewed restaurants from the region's Tottori Prefecture in 2019 and Okayama Prefecture in 2021 for one year each as part of the Kyoto and Osaka Michelin Guide, before suspending reviewing of this region indefinitely.
2018–2021
| One Michelin star | |
| Two Michelin stars | |
| Three Michelin stars | |
—
|
The restaurant did not receive a star that year |
| Name | Cuisine | City | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 No Guide |
2021 | No guide (2022–2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaniyoshi かに吉 |
Japanese | Tottori | — | — | |||
| Mitsuki みつき |
Japanese | Tottori | — | — | |||
| Nakashima なかしま |
Japanese | Hiroshima | — | — | |||
| Hiroto | French | Hiroshima | — | — | |||
| Ryoriya Shogetsuan 料理屋 昇月庵 |
Japanese | Hiroshima | — | — | |||
| Ryoriya Sobiki 料理屋 そうびき |
Japanese | Hiroshima | — | — | |||
| Tokaan 桃花庵 |
Japanese | Hiroshima | — | — | |||
| Kurumasushi くるますし |
Japanese | Matsuyama of Ehime Prefecture | — | — | |||
| Sushinoma 鮨の間 |
Japanese | Matsuyama of Ehime Prefecture | — | — | |||
| Kuikiriryori Happo 喰切料理 八方 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Sushi En 鮨 縁 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Aoi あおい |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Ajisobo Mugi 味創房 麦 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Acca アッカ |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Uosho 魚祥 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Essere エッセレ |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Oryori Sugi 御料理 椙 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Kaiseki Shoichiro 懐石 昇一楼 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Kashirajima Restaurant Cucina Terada 頭島レストラン クチーナ テラダ |
Italian | Okayama | — | — | Closed | ||
| Kurashiki Ichie 倉敷 一会 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Shoun 祥雲 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Hasunomi はすのみ |
Chinese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Bricole ブリコール |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Honami 穂浪 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Matsuzushi 松寿司 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Yamazato 山里 |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Yamamoto 山もと | Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Rakushunsai Sato 楽旬菜 佐とう |
Japanese | Okayama | — | — | |||
| Lionni レオーニ |
French | Okayama | — | — | Closed | ||
| Reference(s) | [5] |
[6][7] |
|||||
Hokkaido
There are presently no restaurants from Hokkaido with a Michelin star rating from the Michelin Guide. Michelin published two standalone lists for the region in 2012 and 2017, before suspending reviewing of this region indefinitely.
Hokuriku
| Two Michelin stars | |
| Three Michelin stars | |
—
|
The restaurant did not receive a star that year |
| Name | Cuisine | City | 2016 (40) or (7 as of 11-5-2020) |
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamazaki 山崎 |
Japanese | Toyama | — | — | — | — | |
| Kyodaizushi 兄弟寿し |
Japanese | Niigata | — | — | — | — | |
| Nabejaya Korin 鍋茶屋 光琳 |
Japanese | Niigata | — | — | — | — | |
| Uozen | French | Niigata | — | — | — | — | |
| Reference(s) | [8][9][10] | [11] | |||||
Kansai
As of the 2025 lists, there are 193 restaurants from the Kansai Region with a Michelin star rating from the Michelin Guide. Michelin currently assesses restaurants in the Kansai cities of Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.
Kantō
| Two Michelin stars | |
| Three Michelin stars | |
—
|
The restaurant did not receive a star that year |
| Closed | The restaurant is no longer open |
| Name | City | 2008 (150)[12] |
2009 (227)[13] |
2010 (261)[14] |
2011 (266)[15] |
2012 (293)[16] |
2013 (373)[17] |
2014 (281)[18] |
2015 (226)[19] |
2016 (217)[20] |
2017 (227)[21] |
2018 (234)[22] |
2019 (230)[23][24] |
2020 (226)[25][26] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Araki | Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo | — | — | — | Closed in 2013, relocated to London in 2014[27] | |||||||||
| Azabu Yukimura | Azabu-Jūban, Minato | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Esaki | Shibuya | — | — | — | Lost in 2017 and relocated/rebranded in Sep 2018 as Yatsugatake Esaki[28][29] | |||||||||
| Ginza Koju | Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo | |||||||||||||
| Hamadaya | Chūō, Tokyo | — | — | |||||||||||
| Ishikawa | Shinjuku | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Joël Robuchon | Meguro | |||||||||||||
| Kanda | Minato | |||||||||||||
| Kohaku | Shinjuku | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 7chome Kyoboshi | Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Makimura | Shinagawa | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Quintessence | Shinagawa | |||||||||||||
| Ryugin | Roppongi, Minato | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Sazenka | Minato-ku | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| Sukiyabashi Jiro | Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo | — | ||||||||||||
| Sushi Mizutani | Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo | Closed in 2016[30] | ||||||||||||
| Sushi Saito | Minato | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Sushi Yoshitake | Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Usukifugu Yamadaya | Minato | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| L'Osier | Chūō, Tokyo | Closed for reconstruction; New chef[31][32][33] | ||||||||||||
| Kadowaki | Minato | — | ||||||||||||
Kyushu
There are presently no restaurants from Kyushu with a Michelin star rating from the Michelin Guide. Michelin suspended reviewing of this region indefinitely following 2019.
| Two Michelin stars | |
| Three Michelin stars | |
—
|
The restaurant did not receive a star that year |
| Name | Cuisine | City | 2018 |
2019 |
No guide (2020–2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Gyoten 鮨 行天 |
Japanese | Fukuoka | — | ||
| Sushi Sakai 鮨 さかい |
Japanese | Fukuoka | — | ||
| Sushidokoro Tsukuta 鮨処 つく田 |
Japanese | Saga | — | ||
| Agedashi Tempura Tenhiro 揚出し天ぷら 天ひろ |
Tempura | Nagasaki | — | ||
| Itamaeryori Doyama 板前料理 堂山 |
Japanese | Nagasaki | — | ||
| Rurikon 瑠璃紺 |
Japanese | Kumamoto | — | ||
| Shinyashiki Kofukuron 新屋敷 幸福論 |
Japanese | Kumamoto | — | ||
| Sushi Sempachi 鮨 仙八 |
Japanese | Kumamoto | — | ||
| Kikusaiko 菊彩香 |
Japanese | Ōita | — | ||
| Oryori Hatano 御料理 はた野 |
Japanese | Ōita | — | ||
| Reference(s) | [5] | ||||
Tōkai
There are presently no restaurants from Tōkai with a Michelin star rating from the Michelin Guide. Michelin suspended reviewing of this region indefinitely following 2019.
| Three Michelin stars |
| Name | Cuisine | City | 2019 | No guide (2020–2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hijikata 土方 |
Japanese | Nagoya, Aichi | ||
| Sushi Ueda 右江田 |
Japanese | Nagoya, Aichi | ||
| Sushi Komada こま田 |
Japanese | Ise, Mie | ||
| Reference(s) | [34] | |||
See also
- List of Japanese restaurants
- List of Michelin three starred restaurants
- List of sushi restaurants
- List of restaurants in Tokyo
References
- ^ "MICHELIN Guides Worldwide". guide.michelin.com. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- ^ a b c Buchwald, Elisabeth (10 February 2024). "Michelin Guide history: How did a tire company become an elite restaurant rating guide?". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "How Restaurants Get Michelin Stars: A Brief History of the Michelin Guide". Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Dixon, Rachel (24 June 2008). "Q&A: Michelin stars". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Michelin Guide Japan". Michelin Japan. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka + Tottori 2019 Selection". Michelin.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "MICHELIN GUIDE digital". Michelin Guide Tottori. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "MICHELIN Guide Toyama Ishikawa (Kanazawa) 2016" (PDF). Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "MICHELIN Guide Toyama and Kanazawa 2016". MICHELIN Guide Toyama and Kanazawa. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "Michelin 2016 Ishikawa in Japanese". japanguide.michelin.co.jp. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "MICHELIN GUIDE Niigata 2020". gmniigata.gnavi.co.jp. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ Reynolds, Isabel (19 November 2007). "Michelin Guide dubs Tokyo world's starriest city". Reuters.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "More Michelin stars for Tokyo". The Japan Times. 19 November 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ McCurry, Justin (18 November 2009). "Tokyo is the new Paris, say Michelin". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "Japan equals France for top three-starred Michelin restaurants". The Telegraph. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Forbes, Paula (29 November 2011). "Michelin Announces 2012 Stars For Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Forbes, Paula (28 November 2012). "Michelin Guide Announces 2013 Stars in Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Canavan, Hillary Dixler (3 December 2013). "Michelin Announces 2014 Stars for Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Shah, Khushbu (2 December 2014). "Michelin Announces 2015 Stars for Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Callaghan, Adam (December 2015). "Michelin Announces 2016 Stars for Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Filloon, Whitney (29 November 2016). "Michelin Reveals 2017 Stars for Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Burton, Monica (28 November 2017). "Michelin Announces 2018 Stars for Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Burton, Monica (27 November 2018). "Michelin Announces 2019 Stars for Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "MICHELIN Guide Tokyo 2019 Selection". MICHELIN.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "Michelin Guide Tokyo 2020". Michelin.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Burton, Monica (26 November 2019). "Michelin Announces 2020 Stars for Tokyo". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "Opening The Araki - Premier Construction News". Premier Construction News. 2015-01-07. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ Swinnerton, Robbie (2016-12-09). "How Michelin's stardust has changed Tokyo". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ Esaki, Shintaro. "Profile". Yatsugatake Esaki. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "Heartache 〜水谷八郎、引退〜 : Shoot Diary". Shoot Diary (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ "Restaurant L'Osier Earns Two-Star Rating after Reopening, while Restaurant Faro Shiseido Earns One-Star Rating for Seven Straight Years – Michelin Guide Tokyo 2015 –" (PDF). Shiseido Group. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ "L'Osier Awarded Three Stars in Michelin Guide Tokyo 2020". Shiseido Group. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ Tomisawa, Ayai (2010-10-15). "Mastering the Art of French-Japanese Cuisine". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ^ Burton, Monica (16 May 2019). "Michelin Announces First-Ever Guide to Japan's Aichi, Gifu, and Mie Prefectures". Eater.com. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
Bibliography
- Michelin Guide Tokyo Yokohama Shonan 2012. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle. 2012. ISBN 978-2-06-716982-1.
- Michelin Guide Tokyo Yokohama Shonan 2013. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle. 2013. ISBN 978-4-904337-02-8.
- Michelin Guide Fukoga-Saga-Nagasaki 2019 Special Edition. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle. 2019. ISBN 978-4-904337-38-7.
- Michelin Guide Aichi-Gifu-Mie 2019 Special Edition. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle. 2019. ISBN 978-4-904337-20-2.
- Michelin Guide Tokyo 2024. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle. 2024. ISBN 978-4-904337-13-4.
- Michelin Guide Tokyo 2025. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle. 2025. ISBN 978-4-904337-39-4.