The Michelin star restaurants in Japan are among the world’s best. The total number of Japanese Michelin stars within the country is second only to France’s dominant gourmet galaxy. Tokyo’s fine dining scene is as far-reaching as the city itself. Sushi, sukiyaki, yakitori, kamameshi, and other traditional staples are widely available, as is timeless French food, North American classics, and a host of other international cuisines both untouched and infused.

Save the street food tours for another evening and come hungry for one of these luxury Japanese restaurant experiences that you can only find in Tokyo.

Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi

You may know Jiro Ono by name or by his reputation as one of the world’s greatest sushi chefs, but what you may not realize is that getting a coveted seat in his restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro is all but impossible for most diners. It’s actually one of the few Michelin starred restaurants in Japan to lose its three stars because the ten-seater restaurant was too exclusive. 

However, a visit to Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi is much more accessible to the dining public, serving up a two Michelin stars sushi experience from Jiro’s son, Takashi Ono. White fish, red fish, sea urchin, sashi, and toro are all plated at this eight-seater in Roppongi Hills.

Den

3 letters, 2 Michelin stars, 1 Michelin green clover, and the #1 Best Restaurant in Asia according to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Run the numbers any way you wish: Den will all but disappoint. We’re also willing to bet that Den is one of the few Michelin starred restaurants in Japan with their own chihuahua mascot. Quirkiness in marketing, maybe; tradition in cuisine, definitely. A Hyper-seasonal kaiseki framework dictates the locally-sustainable menu so expect an eclectic mix of ingredients ranging from foie gras to ants. Let the premium sake flow as you make your way to the crowd-pleasing signature dish, Dentucky Fried Chicken wings.

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New York Grill

Photo credit: @parkhyatttokyo

Experiencing the world’s cultures and communities through local cuisine is second to none, but every person with a passport has found themselves longing for familiar flavors abroad. Find a taste of home at Park Hyatt Tokyo’s New York Grill. It may not be a fine dining Japanese restaurant, but it earns its chops as one of the best restaurants in Tokyo. USDA Prime New York Strip, Peri-Peri rotisserie chicken, and New York cheesecake offer North Americans a taste of home 6700 miles away. Even the view, like the menu, reflects the cosmopolitan vibes of the Big Apple: the Tokyo skyline showcase from the 52nd floor will put you in an Emperor State of Mind.

L’Effervescence

Photo credit: @leffervescence

Of the many French Michelin starred restaurants within Japan, few rival the cuisine L’Effervescence is known for. Three Michelin stars and one Michelin green star make it one of the most distinguished Michelin restaurants on the planet. Chef Shinobu Namae trained under Bras and Blumenthal, two chefs who know a thing or two about hanging onto Michelin stars for the long haul. Settle in for a night of fine dining and immediately receive a list of ingredients sourced exclusively from Japan from artisan producers. French and Japanese culinary techniques are blended into elegant creations like the La Mer, a combination of sea urchin, porcini mushrooms, and truffles. 

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Sazenka

Photo credit: @sazekna

Bringing mainland Asian inspiration to create Chinese-Japanese fusion dishes, Sazenka is the only Chinese restaurant across the globe with three Michelin stars. Chef Tomoya Kawada inspires all other Japanese Michelin star chefs to look beyond their borders and into ancient Japan’s history of Chinese cultural exchange. Kawada’s new Chinese cuisine infused with Japanese spirit is evident in Qingtang soup, sudachi, and the hot teas representing both countries.

Tapas Molecular Bar

Photo credit: @mo_tokyo

Another luxury Japanese dining experience that’s easy to miss if your eyes aren’t focused, the Tapas Molecular Bar offers an intimate gastronomic adventure within the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Tradition is all but abandoned in favor of an ultra-modern approach using science to cultivate an imaginative, sensory encounter. Leave your conventional concepts behind and instead bring an open mind and an open mouth for donuts made with caviar, a BBQ kenmi chicken “cigar”, and a lobster bourguignon made with coral. 

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Ukai-tei

Photo credit: @ginzaukatei

Private rooms, each with a dedicated chef, is why it’s impossible to walk through Ginza without securing dinner reservations at Ukai-tei. We’re not sure which is more mesmerizing: Ukai-tei’s opulent art-nouveau decor that nearly classifies it as a museum or the French-inspired teppanyaki dishes with Japanese Black Beef as its focal point. Seasonal produce is flown in from around the world, ensuring that every ingredient’s taste is as poignant and pronounced as the antique furniture surrounding you.

Tsuta

Photo credit: @tsutajapanofficial

You’re not visiting Tokyo without having at least a single bowl of Ramen. And if a single bowl is all that you have time for, make sure it’s from Tsuta – the-world’s first Japanese Michelin star Ramen shop. Chef Yuki Onishi’s Japanese soba noodles shop is known for its soy sauce Ramen, though you can’t go wrong ordering to your palate’s preference. The A5 Wagyu raw egg rice bowl with sabayon sauce and black truffle is as savory as the vanilla ice cream with balsamic truffle cream is delectable. And, perhaps most importantly for some groups, a special vegan noodle bowl lets discerning diners enjoy meat-free Michelin meals at a luxury Japanese restaurant.  

Reward your curiosity with flavors found only on this archipelago on Luxury Gold’s Majestic Japan tour. This 11-day guided journey includes culinary-focused highlights like a lunch with a Geisha performance in Kyoto, Donburi street food tasting in Osaka, and a private sushi-making class in Tokyo. Plus, you’ll have free time to discover the Michelin starred restaurants Japan is renowned for. 

Which restaurant in Tokyo’s fine dining scene is at the top of your list? Let us know in the comments.

A visit to a spa in Japan is far more than a touristic experience. Formal Japanese bathing culture is centuries old and historical documents note that hot springs, or “onsens”, were used for thousands of years prior. 

Spa culture throughout the country covers both ends of the spectrum. You’ll find at least one luxury spa in Japan’s major cities designed with modern restaurants. Farther away from the metropolises, you’ll encounter traditional onsens with little more than water and wonder, which many consider the best spa in Japan for an authentic experience. 

Some spas are public and unisex, while others feature special areas for men, women, and even private families. As you roam from Nagasaki to Sapporo, find a moment to relax and experience this millennia-old bathing culture at the best spas in Japan. 

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Sky Spa | Yokohama

Photo credit: @skyspa_yokohama

Relaxing at a spa in Japan shouldn’t be an inconvenient experience, which is why Sky Spa is perfect for those who want instant gratification. Directly connected to the underground mall at Yokohama Station, Sky Spa features the largest sauna theater in the country. To be fair, this is a Scandinavian-style spa, though it wins top marks in ingenuity for trying to bring the Japanese onsen experience into the city. The cypress calcium carbonate hot spring inside is an artificial system mimicking the Futamata Onsen found in Hokkaido. There’s one in each of the men’s and women’s bathing areas, and both sides also serve up excellent views of the city. 

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Yudanaka and Shibu Onsens | Nagano City

The snow monkeys of Jigokundani are world-famous and a worthy reason to head to Nagano City. While you’ll envy the monkeys warming their snow-soaked fur in the hot springs, know that the Yudanaka and Shibu Onsens are nearby to give you the same wild indulgence. Multiple hot springs surround these historic towns and have drawn visitors for over a millennium. Lower your body into the same hot springs that samurai have. Shibu’s onsens are especially distinct, offering nine separate hot springs with baths dedicated to caring for individual ailments such as skin conditions, injuries, and rheumatism. 

Urban Quar Spa & Living | Nagoya

Bring nothing with you into the center of Nagoya and find everything your mind, body and soul needs in Urban Quar Spa & Living. Urban Quar is one of the best spas in Japan for those who want a laid-back experience, almost as if you’re getting comfortable in your very own living room and not a spacious public bath fed from a hot spring 800m below. You’ll find an open-air bath and sauna, not unlike another spa in Japan, though Urban Quar also has unique areas like a high-concentration oxygen bath, a carbonated spring, and a minimally electrified bath. It’s a great family-friendly onsen, too, with a dedicated Manga space boasting 20,000 issues, movies, games, and PCs to play.

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Hōheikyō Hot Spring | Hokkaido

Photo credit: @hoheikyoonsen

Retreat to Hōheikyō Hot Spring in Hokkaido and you’ll find much more than a simple spa in Japan’s Sapporo suburbs. This free-flowing hot spring is ideal for nature lovers who want recreation and relaxation in equal measure. Spend hours embraced in the onsen and unwind with “momiya” massage treatments. When you’re ready, a special lunch awaits in the on-site Indian restaurant. Then, head out into the forest and canoe down the Toyohira River in the summer or snowshoe into the forests where brown bear roam.

Fuji Yurari Hot Spring | Fujinomiya

16 different baths, one iconic mountain. Fuji Yurari Hot Spring in Fujinomiya is known as the Sacred Mountain Outdoor Bath, set in full view of Mt. Fuji. No matter if you’re floating in the four-season outdoor panorama bath or stretching out in the indoor Takami bath, the mountain will watch over you. Smaller areas, though hidden from Fuji-san, are still dedicated to your health, such as the Reiho spring water bath. Nanotechnology is used throughout this classic spa in Japan to vibrate the waters, increasing molecular activity and enhancing the effectiveness of these healing hot springs.

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Fuku no Yu | Nagasaki

While your first instinct is to close your eyes and relax at a spa in Japan, Fuku no Yu asks you to open your eyes and soak in the views of Nagasaki. This onsen has open-air baths overlooking the city, and with full-day passes, you can relax under blue and starlit skies. The family baths, though private and indoors, offer the same great views. Down in the bedrock baths, you’ll find saunas with roryu services, including an incense aroma roryu service that’s worth leaving the city sights behind. 

Explore Japan’s scenery, sights, and spa culture on Luxury Gold’s 11-day Majestic Japan tour. This culturally enriching experience traverses 8 cities across Honshu, Japan’s largest island. You’ll have an opportunity in Oirase to admire the gorge’s waterfalls and enjoy a soothing Onsen bath in this serene forest.