Eating sushi in Tokyo is one of the highlights of any trip, and you do not need to spend a fortune. From cheap conveyor belt restaurants to quiet counters where the chef serves you piece by piece, here is how each type works and how to enjoy it.
Quick answer
Cheapest: conveyor belt sushi (kaiten-zushi), where the price depends on the plate. Etiquette there is relaxed.
Soy sauce: touch it lightly to the fish, not the rice.
Hands or chopsticks: both are fine. Eat each piece in one bite.
Wasabi: at a counter the chef adds just the right amount. If you want less or none, say so before you order.
Where to go: Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu, or sushi near big stations such as Tokyo Station, Shinagawa and Shibuya. See our list of 7 places below.
Types of sushi restaurants
| Type | How it works | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Conveyor belt (kaiten-zushi) | Plates go round on a belt, or you order on a touch screen | The cheapest. Price depends on the plate color |
| Standing sushi bar | Order piece by piece at a counter, standing up | Good value and quick |
| Sushi counter | The chef makes each piece in front of you | Mid-range to expensive. Lunch sets are cheaper |
| Omakase | The chef chooses a course for you | The most expensive. Book ahead |
At a conveyor belt restaurant
- Take plates from the belt, or order fresh on the tablet. Most tablets have an English option.
- Stack your empty plates. The staff count them, or you slide them into a slot at your table.
- Green tea powder, hot water, pickled ginger, soy sauce and chopsticks are usually at your seat and free to use.
- Popular chains often have long waits at dinner. Many let you book a time with their app or a ticket machine at the door.
- Tokyo’s official food guide notes that conveyor belt sushi can be enjoyed casually, without worrying too much about etiquette.
How to eat sushi
- Hands or chopsticks: both are fine. Tokyo’s official food guide says eating sushi with your hands is perfectly acceptable, and often preferred.
- Soy sauce: touch it lightly to the fish, not the rice, so the rice does not fall apart. At a counter, many pieces are already seasoned and can be eaten as served.
- One bite: sushi is made to be eaten in a single bite. Lift the piece fish side down so the fish touches your tongue first.
- Pickled ginger (gari) cleans your palate between pieces. It is not a topping.
- Wasabi: at a counter, the chef adjusts it for each piece. If you want less or none, tell the chef before you order. The usual way to ask for no wasabi is sabi-nuki.
Ordering at a sushi counter
There are no strict rules. Say sumimasen (excuse me) to get the chef’s attention, then ask what they recommend today (osusume wa nan desu ka?), or choose omakase and let the chef decide. Lunch sets are often the easiest and cheapest way to try a good counter.
Useful words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Maguro | Tuna. Chutoro and otoro are the fattier cuts |
| Samon (or sake) | Salmon |
| Ebi | Shrimp |
| Ika | Squid |
| Tamago | Sweet omelet |
| Uni | Sea urchin |
| Ikura | Salmon roe |
| Sabi-nuki | No wasabi |
| Okaikei onegaishimasu | The bill, please |
Allergies and dietary needs
Sushi is mostly fish and rice, but soy sauce contains wheat, and some pieces are brushed with sauce. Vegetarian options such as cucumber rolls (kappa maki) and pickled vegetable rolls are usually available. If you have allergies, show the staff a note written in Japanese. See our Japanese phrases guide and our vegetarian and halal guide.
Where to eat sushi
- Conveyor belt restaurants are near most big stations.
- Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu have many sushi restaurants. See our Tsukiji and Toyosu guide, or our page on Sushizanmai Tsukiji, open 24 hours.
- Our restaurant guide: browse sushi restaurants in Tokyo.
- Omakase counters: book through the restaurant or a booking service well in advance. Popular places fill up weeks ahead.
7 sushi places in Tokyo from our restaurant guide
These are the sushi places we have checked on their official pages. Tap a name for hours, access and tips. Hours can change, so check before you go.
| Place | Area | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sushizanmai Tsukiji Main Store | Tsukiji | The first Sushizanmai, open 24 hours every day |
| Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai | Toyosu | Food village next to Toyosu Market with about 70 Edo-style shops and restaurants; restaurants 10:00–22:00 |
| Nemuro Hanamaru KITTE Marunouchi | Tokyo Station | Popular conveyor belt sushi on the 5th floor of KITTE. No reservations: take a ticket at the door |
| Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (ecute Shinagawa) | Shinagawa Station | Standing sushi counter, from 7:00 |
| Sushi no Midori Shibuya | Shibuya | Popular sushi restaurant on the 4th floor of Shibuya Mark City East, open all day from 11:00 |
| Ginza Kyubey (Main Restaurant) | Ginza | Well-known sushi counter in Ginza 8-chome. Lunch and dinner |
| Kanda Shinoda Sushi | Kanda | Sushi shop from 1902, known for inari sushi and kanpyo rolls; closed Tuesdays |
Make your own sushi
A sushi-making class is a fun way to learn the basics before you eat at a counter. On Klook, these two English-guided classes in Tokyo were rated 4.9 or higher when we checked:
- Sushi Making Tokyo: rolls and nigiri, rated 5.0 from about 970 reviews.
- Tokyo Sushi Making Experience: a Japanese cooking class with free cancellation, rated 4.9 from about 330 reviews.
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FAQ
What is the cheapest way to eat sushi in Tokyo?
A conveyor belt sushi restaurant (kaiten-zushi), where the price depends on the plate color.
Where can I eat sushi in Tokyo early in the morning or late at night?
Sushizanmai Tsukiji Main Store is open 24 hours, and Uogashi Nihon-Ichi in ecute Shinagawa opens at 7:00 (8:00 on Sundays and holidays).
Should I dip the rice or the fish in soy sauce?
Touch the fish side lightly to the soy sauce, not the rice.
Can I eat sushi with my fingers?
Yes. Hands and chopsticks are both fine, and hands are often preferred at a counter.
How do I ask for sushi without wasabi?
Tell the chef before you order. The usual phrase is sabi-nuki.
Is there a dress code or strict etiquette?
Not at conveyor belt restaurants, which are casual. At a counter, just follow the basics: eat each piece in one bite and use soy sauce lightly.
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Sources
Sushi etiquette comes from Tokyo’s official food guide and the Japan National Tourism Organization; the classes come from their Klook pages (checked November 2, 2026).
