Tabelog ratingBashamichi Okawa serves a kaiseki menu that changes every month, built around a house saba-zushi (cured mackerel sushi). You wrap it in crisp nori just before eating. Much of the cooking happens in front of the counter. Hamo (pike conger) is seared over charcoal, and Tenryū River ayu (sweetfish) is slow-grilled for about 40 minutes and eaten head first. Some dishes arrive in bowls with fireworks-painted lids, which reviewers say the chef designed or painted himself. The restaurant was selected for Tabelog's Japanese cuisine EAST "Tabelog 100" in 2023 and 2025.
The mackerel sushi is praised in nearly every review. A close second is the donabe (clay-pot) rice, whose flavour follows the seasons: sakura shrimp, corn with chirimen sanshō, or shirasu with ginger. Any leftover rice is shaped into onigiri for you to take home. Diners also single out the elaborate hassun (seasonal platter) and a finale of three desserts.
Hospitality is the other constant. The okami (hostess) is warm, staff walk guests to the door, and there are birthday touches and umbrellas when it rains. Families mention toys and private rooms for children. Chinese and English reviewers call it among their best meals in Japan.
There are criticisms. One English reviewer (2026) paid over ¥35,000 a head before drinks and received no itemised bill. One diner disliked incense burning in a private room and found the menu heavy and lacking a clear flow. A regular senses a slight recent dip in quality, and some apprentices' service is still green.
Reviewers in 2024–2026 paid around ¥7,000 for the lunch omakase of about ten dishes, tax and service included. Higher lunch courses cost around ¥10,000. At dinner, reviewers paid ¥12,100, ¥16,500 or ¥16,800 for a course. The ¥16,500 course with sake pairing came to about ¥21,000 per person. Expect roughly ¥7,000–10,000 at lunch and ¥12,000–21,000 at dinner. Lunch is outstanding value. Dinner is fair, provided you confirm the price when booking.
- Access: 1-minute walk from Bashamichi Station on the Minato Mirai Line; ground floor (1F) of the Kawashima Building.
- Booking: essential, so do not plan on walking in. Online booking is for 2 or more; solo diners book by phone on 045-323-9393 or 050-5592-8107. Confirm the course price and drink charges when you book.
- Payment: VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX and Diners accepted. Electronic money and QR code payments are not accepted.
- Seats: 22, including a few counter seats, sunken seating and private rooms for 2 or 4. The whole venue can be booked privately. Groups of five or more in a private room cannot choose between the tea room and a private room and may be placed in either.
- Children: welcome; private rooms suit families.
- Etiquette: the restaurant asks guests to avoid strong perfume.
- Smoking: non-smoking.
- Parking: none.
- The menu changes monthly.
