Tabelog ratingTempura Aratamikawa (天ぷら あらたみかわ) offers a personal and focused tempura experience at an intimate eight-seat counter in Nishishinbashi. Here, the chef prepares an omakase (chef's choice) menu, frying each piece of seasonal seafood and mountain vegetable individually and placing it directly before you. Guests consistently praise the chef's precise temperature control, which results in an exceptionally light, crisp, and flavourful batter that enhances the ingredients without masking them.
Signature items that draw rave reviews include uni (sea urchin) wrapped in a shiso leaf, a two-part service of kuruma-ebi (prawn) that includes the crispy fried heads, and the dramatic moment when the chef halves the anago (conger eel) before serving. Other frequently lauded pieces are kisu (whiting), aori-ika (squid), thick-cut mushrooms, and seasonal mountain vegetables like kogomi and tara-no-me. The meal often concludes with a perfectly cooked, intensely sweet satsumaimo (sweet potato).
While the experience is overwhelmingly positive, a few diners have noted that an occasional piece, sometimes the anago, can have a heavier or slightly oily batter. When the chef is working alone, service can feel less attentive, but his warm and approachable manner is widely appreciated. Reviewers report that the lunch light course, which cost around ¥9,900 in 2024, is exceptional value. The full omakase is around ¥17,600, with dinner typically costing ¥15,000–¥20,000 per person before drinks. A bottle of beer was recently reported at ¥990.
- Getting There: Located on the 2nd floor, a short walk (around 320 metres) from Toranomon Hills Station.
- Reservations: Essential. Reviewers recommend booking several weeks to a month in advance, typically via the TableCheck service.
- Seating: There are only 8 seats, all at the counter.
- Payment: Credit cards are accepted. Electronic money and QR code payments are not.
- Language: English is limited, but the chef is welcoming to international visitors and makes an effort to communicate, sometimes using a translation app.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
- Parking: No parking is available.