Tucked away in the heart of Tokyo’s Nishi-Azabu on the third floor of an unassuming building, is a jewel of the Japanese culinary scene. Here, every bite tells a story that speaks of history and culture. For an unforgettable exploration of Japanese Kaiseki, look no further than Ise Sueyoshi.

This exclusive  Japanese restaurant in Tokyo has only five seats, so guests essentially have the restaurant all to themselves. Guests experience the legendary Japanese hospitality while dining on a multi-course Japanese cuisine. Chef Yuuki Tanaka meticulously crafts a new menu for each month and bases his recipes on seasonal ingredients available. The restaurant pays attention to every detail and has a warm and welcoming vibe with each course served by an English guide who explains the dishes and their elements.

Tanaka named this restaurant after his hometown Mie prefecture (Ise) and his father (Sueyoshi), who was also a chef. Family plays a big role at Ise Sueyoshi as Yuuki began helping his father from the age of four. Later he backpacked through 16 countries, armed with soy sauce and Kombu (edible seaweed) and worked in various restaurants. Upon returning to Japan, he worked in his family restaurant in Mie for two years before opening Ise Sueyoshi. Now Yukki and his wife Mary extend their legendary hospitality to all.  Meanwhile, using the finest ingredients from Mie region, they showcase their passion for Kaiseki,  one of the most important Japanese cuisines and an important element in Japanese culture.

A colourful, flavourful, and educational journey awaits as the food is described as ‘one of a kind’ forming pure art over 10 courses and eight sakes. A guide explains each course in English from the akizuke (appetizer), hassun (small foods on a wooden tray), and wan (soup dishes). The restaurant serves vegetarian and vegan options like asao nori (a kind of seaweed), konjac and tofu skin instead of fish. He also uses kombu and mushrooms for both, alongside the staples of Japanese food sushi and rice.

Guests leave the restaurant with a newfound appreciation of artful dining through Kaiseki and of  Yuuki and Mary, who make every guest feel welcome. This gastronomic gem has earned the acclaim of critics as well as fine diners from around the world. For a Japanese fine dining experience Ise Sueyoshi is well worth visiting on your next trip to Japan.