List of Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan

Michelin first started reviewing Japanese cuisine in November 2007 when they released the Michelin Guide Tokyo. Guides for Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and Osaka would follow. Tokyo would be expanded to cover Yokohama and Shonan.[1]

The Michelin Guides have been published by the French tire company Michelin since 1900. They were designed as a guide to tell drivers about eateries they recommended to visit and to subtly sponsor their tires, by encouraging drivers to use their cars more and therefore need to replace the tires as they wore out. Over time, the stars that were given out started to become more valuable.[2]

Multiple anonymous Michelin inspectors visit the restaurants several times. They rate the restaurants on five criteria: "quality of products", "mastery of flavor and cooking techniques", "the personality of the chef represented in the dining experience", "value for money", and "consistency between inspectors' visits".[2][3] Inspectors have at least ten years of expertise and create a list of popular restaurants supported by media reports, reviews, and diner popularity. If they reach a consensus, Michelin awards restaurants from one to three stars based on its evaluation methodology: One star means "high-quality cooking, worth a stop", two stars signify "excellent cooking, worth a detour", and three stars denote "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey".[4] The stars are not permanent and restaurants are constantly being re-evaluated. If the criteria are not met, the restaurant will lose its stars.[2]

List by region

Kantō

Key
One Michelin star
Two Michelin stars
Three Michelin stars
One Michelin green star
The restaurant did not receive a star that year
Closed A defunct restaurant
One Michelin key
Michelin-starred restaurants
Name City 2008
(150)[5]
2009
(227)[6]
2010
(261)[7]
2011
(266)[8]
2012
(293)[9]
2013
(373)[10]
2014
(281)[11]
2015
(226)[12]
2016
(217)[13]
2017
(227)[14]
2018
(234)[15]
2019
(230)[16][17]
2020
(226)[18][19]
Araki Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo Closed in 2013, relocated to London in 2014[20]
Azabu Yukimura Azabu-Jūban, Minato
Esaki Shibuya Lost in 2017 and relocated/rebranded in Sep 2018 as Yatsugatake Esaki[21][22]
Ginza Koju Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo
Hamadaya Chūō, Tokyo
Ishikawa Shinjuku
Joël Robuchon Meguro
Kanda Minato
Kohaku Shinjuku
7chome Kyoboshi Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo
Makimura Shinagawa
Quintessence Shinagawa
Ryugin Roppongi, Minato
Sazenka Minato-ku
Sukiyabashi Jiro Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo
Sushi Mizutani Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo Closed in 2016[23]
Sushi Saito Minato
Sushi Yoshitake Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo
Usukifugu Yamadaya Minato
L'Osier Chūō, Tokyo Closed for reconstruction; New chef[24][25][26]
Kadowaki Minato

Kansai

2021

Key
One Michelin star
Two Michelin stars
Three Michelin stars
One Michelin green star
The restaurant did not receive a star that year
Closed A defunct restaurant
One Michelin key
Michelin-starred restaurants
Name City 2021
(206)[27][28]
Hyotei Kyoto
Kyoto Kiccho Arashiyama
(aka Kitcho Arashiyama Honten)
Arashiyama, Kyoto
Kikunoi Honten Kyoto
Mizai
未在
Kyoto
Isshisoden Nakamura
一子相伝 なかむら
Kyoto
Gion Sasaki
祇園 さゝ木
Kyoto
Maeda
前田
Kyoto
Kyokaiseki Kichisen
京懐石 吉泉
Kyoto
Hajime
ハジメ
Osaka
Kashiwaya
柏屋
Osaka
Taian
太庵
Osaka
Fujiya 1935 Osaka
Koryu
弧柳
Osaka

2010 - 2020

Key
One Michelin star
Two Michelin stars
Three Michelin stars
One Michelin green star
The restaurant did not receive a star that year
Closed A defunct restaurant
One Michelin key
Michelin-starred restaurants
Name City 2010
(85)[29][30]
2011
(106)[31][32]
2012
(1xx)[33][34]
2013
(273)[35][36]
2014
(267)[37]
2015
(254)[38][39]
2016
(201)[40]
2017
(187)[41]
2018
(191)[42][43]
2019
(246)[44]
2020
(204)[45]
Hyotei
瓢亭
Kyoto
Kyoto Kiccho Arashiyama
(aka Kitcho Arashiyama Honten, 吉兆 嵐山本店)
Arashiyama, Kyoto
Kikunoi Honten
菊乃井 本店
Kyoto
Mizai
未在
Kyoto Closed and relocated[46]
Chihana
千花
Kyoto
Tsuruya
つる家
Kyoto
Isshisoden Nakamura
一子相伝 なかむら
Kyoto
Iida
飯田
Kyoto
Gion Sasaki
祇園 さゝ木
Kyoto
Maeda
前田
Kyoto
Kyokaiseki Kichisen
京懐石 吉泉
Kyoto
Hajime
ハジメ
Osaka
Kashiwaya
柏屋
Osaka
Taian
太庵
Osaka
Fujiya 1935 Osaka
Koryu
弧柳
Osaka
Ca cento/Sento
カ・セント
Kobe
Komago
子孫
Kobe
Wa Yamamura
和 やまむら
Nara

Hokkaido

Key
One Michelin star
Two Michelin stars
Three Michelin stars
One Michelin green star
The restaurant did not receive a star that year
Closed A defunct restaurant
One Michelin key
Michelin-starred restaurants
Name City 2012
(66)[47]
2017
(68-76)[48]
|Hanakoji Sawada
花小路 さわ田
Hokkaido
|Molière
モリエール
Hokkaido
|Sushi Miyakawa
すし 宮川
Hokkaido
|Nukumi
温味
Hokkaido
|Sushi Tanabe
鮨 田なべ
Hokkaido
|Michel Bras Toya Japan
ミシェル・ブラス トーヤ ジャポン
Hokkaido

Hokuriku

Key
One Michelin star
Two Michelin stars
Three Michelin stars
One Michelin green star
The restaurant did not receive a star that year
Closed A defunct restaurant
One Michelin key
Michelin-starred restaurants
Name City 2016
(40)[49] or (7 as of 11-5-2020)[50][51]
2017 2018 2019 2020[52]
|Yamazaki
山崎
Toyama
|Kyodaizushi
兄弟寿し
Niigata
|Nabejaya Korin
鍋茶屋 光琳
Niigata
|Uozen Niigata

Tōkai

Key
One Michelin star
Two Michelin stars
Three Michelin stars
One Michelin green star
The restaurant did not receive a star that year
Closed A defunct restaurant
One Michelin key
Michelin-starred restaurants
Name City Name 2019
(68)[53]
Hijikata
土方
Nagoya, Aichi
Sushi Ueda
右江田
Nagoya, Aichi
Sushi Komada
こま田
Ise, Mie

Kyushu

Key
One Michelin star
Two Michelin stars
Three Michelin stars
One Michelin green star
The restaurant did not receive a star that year
Closed A defunct restaurant
One Michelin key
Michelin-starred restaurants
Name City 2018
2019
(81)[54]
Sushi Gyoten
鮨 行天
Fukuoka
Sushi Sakai
鮨 さかい
Fukuoka
Sushidokoro Tsukuta
鮨処 つく田
Saga
Agedashi Tempura Tenhiro
揚出し天ぷら 天ひろ
Nagasaki
Itamaeryori Doyama
板前料理 堂山
Nagasaki
Rurikon
瑠璃紺
Kumamoto
Shinyashiki Kofukuron
新屋敷 幸福論
Kumamoto
Sushi Sempachi
鮨 仙八
Kumamoto
Kikusaiko
菊彩香
Ōita
Oryori Hatano
御料理 はた野
Ōita

Chūgoku

2018 - 2021

Key
One Michelin star
Two Michelin stars
Three Michelin stars
One Michelin green star
The restaurant did not receive a star that year
Closed A defunct restaurant
One Michelin key
Michelin-starred restaurants
Name City 2018
(45)[54]
2019
(6)[44][55]
2020
(No announcement)
2021
(20)
Kaniyoshi
かに吉
Tottori
Mitsuki
みつき
Tottori
Nakashima
なかしま
Hiroshima
Hiroto Hiroshima
Ryoriya Shogetsuan
料理屋 昇月庵
Hiroshima
Ryoriya Sobiki
料理屋 そうびき
Hiroshima
Tokaan
桃花庵
Hiroshima
Kurumasushi
くるますし
Matsuyama of Ehime Prefecture
Sushinoma
鮨の間
Matsuyama of Ehime Prefecture
Kuikiriryori Happo
喰切料理 八方
Okayama
Sushi En
鮨 縁
Okayama
Aoi
あおい
Okayama
Ajisobo Mugi
味創房 麦
Okayama
Acca
アッカ
Okayama
Uosho
魚祥
Okayama
Essere
エッセレ
Okayama
Oryori Sugi
御料理 椙
Okayama
Kaiseki Shoichiro
懐石 昇一楼
Okayama
Kashirajima Restaurant Cucina Terada
頭島レストラン クチーナ テラダ
Okayama
Kurashiki Ichie
倉敷 一会
Okayama
Shoun
祥雲
Okayama
Hasunomi
はすのみ
Okayama
Bricole
ブリコール
Okayama
Honami
穂浪
Okayama
Matsuzushi
松寿司
Okayama
Yamazato
山里
Okayama
Yamamoto 山もと Okayama
Rakushunsai Sato
楽旬菜 佐とう
Okayama
Lionni
レオーニ
Okayama

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c Buchwald, Elisabeth (10 February 2024). "Michelin Guide history: How did a tire company become an elite restaurant rating guide?". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
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Bibliography

  • Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka Kobe 2011. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle. 2011. ISBN 978-2-06-715355-4.
  • Michelin Guide Tokyo Yokohama Shonan 2012. Michelin Travel & Lifestyle. 2012. ISBN 978-2-06-716982-1.