Ginza 8-chome is a neighborhood full of famous restaurants and gourmets whose palates have grown hard to please. ""Ginza Iwa"" is a sushi restaurant located on a quiet alley, with easy access from both Ginza and Shimbashi Stations. It was opened in 2012 by Hisayoshi Iwa, a sushi chef known both in Japan and worldwide, and is currently watched over by Chef Iwa's favorite pupil who trained under him for 10 years. The spot has great reviews and currently is recognized by the world gourmet guide award.
The course menu consists of appetizers and nigiri sushi, while lunch has nigiri available. The ingredients are 100% sourced from Toyosu(ex-Tsukiji), with the menu being composed of seasonal choices such as sweetfish, milt, eel, and blowfish. That said, without any pre-conceived notions about which fish goes with which season, the restaurant instead strives to make sure there is always something good for guests to eat, making the best catch of any given day the target of each market visit. The carefully refined sushi here has a salty kick in the rice that makes it even more compatible with alcohol, and are made on the small side so they can be enjoyed as appetizers to have with drinks. The sushi is Edo-style, elegant, and high quality, with a careful balance between topping and rice. The alcohol is supplied from a long-standing store in Ginza, with around 10 types of sake available. From daiginjo to koshu(old sake) and raw genshu, there are a variety of options to go with the food.
The restaurant boasts hinoki counters and a warm interior composed mostly of wood, with a relaxing, clean atmosphere. There is a split between the first floor and a basement floor, but both have counters at which you can watch the chef work their skills. There may be some who feel nervous about sitting at the counter, but the restaurant maintains a Ginza-esque distance, offering comfortable service that doesn't overstep its bounds - even newcomers can feel at ease. The first floor counter can seat up to 7 guests, while the basement can seat 6 guests, and reservations are accepted. This is a place to try if you are looking for top quality sushi in Ginza.
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*The availability of this webpage does not guarantee that the restaurant presented provides services in English unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that English services may also depend on staff availability at the restaurant.
【Access】
A 5-minute walk from Shinbashi Station, Exit Ginza(Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
