Kagurazaka Ishikawa

With impeccable seasonal kaiseki cooking that both tastes and looks like works of art, it’s small wonder that Kagurazaka Ishikawa is the go-to for many of the upper set in Tokyo.

[Kagurazaka Ishikawa - image © Florentyna Leow]

Kaiseki restaurants don’t usually announce their presence in a neighbourhood, and Ishikawa is no exception. The average passerby in Kagurazaka might not realise that the dark wooden entrance in this nondescript alleyway leads to one of the finest ryotei in Tokyo. Judging a place on appearances alone would be folly, however — you’d be missing out on a superb kaiseki experience at Kagurazaka Ishikawa!

Chef Ishikawa and his team work together like a well-oiled machine to create memorable, magical dishes. As with all good kaiseki restaurants, the seasons dictate the ingredients used. Spring might see an explosively flavourful starter of horsehair crab meat, crab innards, and dashi jelly, or citrusy ponzu sauced sea bream milt that manages to be rich, creamy, and light all at once. The rice dish at the end of the meal is always superb, too — you’ll find yourself polishing off every single grain. Who knew rice could taste so delicious?

[Kagurazaka Ishikawa - image © Florentyna Leow]

Reservations for Kagurazaka Ishikawa are essential. This is not somewhere you can just turn up without warning. Get counter seats at Ishikawa if you can, as this is where the magic happens. Make a reservation through your hotel concierge. It’s entirely worth planning in advance for a meal like this. Just remember that you’ll shell out at least JPY25,000 for the experience.

For more Tokyo kaiseki, kappo and other haute cuisine choices, see our Best Kaiseki, Kappo and Other Haute Cuisine in Tokyo page.

English name:
Kagurazaka Ishikawa

Japanese name:
神楽坂 石かわ

English address:
5-37 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0825

Japanese address:
〒162-0825 東京都新宿区神楽坂5-37

Opening hours:
5:30pm-12am
Closed Sunday and national holidays

Price:

Non-smoking section:
Completely Non-Smoking

Reservations:
Possible

Nearest Transport:
Subway: 5-minute walk from exit A3 of Ushigome-kagurazaka Station on the Toei Oedo line.
Train: 7-minute walk from the west exit of Iidabashi Station on the JR Chuo-Sobu line.

Telephone:
+81-3-5225-0173

Website: Official website (Japanese)

Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Kagurazaka Ishikawa on TripAdvisor.

Near To Here:
Kagurazaka Ishikawa is located in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. See our complete list of things to do in Shinjuku, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

More Tokyo Restaurant Recommendations:
See all Kaiseki & Kappo & Other Haute Cuisine we recommend on our Best Kaiseki & Kappo & Other Haute Cuisine in Tokyo page and get the complete list for all cuisines on our Best Tokyo Restaurants page.

Where Is This Place Located?

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