Wise and Revolut give you mid-market rates with transparent ~0.5% fees. Roughly ¥6,000 saved on a $1,500 trip. Order before you fly and you'll skip the counter queues entirely.
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⚡ 30-second answer: 30 three-star spots — 11 in Tokyo, 7 in Kyoto, 3 in Osaka, 9 elsewhere. Dinner ¥30,000-100,000, lunch ¥10,000-50,000. Book 1-3 months ahead; dress codes and cancellation fees apply.
Quick reference Value Dinner price ¥30,000-100,000 Lunch price ¥10,000-50,000 Booking lead 1-3 months Service charge 10-15% Last verified June 2026
Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city, with 11 three-star spots alone. Adding Kyoto and Osaka brings Japan's three-star total above 30. Sushi, tempura, kaiseki, French and innovative cuisine — the range is vast. Dinner runs ¥30,000-100,000; lunch courses are a comparative bargain at ¥10,000-50,000. Reservations are a sprint from 1-3 months out.
| # | Restaurant | Cuisine | Area | Dinner budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sushi Saito | Sushi | Roppongi | ¥40,000-60,000 |
| 2 | Sushi Yoshitake | Sushi | Ginza | ¥40,000-55,000 |
| 3 | Kanda | Japanese | Moto-Azabu | ¥40,000-60,000 |
| 4 | Quintessence | French | Shirokanedai | ¥35,000-50,000 |
| 5 | L'Osier | French | Ginza | ¥40,000-70,000 |
| 6 | Joel Robuchon | French | Ebisu | ¥45,000-80,000 |
| 7 | Sushi Mizutani | Sushi | Ginza | ¥40,000-55,000 |
| 8 | Azabu Kadowaki | Japanese | Azabu | ¥40,000-60,000 |
| 9 | Sazenka | Chinese | Minami-Azabu | ¥35,000-55,000 |
| 10 | Ryugin | Japanese | Hibiya | ¥45,000-70,000 |
| 11 | Ginza Kojyu | Japanese | Ginza | ¥40,000-55,000 |
| 12 | Kikunoi Honten | Japanese | Kyoto Higashiyama | ¥35,000-50,000 |
| 13 | Hyotei | Japanese | Kyoto Nanzenji | ¥30,000-45,000 |
| 14 | Kitcho Arashiyama | Japanese | Kyoto Arashiyama | ¥40,000-60,000 |
| 15 | Sembaya | Japanese | Kyoto Gion | ¥40,000-60,000 |
| 16 | Mizai | Japanese | Kyoto Gion | ¥45,000-65,000 |
| 17 | Ogata | Japanese | Kyoto Shinmachi | ¥35,000-50,000 |
| 18 | Kyoto Kitcho Koraibashi | Japanese | Osaka Honmachi | ¥40,000-60,000 |
| 19 | HAJIME | Innovative | Osaka Higobashi | ¥50,000-70,000 |
| 20 | Taian | Japanese | Osaka Sakaisuji-Honmachi | ¥30,000-45,000 |
| 21 | Shison | Japanese | Kyoto Okazaki | ¥30,000-40,000 |
| 22 | Cahara | French | Osaka Kita-Shinchi | ¥35,000-55,000 |
| 23 | L'Esprit Mitani | French | Fukuoka Yakuin | ¥30,000-45,000 |
| 24 | Sosaku Sotaku Itcho | Japanese | Kyoto Nanzenji | ¥35,000-50,000 |
| 25 | Kyoto Tsuruya | Japanese | Kyoto Okazaki | ¥35,000-50,000 |
| 26 | Sushi Takahiro | Sushi | Sapporo | ¥30,000-45,000 |
| 27 | Unkaku | Japanese | Osaka Fukushima | ¥40,000-55,000 |
| 28 | Kashiwaya | Japanese | Osaka Suita | ¥35,000-50,000 |
| 29 | Isshisoden Nakamura | Japanese | Nara | ¥40,000-55,000 |
| 30 | Kyo-Aji | Japanese | Shinbashi | ¥45,000-60,000 |
Michelin three-star pricing:
With pairing, plan ¥50,000-100,000 per person.
The most famous restaurants have English menus and English-speaking staff. Tablecheck, OpenTable and official sites support multilingual reservations. Foreign card deposits are common. Allergies and dietary needs (vegetarian, halal) are accommodated if declared at booking.
Dinner typically runs two seatings, 18:00 / 20:00.
Bills of ¥30,000-100,000 mean Wise / Revolut save real money.
Q1: How to book? A: Tablecheck / OpenTable / official site / phone. Midnight 3 months out is the battle.
Q2: Solo dining? A: Sushi and tempura counters welcome solo. Private rooms usually need 2+.
Q3: Kids? A: Most are primary-school age and up; babies usually not allowed.
Q4: Photos? A: Dishes OK; chef / other guests need permission.
Q5: English? A: Almost all three-star spots handle English. Confirm at booking just in case.
Editorial info: Yen Finder Editorial / Last verified June 2026.
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Last verified: 2026-06-08