Ginza Shinohara

About

Ginza Shinohara is an intimate basement counter near Ginza-Itchome, set below one of Tokyo's most polished shopping districts but shaped by a much older Japanese sense of season. With only thirteen seats, the room puts nearly all attention on the counter and the chef's rhythm, making the meal feel both ceremonial and close.

The signature image here is the hassun, the lavish seasonal platter that shows the kitchen's eye for abundance, color and small edible scenes. Around it, the kaiseki course moves through seafood, vegetables, rice, broth and sake-friendly flavors with a sense of theatre rooted in tradition rather than flash. Sake and wine are both part of the experience, but the deeper appeal is cultural: a Ginza meal that turns the season into a composed table landscape.

Booking is the main challenge. Reservations can be taken up to three months ahead, phone booking is limited to a short midday window, and dinner runs in two seatings, with lunch available on selected weekdays and Saturdays. The restaurant is closed Sundays, accepts credit cards, and generally welcomes guests of high-school age and above. Arrive on time and plan the evening around the course.

Shinohara is most rewarding for diners who enjoy Japanese seasonality as visual culture as much as flavor. The hassun can feel like a miniature festival on the plate, making the restaurant a strong choice for people interested in ceramics, presentation, ritual and the way kaiseki turns time of year into food. For travelers, it is also a memorable way to understand why seasonality is visual, not only culinary, in Japanese dining.

Highlights

• Counter-only seasonal kaiseki by chef Takemasa Shinohara (from Shiga)
• Known for a lavish seasonal hassun platter
• Thirteen-seat counter; intimate, story-driven courses
• Reservation-only, booking up to three months ahead
• Lunch on Tue/Thu/Sat; closed Sundays

What to order

• Seasonal kaiseki selection course — Food-only course posted around ¥35,000 (plus service).
• Hassun platter — A signature highlight of the course.

Good to know

• About 2 minutes from Ginza-Itchome Station; ~3 from Ginza.
• Reservation-only; bookings up to three months ahead (phone only midday).
• Dinner in two seatings; lunch Tue/Thu/Sat; closed Sundays.
• Credit cards accepted; food-only course around ¥35,000 plus service.
• Generally for high-school age and above.

Recognition

Opening hours

Getting there

Frequently asked questions