Hard to book in Japan

Tokyo

Two-Michelin-star kaiseki-style omakase in Jingūmae, Tokyo, from chef Zaiyu Hasegawa, booked strictly by phone up to two months out.

Kyoto

Two-Michelin-starred counter sushi and kaiseki in Gion, Kyoto, with a 22,000 JPY lunch course and phone-only booking two months ahead.

Osaka

Eight-seat lunch-only Edomae counter in Osaka's Tanimachi district, run by chef Yoshitaka Ishibuchi; omakase runs 30,800 yen.

Sapporo, Hokkaido

Ten-seat Edomae sushi counter in Sapporo's Chuo Ward with a Michelin star, a 10-course omakase, and phone-only reservations that book out roughly a month ahead.