Yoshino Sushi Honten

Step into one of Tokyo’s most storied sushi establishments, where tradition isn’t just honored—it was invented. Yoshino Sushi Honten has been crafting nigiri in the Nihonbashi district since 1879, making it one of the oldest sushi restaurants in the city. Now in its fifth generation of family ownership, this is the place that supposedly gave us the word “toro” back in 1918, after a customer fell in love with the silky texture of their premium fatty tuna.

The sushi here follows the traditional Edomae way, with rice seasoned only with red vinegar and salt. There’s a beautiful simplicity to the approach that lets the quality of each fish speak for itself. Watch the chefs at the wooden counter as they meticulously form each piece by hand, occasionally fanning fresh water eel that’s seared to order. The toro, naturally, is the star—that melt-in-your-mouth fatty tuna belly that made this place famous.

Arrive right before lunch service begins if you want to snag a good spot, because a line will form. You can choose between sitting at the counter for a front-row view of the action, or settling into a table beside the shoji screens for a more relaxed experience. Either way, you’re in for platters of glistening, jewel-like fish prepared with over a century of expertise.

For anyone seeking an authentic taste of Tokyo’s sushi heritage, Yoshino Sushi Honten delivers something special. This isn’t a trendy omakase experience or a modern reinvention—it’s a living piece of culinary history that continues to set the standard for what great sushi should be.