Best Sushi Tasting Experiences in Tokyo, Osaka & Kyoto: Where Tourists Can Eat Like Locals

• By Jasumo
• November 9, 2025November 9, 2025
• Japanese restaurant Sushi Tasting Experiences Tokyo
• With 0 comments

Japan is heavenly when it comes to sushi. When you are fantasizing about the ideal sushi experiences in Japan, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto are the best cities to visit. 

The cities provide numerous sushi tasting experiences that allow the tourists to immerse themselves in native and local flavours. On the busy fish markets to the silent and old-fashioned sushi bars you can enjoy every bite the way locals do it.

If you’re coming to Japan or already here and want to arrange a group booking for Sushi Tasting Experiences, Jasumo can help you make it happen — just contact us today! But you can even explore many other Sushi Experiences that are already on Jasumo.

Be it the desire to have a tasting experience of sushi that is unforgettable, the curiosity of knowing the best sushi experience in my surroundings, or the eagerness to learn more about the sushi culture in Japan, this guide will take you down the sights of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. You are about to enjoy a tasty tour of the sushi world in Japan!

Why is Japan the last place to find Sushi?

Sushi to the Japanese is not just food but is art and a culture. Fresh ingredients, mastery of craft and centuries old traditions are all found together in the best sushi experiences in Japan. Each sushi is carefully made by sushi chefs who balance flavour, texture and appearance.

You have tasted the sea harvest in Japan, the produce of the season and the love of a master chef when you eat sushi in Japan. Every area is unique in its style hence the experience of sushi varies with the city you are traveling to.

Tokyo: The Capital of the conventional Edomae Sushi

What is Unique about the Sushi Experience in Tokyo?

Edomae sushi is a form of sushi which is available in Tokyo and focuses on fresh fish available in the Tokyo Bay which is served on slightly vinegared rice. The sushi in Tokyo has a variety of sushi restaurants, both with Michelin stars and simple standing sushi bars.

When you need to remember a sushi tasting experience that will leave a mark, fish markets and sushi bars in Tokyo must be mentioned.

The best Sushi experiences in Tokyo

1. Tsukiji Outer Market

Even after the inner market relocated to Toyosu, Tsukiji Outer Market is still active, with street food vendors and sushi restaurants, in which you can also taste fresh nigiri and sashimi dishes.

2. Sushi Dai & Daiwa Sushi (Toyosu Market)

These mythic sushi bars cater to some of the freshest sushi. It is not a fast event, and you are likely to wait in line early enough, but it is a melt-in-your-mouth event that is worth every minute.

3. Sushi Saito

To enjoy a unique luxurious sushi experience, Sushi Saito has perfect sushi (Edomae-style) in a small room. The reservation is very hard and the services are excellent.

Osaka: The Sushi Street with the local touch

Why Osaka is a Company that provides an alternative experience of Sushi

Osaka is considered the kitchen of Japan and its sushi is a sign of its vibrant food culture. Here, there are pressed sushi (oshizushi), tasty topping, and sushi in the street food vein.

Sushi in Osaka is generous and bold in flavor, which is a good choice in case you would like to have a fun sushi night with me and local atmosphere.

Best Sushi Spots in Osaka

1. Endo Sushi

The Endo sushi restaurant, which is situated in Osaka Central Market is characterized by fresh and cheap sushi plots which showcase local fish.

2. Dotonbori Street Stalls

You should not pass by the busy Dotonbori neighborhood where you can have sushi and other street foods. It is informal, energetic and an ideal local experience in food.

3. Harukoma Sushi

Harukoma is a popular sushi restaurant with large portions and a very friendly ambiance among Osakans.

Kyoto: Exquisite Sushi a la Kaiseki

What Sets Kyoto’s Sushi Apart?

Refined kaiseki tradition controls the sushi experience in Kyoto. Sushi is light, seasonal and beautifully served in this area. Not the amount of it but rather harmony and beauty.

The Kyoto sushi tasting is one of the most distinctive experiences in the world that is a combination of art, history, and taste.

Must-Try Sushi in Kyoto

1. Izuju

Izuju, located close to Yasaka Shrine, serves saba (mackerel) sushi and inarizushi (rice wrapped in a sweet tofu), which is one of the examples of the culinary culture of Kyoto.

2. Matsudaya

A small local restaurant specializing in sushi (seasonal) made with attention and delicate tastes.

3. Gion Karyo

To enjoy fine food, Gion Karyo provides kaiseki meals and fine courses of sushi, which is ideal to celebrate something extraordinary.

How to have a genuine sushi diet in Japan?

Tips for Eating Like a Local

• Try Omakase: Leave the chef to select the most appropriate fish of the season.
• Spread Soy Sauce Cautiously: Do not dip the rice, but the fish side.
• Take Nigiri in a Single Bite: To appreciate the harmonizing of flavours.
• Learn More about Sushi Articles: Find out what kind of sushi there are, nigiri and pressed sushi.
• Go to the fish markets early: To see the freshest catches and to be in the midst of the action.

Knowing Sushi Etiquette

Being courteous, not rubbing chopsticks, and enjoying every bite in a respectful manner will help to have a better experience and demonstrate that you appreciate the work done by a chef.

Table 1: Sushi Styles by City and Their Characteristics

City	Sushi Style	Key Ingredients	Dining Atmosphere
Tokyo	Edomae (Hand-Pressed)	Tuna, Uni (Sea Urchin), Roe	Formal sushi bars, markets
Osaka	Oshizushi (Pressed)	Mackerel, Eel, Octopus	Casual, street stalls
Kyoto	Kaiseki-Influenced	Mackerel, Inari, Seasonal Fish	Elegant, traditional kaiseki

Best Sushi in my area: Local Gems in the Neighborhood

Nice as it is, well-known markets, those restaurants with Michelin stars are not the only places to visit; small local sushi bars hidden in the neighborhoods should also be mentioned. These are also places where one can have close and original tasting of sushi which locals prefer.

Contact your hotel concierge, go along the minor streets or query applications like Google Maps by typing sushi experience near me. These are secrets to the city that will leave you in shock with fresh fish, customized service and excellent prices.

Cheap and Unique Sushi Adventures to all Travellers

All the sushi experiences should not be costly. Some of the cheap alternatives that have authentic flavors include:

The conveyor belt sushi restaurants (kaiten-zushi) provide an inexpensive and enjoyable experience trying a wide variety of sushi styles.

Lunch sets of Sushi in good restaurants are very economical

The Osaka and Tokyo markets have street food stands where you can enjoy a taste of sushi and other Japanese delicacies.

Table 2: Recommended Sushi Restaurants with Price Range and Reservations

City	Restaurant	Price Range	Reservations Needed	Notable Feature
Tokyo	Sushi Dai	$$$	Yes	Freshest sushi near Toyosu
Tokyo	Uogashi Nihon-Ichi	$	No	Standing sushi bar
Osaka	Endo Sushi	$$	Recommended	Market-fresh sushi
Osaka	Harukoma Sushi	$	No	Generous portions
Kyoto	Izuju	$$	Recommended	Kyoto-style saba sushi
Kyoto	Gion Karyo	$$$$	Yes	Kaiseki multi-course sushi

Conclusion

You can stroll through the colorful Tokyo streets, eat street sushi in Osaka, or enjoy elegant kaiseki sushi in Kyoto. There are many memorable sushi tasting experiences that will be remembered in Japan. Every single city has its flavor and style, and you have the complete range of what the original Japanese sushi can provide.

To tourists who want to emulate the locals when it comes to eating, exploring the areas outside the major attractions into the sushi bars and markets in the neighborhood will make a lifetime memory. Here, use it to plan your next trip and have the most amazing sushi experiences in Japan, fresh, delicious, and so natural.