Itosho

Curiosity over how this restaurant in Azabu-juban serving vegetarian Buddhist cuisine earned its Michelin star, so we booked two seats for dinner. Dining in a private room creates ambience. Furthermore, being educated on the meditative reflection that monks perform before taking their meals (gokan n...o ge) was delightful. The dishes were very lightly seasoned, revealing thus the freshness of each morsel of vegetable incorporated in the 9-course meal. Surprisingly, a elderly male server attended to us (usually, 5-starred kaiseki restaurants employ kimono-clad ladies to serve the course meals). He tried his best to introduce each dish in English, after saying it in Japanese. 16000Y/person (excluding sake and other alcohol) seemed like a reasonable price to investigate this cuisine.

Visited October 2019

The chef/owner greets you and kneels at your side as he presents each dish and does his best to explain in English what the dish consists of. Everything in the multi course vegetarian meal was very special. I look forward to returning. Beware, no credit cards are accepted.

Visited August 2019

Easily the best food I ate in Japan. I'd visit Japan again just to eat at this restaurant. Google the name for more information, hours, cost, etc. You'll see why this restaurant is so amazing. Note that you need to make a reservation, and the restaurant is very small so it can't accommodate too man...y people. The owner-chef-server-host speaks a little English and can take reservations over the phone in English, but don't expect to have a complex conversation with him in English. He'll do his best to explain the food he's serving, but I often didn't know what I ate, but I loved it.

Visited April 2019

The multi-course vegetarian meal is served in a traditional setting, seated on the floor in a private dining room. The food is prepared beautifully and served with precision to delight both the eyes and the palate. This is truly a dining experience that should not be missed!

Visited July 2018

we were taken to this small and out fo the way restaurant. It is a set menu and probably cost a bit BUT, absolutely amazing. from when you walk in and the chef/owner is kneeling to greet you, to the end when he stands outside till you arrive at the end of the street and waves you goodbye, it is spec...ial. The food is beyond description and changes depending what he has that day, there seem to be three types of banquet. But we were totally full. The presentation is amazing, the taste fantastic. I am running out of superlatives to express the food and ambience. oh by the way it is a traditional Japanese house, so shoes off, sit on the floor. He knows some English but its the food that matters.

Visited April 2018