WHERE TO EAT STARS IN TOKYO, THE CITY WITH THE MOST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD

Japanese cuisine is rich in ancient culinary traditions , which reflect centuries of social changes and influences: over time Japan has imported foreign gastronomic cultures, never abandoning the knowledge, techniques and charm of local cuisine.

This Japanese devotion to food, together with the variety of oriental flavors, has aroused the interest of the whole world (who has never been tempted by the irresistible sushi or the tasty and hot ramen?) and above all of the international gastronomic community, so much so that the famous Michelin Guide has recognized the country as having the highest number of starred restaurants in the world : the capital alone, the city of Tokyo, is in first place with the highest number of Michelin stars in the world!

Traditional Japanese sushi © Unsplash

Tokyo received its first Michelin star in 2007 , since which time it has remained at the forefront of the world's gastronomic elite, surpassing long-time internationally renowned culinary centers such as Paris, London and New York.

The Michelin Guide has been a point of reference in the gastronomic sector since its first edition. Its rating system was introduced in 1926 and initially included a single star, the second and third were introduced only a few years later, with the idea of ​​broadening its meaning, each star in fact designates three distinct categories: a star refers to an excellent restaurant worth stopping by, two stars denote excellent cuisine worthy of a detour, finally, three stars are attributed to an exceptional restaurant which, for the culinary experience offered, deserves a special trip.

Shinjuku, Tokyo © Unsplash

Nowadays, three Michelin stars are the most prestigious recognition for a restaurateur who, to obtain them and to maintain them, must work hard respecting five fundamental criteria : the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of the cooking techniques, the gastronomic experience, the value for money and the consistency in the evaluation of different inspectors.

Gourmet sushi at Nihonbashi-kakigaracho Sugita in Tokyo © Tableall

For its 15th edition, in 2022, 203 restaurants were awarded by the Michelin Guide in Tokyo, a city that has once again confirmed itself as a true constellation of flavors and unmissable culinary experiences! 21 were the new entries of the 150 one-star restaurants, the Asahina Gastronome, the Nihonbashi-kakigaracho Sugita and the Crony were awarded two stars, together with 38 other restaurants, while 12 obtained the prestigious three stars, among these Three restaurants certainly stand out, celebrating fifteen consecutive years as three-starred restaurants: Kanda, a restaurant whose strong point is the union between Japanese tradition and innovation, followed by Quintessence and Joël Robuchon, which offer French-influenced cuisine, with top quality local ingredients.

Starred dish from Quintessence restaurant in Tokyo © Tableall

35 restaurants have been added to the special Bib Gourmand category , aimed at establishments with affordable prices, for a total of 229. Furthermore, the Guide has distributed 14 green stars to reward sustainability . Special awards were given to Hiroyuki Kanda who, thanks to his iconic career in the restaurant world, won the Mentor Chef Award , while the Service Award , for the best service, went to Mayuka Arai, of the Hommage restaurant.

Starred dish from the Hommage restaurant in Tokyo © Rochini

Entering a starred restaurant is a unique and always different experience: another way of experiencing food and cooking, with such joy and passion as to give your taste buds a real journey of flavors and more. An experience of this magnitude can only have a very high demand; it is very common, in fact, for starred restaurants to have waiting lists of up to six months : this is why it is often recommended to use an online booking service well in advance!

A special table © Unsplash

The Japanese capital therefore once again establishes itself as the best gastronomic destination, thanks to the refined mix of local and international cuisine on offer : a tour of the city's starred restaurants is a continuous discovery, including traditional dishes such as sushi, yakitori, tempura and ramen , and proposals from Chinese, French, Italian and even Scandinavian cuisine, always with the magical touch of Japanese tradition!

Traditional Japanese ramen © Unsplash

If you are wondering why Japan, and Tokyo in particular, has so many starred restaurants, the answer lies mainly in the nature of the Japanese people : many Japanese chefs are perfectionists who make work in the kitchen a real reason for life. This tireless dedication inevitably leads to fierce competition, which encourages anyone who works in this sector to give their best, raising the quality of the restaurants and providing extraordinary ideas and creations.

A chef at work © Unsplash

Another point in favor of Japanese chefs is certainly the open-mindedness that allows them to mix old and new , tradition and innovation. This is precisely the secret of their success, it is quality and variety that make the difference: knowing how to exploit excellent ingredients to offer always diversified offers makes what could be a simple meal, a truly unrepeatable experience that can only be rewarded!

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