Ginza Kyubey occupies the fourth floor of The Okura Tokyo. A sushi counter inside a hotel sounds like it should be the easy version. What you actually need to prepare for is not the atmosphere — it is the pricing and the booking etiquette, which belong to a Ginza sushi restaurant rather than a hotel dining room.
The hotel first
Hotel Okura Tokyo opened on 21 May 1962. The main building was demolished and rebuilt, reopening as The Okura Tokyo on 12 September 2019.
- Okura Prestige Tower: 41 floors, 368 rooms
- Okura Heritage Wing: 17 floors, 140 rooms
- 508 rooms in total. Address: 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku
The rebuild drew objections from Japan and abroad, because the old lobby was regarded as an architectural work in its own right. Yoshio Taniguchi joined the design team as a result, and elements his father Yoshiro Taniguchi designed were reproduced in the Prestige Tower lobby: the “Okura Lantern”, a light fitting modelled on a Kofun-period necklace, and the hemp-leaf lattice woodwork. In the Heritage Wing lobby, a wall decoration reproducing the paper of the Sanjūrokunin Kashū — a National Treasure held at Nishi Hongan-ji — was relocated.
Even if you are only coming to eat, you pass through the lobby. Arrive early enough to look at those two things before going up.
The entrance is easy to walk past
Fourth floor of the Prestige Tower. There is a low-lit opening off the corridor and no large sign — none of the signage a hotel restaurant usually gets. It is genuinely easy to walk straight past.
Seating is 14 seats at the counter plus tables for two (×2), four (×1) and six (×1). The counter is not large, and it is quiet.
Starting with the tsumami
Sashimi on a plate lined with bamboo leaf, small bowls of vinegared and simmered dishes, edamame. A restrained build-up before the nigiri.
What struck me was that the quiet came from the room rather than from formality. Nobody talks loudly here. The calm is supplied by the other diners, not imposed by the restaurant.
Booking and prices — the practical part
- Hours: 11:30–21:30, straight through. Open year-round (barring occasional closures)
- Reservations: by phone from 10:00
- Lunch: ¥11,000–44,000
- Dinner: ¥16,500–44,000
- Service charge: 15% on top
- Same-day cancellation: ¥5,000 per person at lunch, ¥10,000 per person at dinner
That last line is the one to read twice. Same-day cancellation fees are stated openly, so this is not a booking you make on a maybe. Fix the date first. Travelling with a child, factor in how you would handle someone waking up unwell.
The other useful detail: it runs straight through from 11:30 to 21:30. At this price level, very few sushi restaurants will seat you at five in the afternoon.
Summary
- Ginza Kyubey is on the 4th floor of the Okura Prestige Tower; small sign, understated entrance
- 14 counter seats. The quiet comes from the other diners
- Open 11:30–21:30 straight through, year-round — you can eat at off-hours
- Lunch from ¥11,000, dinner from ¥16,500, plus a 15% service charge
- Same-day cancellation fees are published (¥5,000 lunch / ¥10,000 dinner). Book once the date is certain
- The lobby reproduces the old building’s Okura Lantern and hemp-leaf lattice. Worth arriving early for
📖 A companion guide from Private Wisdom
Eating your way around Japan? How to Eat in Japan — a long-time local’s friendly guide to ordering, dining etiquette, and what to actually eat, from the convenience store to the sushi counter. Free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
▶ Read on Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)Nearby, in the same part of Tokyo
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ginza Kyubey at The Okura Tokyo?
On the fourth floor of the Okura Prestige Tower, at 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku. There is a low-lit opening off the corridor and no large sign, so it is genuinely easy to walk straight past.
How many seats are there?
Fourteen at the counter, plus tables for two (×2), four (×1) and six (×1). The counter is not large.
What are the opening hours?
11:30–21:30 straight through, year-round. At this price level very few sushi restaurants will seat you at five in the afternoon, so the continuous service is the useful part.
How much does it cost?
Lunch from ¥11,000 and dinner from ¥16,500, plus a 15% service charge. Prices change, so confirm against the restaurant’s own information.
Is there a cancellation fee?
Yes, and it is published: ¥5,000 for lunch and ¥10,000 for dinner on the day. Book once the date is certain rather than provisionally.
Is it quiet?
Yes, and the quiet comes from the room rather than from formality. Nobody talks loudly here. The calm is supplied by the other diners, not imposed by the restaurant.
Is there anything to see before going up?
The Prestige Tower lobby reproduces elements of the old building: the “Okura Lantern,” a light fitting modelled on a Kofun-period necklace, and the hemp-leaf lattice woodwork. In the Heritage Wing lobby there is a wall decoration reproducing the paper of the Sanjūrokunin Kashū. Arrive early enough to look at them.
What should I know about the hotel itself?
Hotel Okura Tokyo opened on 21 May 1962. The main building was demolished and rebuilt, reopening as The Okura Tokyo on 12 September 2019. The Okura Prestige Tower has 41 floors and 368 rooms; the Okura Heritage Wing has 17 floors and 140 rooms — 508 rooms in total.
Written from my own visit. Prices, hours and fees are as published by the restaurant at the time of writing — confirm before you book.
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