How do you get a reservation at Sukiyabashi Jiro?
How do you get a reservation at Sukiyabashi Jiro? Through the concierge of the hotel you are staying at, and no other way. I'd book the hotel first, choose one with a concierge desk, and ask them to call as soon as the stay is confirmed.
The restaurant's own notice says it takes bookings by phone, but guests from overseas may book only through their hotel's concierge, because some do not arrive at the booked time. It accepts no bookings by agents, the concierge may be asked for a passport copy, and you show photo ID at the door or can be turned away. Sukiyabashi Jiro is the sushi counter in a basement in Ginza, Tokyo's central shopping district, at 4-2-15 Ginza.
What are the rules and the price?
| Rule | What the restaurant says |
|---|---|
| Who can book | Overseas guests: only through the concierge of their hotel; no agents |
| ID | Photo ID such as a passport, at booking if asked and at the door |
| Menu | Chef's course of about 20 pieces, from 88,000 yen, tax included; the price moves with the day's fish |
| Cancellation | 44,000 yen from seven days before the booking |
| Hours | 11:30am to 2pm and 5:30pm to 8:30pm |
| Closed | Sundays, public holidays, Saturday evenings, mid-August and the New Year holiday |
| Phone | 03-3535-3600, for the concierge; the restaurant asks for calls outside service hours |
| Cards | Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Diners, JCB |
Which hotel should you book for it?
Any hotel with a full concierge desk, booked before you ask for the table. The rule ties the booking to where you sleep, so an apartment rental, or a friend calling for you, cannot get you in. The Ginza location makes the hotels in Marunouchi and around the Imperial Palace a walk or a short taxi away: the Palace Hotel or Mandarin Oriental guide compares the two closest.
Plan for a weekday. With Sundays, holidays and Saturday evenings closed, a Saturday lunch is the only weekend seat.
What if your concierge cannot get a seat?
Ask for a second date the same week, then book another counter. The cancellation fee starts seven days out, which is when seats come back. If it stays full, the Tokyo omakase guide covers how far ahead other counters book, and Den books by phone two months ahead. Never pay a reseller: the ID check is there to turn resold bookings away.