Futaba Sushi

An hidden gem in Ginza. A very small old style restaurant where we had the best sushi of our life. The chef is great and the staff is really attentive to your needs. The sushi and sashimi is beyond expectations with a touch of wasabi that add even more taste! Small offer of sake but by non-connoisseur we found the one offered a perfect match with the food. No photo allowed and it’s a pity as they would show the chef’s ability. A must go if you are in Ginza!

4,180yen lunch set is so good !! But lack in volume because I'm not full. Very cozy place and have English menu. NO PHOTO inside which is a shame. The location is great and it's just a tiny house among those high buildings in Ginza. The serve is on the big wood plate which is a part of the counter. They will put sushi on it one by one which is pretty cool. I'll go again.

My middle school–aged son and I, visiting from California, stumbled upon this sushi restaurant last night during our trip to Tokyo. We had been saying we should have at least one proper sushi experience while in Japan, but since we weren’t familiar with the area, it wasn’t easy to choose where. We’d passed by this place a few times near our hotel, and I kept thinking, “How can such a small, weathered (in the best way) sushi restaurant still be standing in the middle of these towering buildings in Ginza?” It felt like a place that existed outside of time. I told my son, “If the owner is this stubborn about location and style, it must be amazing,” and we decided to try it. And yes—it was an absolutely satisfying experience. I later read that this place opened in 1877 and is now run by the fifth-generation owner, who has stayed true to Edo-style sushi. I got the sense that the owner truly values meeting guests who understand the story and spirit behind the restaurant. We were the first customers of the evening, and soon after, regulars—many with silvery hair—filled the bar seats. If we spoke Japanese, we would’ve loved to sit at the bar, too. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, the rice portion just right—not overwhelming—and the overall meal was perfect for us. Good food always reminds me of my family. As my son and I enjoyed this amazing sushi, we kept saying how much my husband, who stayed back home, would have loved it. Photography isn’t allowed inside, so I only captured the exterior. But the moment we stepped in, it felt like time had stopped. Both my son and I left completely happy and agreed to return the next time we visit Tokyo. It’ll probably be three years from now, when he graduates high school—but next time, we’ll bring my husband too. Please keep running the restaurant just as it is. It’s truly special. Thank you!

Futaba Sushi is a rare gem in the heart of Ginza. The store front is a piece of masterpiece, you would think that you’re transported back to the Edo era from the glitters of Ginza. Stepping into the restaurant was an experience by itself. A place so immersed in history you would think the sushi didn’t matter. That’s where we were wrong. The Edo-Mae style sushi were just as amazing. The chef and his apprentice took time to explain every single Akami, Chu-toro, O-toro, yellowtail, unagi, even the simple Tamago sushi is in a class of its own. We did not do Omakase set as we wanted to pick and choose our sushi. Every sushi was prepared in front of us and five of us including our 3 children had a blast at Futaba. The Tokugawa era painting on the wall was a bonus! Futaba Sushi is a restaurant and a museum with an attitude that exudes authenticity. Go to Futaba if you want the real Edo, I mean, Tokyo.

TLDR: Great sushi at a reasonable price, less crowded than the more famous tourist traps nearby. Go here if you are turned away at the other places. I would have loved to share pictures of the sushi here but unfortunately they do not allow photographs inside the restaurant. It's old fashioned that way I guess. If you can, sit at the counter and the sushi chefs will inform you what they are putting in front of you in English. You can try to practice your Japanese too and have a little banter with them. Some locals might try to be friendly and talk to you at the counter too. English menu is available and credit cards are accepted.

It's an amazing sushi place. Everybody was very kind and helpful. The shop is a time capsule to oldschool Japan as it's been run by the same family for 5 generations, very cool vibes, and of course the food was some of the best I've had.