Scrumpdillyicious: Ginza Kyūbey: The Absolute Best Sushi in Tokyo

In Tokyo, there are sushi restaurants, and then there's Kyubey. This five-story temple to gastronomy in Tokyo's Ginza district has served fish to Japanese and Western power brokers for 72 years. The biggest names get private rooms with a personal sushi chef slicing up 35 kinds of fish brought in daily from Tokyo's sprawling Tsukiji fish market or directly ordered from all over Japan. Here, bowing kimono-clad staff usher guests into the four-storey restaurant, which houses a warren of eating spaces, from intimate counter spaces where the chefs slice fish freshly in front of guests to private rooms with low tables and “tatami” mat flooring. Almost as enchanting as the delicious sushi is the elderly owner Yousuke Imada, who despite being over 70, still makes a point of trying to speak to every single guest directly. As the finest sushi restaurant in Japan, it's not uncommon to see big names from around the world dining here. Even U.S. President Barack Obama has enjoyed Kyubey's sensational sushi.

Acclaimed as one of the best Sushi restaurants in Japan, ousuke Imada of Ginza Kyūbey is among Japan's most renowned sushi chefs and owner of Kyubey

Founded in 1935 by Hisaji Imada, Ginza Kyubey stays true to the flavors of Edomae, the style of sushi from the flourishing Edo period (1603–1868) in the history of Japan. Following his father's footsteps, Yosuke Imada devoted his teenage years as an apprentice in Kobe and joined Ginza Kyubey in 1965. When the senior Mr Imada passed away in 1985, Yosuke Imada officially took the helm as the second-generation owner-chef. In recognition of Chef Imada’s 50-year devotion to culinary artistry, the Japanese Government officially named him “Contemporary Master Craftsman” in 2012. The following year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe specially flew in Chef Imada to showcase the culinary gems of the country during the Russia–Japan forum in Moscow. Thanks to his unfailing dedication and passion for traditional flavours and techniques, Ginza Kyubey has expanded into a seven-branch sushi kingdom and attracted celebrity guests from around the world including prime ministers of Japan. This restaurant is admired by many Japanese, and many sushi-lovers hope to eat there at least once in their lives, as we did on our first evening in Tokyo.