Latest news with #Tabelog
South China Morning Post
23-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
From izakaya to haute cuisine: WeChat helps Chinese tourists book tables across Japan
Tencent Holdings on Wednesday launched a handy new tool via its super app WeChat to help mainland Chinese tourists in Japan book tables at about 870,000 dining spots across the country, from traditional izakaya to Michelin -starred restaurants and everything in between. Advertisement The Chinese-language version of Tabelog – a popular Japanese restaurant review website that ranks dining establishments on a five-point scale, based on user reviews – is now available as a mini program on WeChat, known as Weixin on the mainland. Apart from the Chinese-language interface and easy access that dispenses with downloading a separate app , the new WeChat mini program enables mainland tourists to check restaurant locations, book tables and pay their bill with Chinese yuan. The new WeChat tool reflects a trend among the mainland's Big Tech companies to provide a digital bubble – offering services such as mapping and mobile payments – for Chinese people travelling and living overseas. Advertisement Ahead of Tencent's latest initiative, Alibaba last week introduced a trip planner powered by artificial intelligence (AI) within the company's Fliggy online travel booking app. Dubbed AI Wenyiwen – which translates to 'ask AI' – the new feature helps users to plan trips, offers tips on hotels and other accommodation, and serves as a digital tour guide.
Tatler Asia
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
These are the 6 best sushi restaurants in Tokyo, according to Tabelog
No 5: Sushi Sawada Above Sushi Sawada is the fifth-best sushi restaurant in Tokyo, according to Tabelog (Photo: Instagram / @studiosergiocoimbra) Above Sushi Sawada's chef Sawada (Photo: Instagram / @yvnbabe) Sushi Sawada is a legendary institution that has held two Michelin stars since 2008. With just six seats at the counter and no assistants, chef Koji Sawada and his wife deliver an intimate, highly personalised dining experience. Celebrated for sourcing the finest bluefin tuna and sea urchin, Sawada prepares each dish entirely without electricity—underscoring his purist approach to sushi craftsmanship. Among the standouts is the komesu-seasoned shari (vinegared rice made with rice vinegar), prized for its firm texture and delicate salinity, perfectly matched with a glass of Japanese sake. The neta (toppings)—particularly the hon-maguro and Sawada's signature uni tower—showcase exceptional quality, while the seared tuna, grilled over white charcoal, offers a memorable highlight to this exceptional meal. Sushi Sawada Address: 5-9-19, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan No 4: Sushi Arai Above Sushi Arai is the fourth-best sushi restaurant in Tokyo, according to Tabelog (Photo: Instagram / @jennyfoodtravels) Above Sushi Arai's chef Arai (Photo: Instagram / @livelaughsushi) Sushi Arai offers an exceptional dining experience defined by pristine ingredients, precise technique, and attentive service. Guests are advised to arrive on time—this discreet spot is tucked away on a basement level, with minimal space for waiting. Inside, the setting is a study in understated elegance: clean wooden lines, hand-painted tableware, and a calm, considered atmosphere. The menu is generous, featuring delicacies such as scallops from Hokkaido, buttery, fatty tuna, and rich sea urchin. Each piece rests atop seasoned sushi rice), made with akazu (red vinegar), adding depth and balance to every bite Sushi Arai Address: 2F, 8-10-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan No 3: Sushi Saito Above Sushi Saito is the third-best sushi restaurant in Tokyo, according to Tabelog (Photo: Instagram / @bkkeatout) Above Sushi Saito's chef Takashi Saito (Photo: Instagram / @ogana_) Widely regarded as one of Tokyo's finest sushi restaurants, Sushi Saito is notoriously difficult to book. Reservations are prioritised for regulars, making it a near-impossible feat for first-timers, even after years of trying. Tucked within the South Ark Tower in Roppongi, the restaurant offers an intimate experience with just eight seats along a cypress counter. The meal begins with a course of delicate sashimi, often highlighted by expertly sliced bonito, before moving into a refined sushi selection. Each piece—from supple squid to pristine akami (lean tuna)—reflects Saito's uncompromising commitment to quality and precision. Sushi Saitou Address: 1F, Ark Hills South Tower, 1-4-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan No 2: Higashiazabu Amamoto Above Higashiazabu Amamoto is the second-best sushi restaurant in Tokyo, according to Tabelog (Photo: Instagram / @kidmangram) Above Higashiazabu Amamoto's chef Masamichi Amamoto (Photo: Instagram / @luxsushi) Higashiazabu Amamoto is one of Tokyo's most sought-after dining experiences, with bookings available up to four months in advance—and well worth the effort. Chef Masamichi Amamoto, who spent nine years honing his craft at the acclaimed Umi, now helms this intimate eight-seat counter with both precision and theatrical flair. Diners are treated to an elegant progression of seasonal highlights, including hiragomasaba (beautifully marbled mackerel) and live botan ebi (sweet shrimp) paired with rich karasumi (cured mullet roe). The cooked dishes are just as impressive: expertly grilled nodoguro (black-throat sea perch) reveals Amamoto's exacting attention to detail and deep respect for the craft. Higashiazabu Amamoto Address: 1-7-9 Higashi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan No 1: Sushi Sugita Above Nihombashi Kakigaracho Sugita is the best sushi restaurant in Tokyo, according to Tabelog (Photo: Instagram / @kotaro_0402) Above Sushi Sugita's chef Takaaki Sugita (Photo: Instagram / @tomtoro_) At chef Takaaki Sugita's sushi-ya (sushi restaurant), a serene nine-seat space wrapped around a beautifully curved counter, guests are treated to a truly exceptional experience. With over two decades of expertise, Sugita masterfully blends time-honoured techniques with thoughtful innovation, enhancing the buttery richness of bonito and the delicate texture of sardine. His signature ankimo (monkfish liver) pâté—luxuriously creamy and served with a touch of wasabi—is unmissable, as is the shime-saba (cured mackerel) and shiso nori roll, layered with herbal brightness. Securing a reservation can be a challenge, particularly through online concierge services, but for sushi devotees, dining promises an unforgettable experience that sushi lovers will cherish for years to come. Sushi Sugita Address: 1 Chome−33−6 Nihonbashikakigaracho, Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan
