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Ginza Iwa (銀座 いわ)
Ginza Iwa is a one-star Michelin sushi restaurant recognized by the world gourmet guide award. It opened in 2012 under Chef Hisayoshi Iwa, a sushi chef renowned in Japan and internationally.
The course menu features appetizers and nigiri sushi. Ingredients are sourced from Toyosu, and the lineup is built around seasonal selections such as sweetfish, milt, eel, and blowfish. The sushi is meticulously refined, with rice seasoned with a pronounced saltiness that pairs especially well with alcohol. Portions are kept on the smaller side so they can be enjoyed as appetizers alongside drinks. The style is elegant, high-quality Edo-style sushi, with a careful balance between the topping and the rice.
Alcohol is supplied by a long-established Ginza shop, with around 10 types of sake available. From daiginjo to koshu (aged sake) and raw genshu, there is a wide range of options to complement the food.
Restaurant information
- Style: One star Michelin sushi restaurant
- Address: 2 Chome-16 Shinbashi, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
- Telephone: 03-3572-0955
- Opening hours:
- 12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:00 (Tuesday–Sunday, holidays)
- Number of seats: 13
- Price range:
- Lunch: From 30,000 yen
- Dinner: From 30,000 yen
Social media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginzaiwa.japan
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginzaiwa/?hl=en
Location
Ginza Iwa is located in Ginza, one of Tokyo’s premier districts for a memorable dining experience. Ginza 8-chome is known for its celebrated restaurants and discerning gourmets. Ginza Iwa sits on a quiet alley and is easily accessible from both Ginza Station and Shimbashi Station.
Interior setting
The restaurant features hinoki counters and a warm, wood-centered interior that feels calm, clean, and inviting. Seating is divided between the first floor and a basement level, and both offer counter seats where guests can watch the chef at work. The first-floor counter seats up to 7 guests, while the basement counter seats 6.
Chef Hisayoshi Iwa
Chef Hisayoshi Iwa—owner of Ginza Iwa and widely known as a sushi master—has more than 20 years of experience and currently operates three restaurants. He attended a vocational school and has been learning how to cook since he was six. After graduating, he apprenticed at Kyubey for three years, then further honed his craft for 12 years at the highly respected, Michelin-starred Sushi Kanesaka in Tokyo. He later moved into the Ginza location previously occupied by Kojyu, one of Tokyo’s leading kaiseki restaurants. This blend of setting and exceptional sushi is part of what makes Chef Hisayoshi Iwa distinctive.
Chef Iwa is also regarded as one of the foremost sushi masters, known for beautifully choreographed handiwork—an essential element of this culinary, almost theatrical experience. The precision of his movements and the quality of the sushi he creates reflect a true mastery of his craft, fully deserving of his Michelin star.
