I’m often asked “where can we get omakase in Japan?” and I do just need to clear up any confusion with the meaning of omakase (whether you are looking for omakase style courses that are kid-friendly or not.)
Omakase in Japanese literally translates to “I’ll leave it up to you (to choose).”
So, of course, in a restaurant setting, it means that you are leaving the course options and ingredients (and way it’s all cooked or not cooked) completely up to the chef.
Omakase is then referring to a style of course within a restaurant’s menu.
It is not a thing to “go to an omakase restaurant “-which may be why google led you here after you tried googling “omakase restaurants in Osaka,” for example.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY SUSHI RESTAURANTS WITH AN OMAKASE MENU
Here are my favourite kid-friendly options for having Sushi omakase courses in Japan (major cities.)
FAMILY-FRIENDLY SUSHI RESTAURANTS WITH AN OMAKASE MENU : TOKYO
My most simple answer for those looking for a casual spot where bringing along children is super easy (and the price is also easy on the wallet) is to go to Tsukiji Outer Market and order an Omakase Set (Plate/Tray/Block or whatever you want to call it) of sushi and sit right at the counter and enjoy – even at breakfast time!
Another easier option is a sushi restaurant within a hotel. Most major hotels will allow children and can also make menu alterations (something not usually done in Japan) if requested in advance. For example – Sushi Restaurant “Mai” inside the Westin Tokyo in Ebisu allows children (although does have a dress code.)
But for restaurant dining – with sushi omakase course options – that does allow children…..
”Kin No Dining” Tsunakin, Ginza
This restaurant allows children but at dinner time, kids can only dine in the private rooms/booths within the restaurant (so, if you want to sit at the counter – lunch time is your best bet.)
However, if an omakase course is what you’re after – dinner is your only option (there are other courses at lunch of course but they are not “omakase”.
Dinner time Omakase courses start at 7,500 yen.
Please Please note that this is a special Japanese dining experience. Please remember that children need to stay in their seats while dining at the restaurant. I recommend bringing some stickers and a small colouring book if this will help keep them occupied while waiting for food.
A restaurant like this is an experience for all guests. Please be sure to not wear any cologne or perfume.
If you’re going here for a meal that is NOT an omakase course…
For an adult meal I would budget 2000-3000 yen for lunch and more like 13,000 yen for dinner.
Please note that there is a 10% service charge when dining at this restaurant.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards ^ but only for purchases over 5000 yen.
The entire restaurant is non-smoking. Kin no Dining also have an English menu.
There is counter seating, booth seating, traditional Japanese style dining (low tables, sitting/kneeling on the floor) horigotatsu dining (where the floor is dug out so it looks like you’re sitting on the floor but you’re really in a chair-style sitting position) and private small rooms.
This restaurant is 1 minute walk from subway Higashi-Ginza Station.
KIN NO DINING TSUNAKIN
中央区銀座5-10-13 東洋ライスビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, TOYO RICE BUILDING, 5-10-13 GINZA, CHUO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-2PM
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-10PM (LAST ORDER 9:30PM)
See here if you’re looking for other things to do in Ginza with kids.
Another Ginza option…
Sushi Ishijima welcome kids and they offer omakase sushi courses (starting at 6,600 yen at lunch and 20,000 yen at dinnertime.) There are other courses that are not omakase style too.
The restaurant only seats 10 people so I recommend making a reservation asap. The restaurant is inside a 100 year old rennovated Japanese home – the vibe is retro and modern. You can see lots of pictures of the restaurant and the food on the Sushi Ishijima website here.
Lunch time courses are around 6000 yen while I would budget more like 30,000 yen at dinnertime.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards.
While this restaurant welcomes children, it is expected that they will also be ordering a meal and, in the case, that they are not – they will be expected to sit on the knee of their parents/guardians in order to leave seats available for other paying diners.
To get to Sushi Ishijima station, take a cab for 5 mins / approx 500 yen from Ginza Station (or walk for 14 mins.)
SUSHI ISHIJIMA
中央区銀座1-24-3
1-24-3 GINZA, CHUO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30AM and then last order is at 1:30PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 6PM-10:30PM (LAST ORDER IS AT 10PM)
CLOSED SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
Another Ginza option….
Sushi Onodera has only 10 seats – right at the counter- so you will definitely need to prebook but they allow children 10 years and older (who will also order a meal/course.) The chef here speaks English.
It is 1 min walk from Higashi Ginza Station on the Toei Asakusa line. The restaurant is on the basement and second floor of the building.
All ingredients are purchased every morning from Toyosu and some other ingredients arrive daily from Hokkaido. The chef has more than 31 years experience. I recommend ordering the seasonal selection course which uses seafood and vegetables of that particular season in Japan.
There is also now a Sushi Ginza Onodera inLA and another in New York.
For lunchtime, budget around 15,000 yen per person. For dinnertime, 40,000 yen.
Sushi Onodera accepts credit cards.
Make a reservation using table check in English.
SUSHI ONODERA
中央区銀座5-14-14 サンリット銀座ビル
B1 & 2F SUNRITTO GINZA BUILDING III, 5-14-14 GINZA, CHUO-KU (It’s in the alley just across from the Kabukiza Theatre)
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11AM-3PM (There are 2 seatings – 1 at 11AM and 2 at 1PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-10PM (There are 2 seatings – 1 at 5PM and 1 at 7:30PM
CLOSED FOR THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS
And in the Hibiya area, near Ginza…
5 mins walk from Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, is a sushi restaurant (high end sushi chef serving sushi at the counter, not a conveyer belt style sushi) called Manten Sushi. Courses at lunch and dinner are omakase style (although in the evening you are able to order additional small plates in addition to your course.) If coming from Yurakucho Station take the Hibiya Exit and walk for 7 mins.
Manten Sushi’s most popular dishes are the Awabi (abalone) and Meji Maguro (blue fin tuna) sushi.
Budget for lunch here is around 4000 yen and more like 8000 yen at dinnertime.
This restaurant seats 24 people at the counter and only has 4 tables so please be sure to make a reservation.
Manten Sushi accepts most major credit cards.
Children are welcome but it is expected that they will also be having meal.
MANTEN SUSHI, HIRIBYA OKUROJITEN
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11AM-2PM (LAST ORDERS AT 1:30PM ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS)
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-11PM (LAST ORDER AT 9:30PM)
Omakase Sushi Menu option in Shibuya…
Kinka Sushi, Shibuya
I recommend this restaurant in my Shibuya with kids blog post for a reason. They welcome kids but it’s not a kids restaurant – in the best way.
It is vibey, the staff are so friendly and the food is good.
They also have other options such a tamagoyaki and lots of broiled sushi options (good if you aren’t a fan of raw fish.)
Sushi omakase lunch sets start at 1200 yen.
At dinner time, there are four different omakase sushi courses to choose from that range in price from 2200 yen to 4900 yen.
I have more pictures and information (including the address and operational hours) about Kinka Sushi in a blog post here.
See here if you are looking for things to do with kids in the Shibuya area.
Omakase Sushi in Hiroo…..
Sushi Kokoro, Hiroo
*Please note that children (6 years and older) can only enter the restaurant at lunchtime.
The Omakase course is 22,000 yen, 33,000 yen, 44,000 yen or 55,000 yen- but you could enjoy that while your little one has an option from the kids menu.
The interior is simple and beautiful. Just a big wooden counter, the guests and the chef.
Please Please note that this is a special Japanese dining experience. Please remember that children need to stay in their seats while dining at the restaurant. I recommend bringing some stickers and a small colouring book if this will help keep them occupied while waiting for food.
A restaurant like this is an experience for all guests. Please be sure to not wear any cologne or perfume.
Please ask your hotel to reserve this restaurant for you. There are cancellation fees for cancelling the day before (and you will lose all of your payment if you cancel on the day of your reservation.)
Sushi Kokoro is 10 mins walk from Hiroo Station or you can take a 10 min taxi from Ebisu Station.
SUSHI KOKORO
港区南麻布4-12-4プラチナコート広尾 1F
GROUND FLOOR, PURACHINA COURT HIROO, 4-12-4 MINAMI-AZABU, MINATO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 12PM-2PM
OPEN FOR DINNER 6PM-10PM (FINAL ENTRY AT 7:3oPM
See here for other things to do in the Hiroo area with kids (the park here is beautiful.)
Omakase Sushi in Gotanda…
Sushi Asahi, Gotanda
Sushi Asahi welcomes families. Omakase course are either side of 15,000 yen and children will also need to order a course (lunch courses are more liken 5000-8000 yen though.) They accept most major credit cards. There are 6 seats at the counter and 24 table seats. Sushi Asahi is 3 mins walk from the East Exit of Gotanda Station. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. For adults, this is an excellent place to try a sushi and sake pairing menu. Reservations can be made via table check (deposit required.) If dining here with children isn’t an option for you, check out the Sushi Asahi incredible INCREDIBLE takeout sushi options here (can also be ordered by tablecheck (easisest if you’re clicking through on their site though with the help of a Japanese speaker.)
SUSHI ASAHI, GOTANDA
品川区東五反田1-11-8 大阪屋ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, OSAKAYA BUILDING, 1-11-8 HIGASHI-GOTANDA, SHINAGAWA
OPEN WEEKDAYS FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-2PM
OPEN EVERYDAY 4:30PM-11:30PM
FAMILY-FRIENDLY SUSHI RESTAURANTS WITH AN OMAKASE MENU : OSAKA
Sushi Nakago Bettei, Shinsaibashi
This is a great casual restaurant to have a casual lunch with an omakase sushi course.
Omakase courses at lunchtime are 2,800 yen, 5,800 yen or 9,800 yen.
This restaurant allows babies as well as children. They have space to store a stroller while you dine.
If you are not having an omakase course and ordering a set course or off the menu..
I recommend budgeting around 3000 yen for lunch and 10.000 yen per adult for dinner.
Sushi Nakago Bettei is 3 mins walk from Shinsaibashi Station or 7 mins walk from Namba Station.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. There is a table charge of 330 yen per person (and to say thank you you will be gifted a small appetizer of the season called an “otoshi”)
Sushi Nakago Bettei is completely non-smoking.
The interior of this restaurant is very beautiful (as you can see from Sushi Nakago Betters instagram account here)
They do accept reservations.
The restaurant asks that you refrain from wearing perfumes or scented hair products.
SUSHI NAKAGO BETTEI
大阪市中央区心斎橋筋1-3-2 SOPHIA NEXTビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, SOPHIA NEXT BUILDING, 1-3-1 SHINSAIBASHI-SUJI, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN FOR LUNCH 12PM-3PM (LAST ORDER AT 2:30PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-10:30PM (LAST ORDER AT 9:30PM)
CLOSED FOR THE NEW YEARS PERIOD
See here for lots of suggestions for other things to do with kids in Osaka
