Where to Eat Japan’s Best Affordable Sushi: Top 5 Recommendations & Tips!
in today’s video I’m going to show you where
to find the best affordable sushi in Japan if you’ve been here before you’ll know incredible
sushi is everywhere and if you’re willing to pay $100 per meal well you can literally just find an
amazing high-end omakase in any city it’s really not that hard but where should you go to find
the best quality sushi for the lowest price well I’ve spent the last year eating my way across the
country and learned that food tastes better if you get a good deal on it and here are my top picks
for the best affordable sushi in five different categories starting with what I think is
the best value sushi this is Isomaru Suisan a seafood izakaya with locations all over Japan
although they’re primarily known for fresh grilled seafood and hot pots they also sell a single kind
of sushi and it’s unbelievable hand rolls topped with minced fatty tuna salmon row sea urchin
sea grapes and a little bit of wasabi each of these ingredients adds a different element that
compliments the others so well the tuna is rich and fatty the ikura is briny the uni is sweet
and the sea grapes add a fantastic unique crunchy texture and even though they use such premium
ingredients four pieces only costs 980 yen with tax and remember there’s no tipping in
Japan to be honest these are some of the most delicious sushi I’ve eaten anywhere and they’re
so much better knowing how cheap they are these are a must try item whenever I pass an Isomaru
store i do want to note that I’ve been to many locations and although the menus are the same
for the most part there were a couple stores that didn’t offer the sushi some locations
also put a lot more sea urchin on [Music] next we’re off to beautiful Shimonoseki which is
located in Yamaguchi Prefecture just a 10-minute bus ride from the city center is Karate Fish
Market which is also my favorite fish market in all of Japan the prices at Karate Fish
Market are by far the lowest I’ve seen in this country these seafood bowls would easily be
double the price in Hokkaido and triple in Tokyo there are all kinds of fish and seafood for
sale but on the weekends the vendors offer sushi as well although the vendors have pretty
reasonable prices there was one stall that was clearly offering lower prices for their huge sushi
and that stall was called Takesho it also had the longest line by far it literally started outside
the market all of their sushi was priced between 150 and 300 yen and included everything from
common to super premium ingredients like uni otoro nodoguro and anago you also get to pick
your sushi one by one which is a lot of fun the total cost for these 13 beautiful enormous sushi
was only 2,800 yen and to be honest each of these is the size of about two regular pieces so this
was way more than anyone needs to order but I kind of got carried away when I was looking at all
the choices this is an incredibly affordable way to enjoy all the premium seafoods you want and
it’s all perfectly fresh since you’re at a fish market i’ve seen a single conger nigiri like
this sell for,200 yen in Tokyo and on top of having some fantastic sushi Shimonoseki also
has the nicest coastline I’ve seen in Japan so you can stare across the beautiful water
to Kyushu while enjoying your sushi under palm trees it’s [Music] amazing and no affordable sushi
list would be complete without conveyor belt sushi they’re notoriously cheap and extremely popular in
Japan i’ve been to different chains all across the country and my favorite is Kaiten Sushi Hokkaido
which is surprisingly nowhere near Hokkaido it’s also by far the highest rated conveyor belt
sushi restaurant I’ve ever seen so it seems like it’s not only my favorite their stores are located
in the Sanin region of Japan which is comprised of Shimane and Tottori Prefectures first of all
their prices start at 120 yen for two pieces of sushi which is definitely on the cheap end even
for conveyor belt sushi and not only is their sushi cheap the fish slices are larger and the
quality is higher when compared to other chains it’s only 350 yen for things like these two
overflowing fatty tuna gunkan or these incredible aburi salmon nigiri another difference that makes
them my favorite chain was the quality of the rice it’s well seasoned and has a perfect chewy texture
but the main difference is the temperature it’s served surprisingly warm almost like you’re at an
over-the-counter sushi restaurant their free miso soup is also amazing it’s cooked with tons of fish
parts to give it a much richer savory flavor and it’s unlimited although conveyor belt restaurants
are cheap and popular I’m usually underwhelmed with the quality of food but not here the tuna
salmon booty and shime saba were all much more rich and delicious than I was expecting the red
crab nigiri was also very sweet and luxurious hello and I also ordered a firefly squid which
was not my favorite but nowhere near as bad as the one from Kura Sushi to this day this is still
the worst piece of sushi I’ve ever eaten after my meal I was incredibly full i had 16 pieces of
sushi miso soup chawanmushi and even a dessert and my total bill was only 3,160 yen it was amazing
i was only going to list one conveyor belt sushi but the Sanin region isn’t visited by a lot of
tourists so I’ll mention another one in a more popular area this is Sushi Tama which operates a
few locations in Kanazawa and Toyama their prices are on the higher end for conveyor belt sushi
but they do offer an incredibly priced 11piece premium nigiri set it costs 2,200 yen and offers
the chance to eat local seafood like white shrimp which are exclusively fish from Toyama Bay the set
also includes premium fish like nodoguro kawahagi and chutoro which are all unique and insanely
delicious and if you’re still hungry after just order another platter the individual orders are
kind of expensive the white shrimp gunkan alone costs 650 yen and a set of otto is [Music] 1,100
all right let’s move on to over-the-counter sushi as good as conveyor belt sushi is and although I
really enjoy the experience you’re almost always guaranteed better quality at an over-the-counter
sushi restaurant they generally cost more but there are some exceptions if you know where to
look but first before we move on I’m quickly going to explain why over-the-counter sushi restaurants
are so much better most people think the fresher the fish the better the sushi but that’s incorrect
extremely fresh fish will have a firm and rubbery texture the best sushi restaurants all age their
fish in controlled environments which allows enzymes to break down proteins and fats creating
a much softer and richer product with more umami you might also be surprised to learn that
proper aging also doesn’t add any unpleasant odors although freshly sliced fish can still be
very delicious the difference between the two is substantial when done properly all right back
to my video this is Sushi Zanmai and it has over 50 locations operating in the Tokyo area which
means they have to be doing something right this is owned by Kiyoshi Kimura the guy you’ve probably
seen paying insane amounts of money for the first tuna caught each year in 2019 he paid more than
$3 million for a 612 lb blue fin tuna sushi zanmai offers high quality over-the-counter sushi for
relatively affordable prices and although their famous sushi Zanmai platter which costs about
4,700 yen for 13 pieces of sushi is way above the cost of anything we’ve seen so far they also offer
extremely reasonably priced lunches like a 10piece sushi set served with miso soup and chaomushi for
1,78 yen i ordered the medium price set for 2530 and although it may not look much different from
other sushi platters the texture and taste of the fish was far ahead of anything you can get at a
conveyor belt sushi restaurant every fish was much more rich and tender than expected my platter
also came with an engawa nigiri which isn’t a specific fish it’s generally from flounder
but it’s the muscle that controls the side fins of flatfish and it had an unbelievable
richness similar to butterfish or otoro but also a unique soft chewiness that released the
rich umami flavor with each chew even if you don’t order the premium platters Sushi Zanmai has
incredible lunch deals with unbelievable quality sushi and onto our final stop an old style
over-the-counter sushi restaurant where I had the best overall sushi in Japan this is Sakai Sushi
and Hakodate not only did they serve the most aesthetically pleasing sushi I’ve ever seen they
also prepared each fish with the absolute perfect touch every single piece of sushi was as good as
it could possibly be which is extremely difficult since every fish takes a different time to age
optimally and each seafood requires different preparations as well there is an insane amount
of technique that goes on before you simply see the chef slicing the fish behind the bar for sushi
the salmon tuna and mackerel were the softest and richest pieces I’ve ever had i couldn’t believe it
but the otto started to melt as soon as I started to chew it in the same way A5 Wagyu does i truly
enjoyed everything I ate at Sakai Sushi but with regards to the price this isn’t cheap sushi
a 12piece set will cost you around 6,000 yen however the sushi here was better than any of the
more expensive restaurants I’ve been to making it incredible value in my opinion it’s not nearly as
cheap as any of the other places I’ve mentioned but for the best sushi I’ve ever eaten it’s well
worth the cost and those are my picks for the best affordable sushi in Japan but I do want to make
two honorable mentions that didn’t quite make it into the list umai Sushi yutorogi in Aomori City
offers a three- tier meal set which comes with an insanely delicious nine-piece sushi tempura miso
soup salad side dishes and dessert for 2,200 yen and lastly this is the single best piece of
sushi I’ve ever eaten the signature handroll from Stand Kinboshi in Matsuyama sweet salty rich
soft crunchy and fragrant it’s absolutely perfect and cost 1,200 yen all right I hope you enjoyed
this video please like and subscribe if you did let me know in the comments where your favorite
place to get sushi is and I might check it out i’ll include the locations of all the restaurants
in the description thanks for watching [Music]
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Planning your dream trip to Japan and wondering where to eat incredible sushi without breaking the bank? You’re in the right place!
In this ultimate guide, I’m sharing my personal Top 5 Recommendations for where to eat Japan’s best affordable sushi. Forget expensive omakase – I’ve explored Japan to bring you the hidden gems and popular spots that prove delicious sushi doesn’t have to be pricey!
Discover:
My absolute must-try budget sushi categories that locals flock to, including experiences like bustling Kaiten Sushi Hokkaido and Sushi Tama (conveyor belt chains).
Where to find authentic, cheap sushi in Japan that delivers on taste and quality, from lively seafood izakayas like Isomaru Suisan to over-the-counter favorites such as Sushi Zanmai.
Unique regional insights, like visiting the Karato Fish Market in Shimonoseki for the freshest catch, or finding incredible value at local gems like Sakaesushi in Hakodate.
Essential Japan food tips to help you navigate menus, order like a pro, and save money on your culinary adventures.
Whether you’re looking for quick bites or a sit-down experience, this video covers diverse options for affordable Japanese sushi.
From bustling markets to unexpected finds, this video is your go-to resource for experiencing the true taste of Japan on a budget. Stop guessing where to eat and start enjoying amazing Japanese sushi experiences that won’t empty your wallet!
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
0:36 Best Affordable Value Sushi
1:49 Best Affordable Fish Market Sushi
3:39 Best Affordable Conveyor Belt Sushi
6:29 Best Affordable Over the Counter Sushi
8:59 Best Affordable Quality Sushi
10:23 Honourable Mentions and Outro
If you found this video helpful, please give it a LIKE, SUBSCRIBE to my channel for more Japan travel guides and food adventures, and let me know your favorite affordable sushi spots in the comments below!
Locations I Visited:
Isomaru Suisan Himeji Miyuki-dori:
Japan, 〒670-0927 Hyogo, Himeji, Ekimaecho, 247 御幸苑ビル 1F
Karato Fish Market:
5-50 Karatocho, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi 750-0005, Japan
Kaiten Sushi Hokkaido – Ekinan:
2 Chome-45-2 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori, 680-0843, Japan
Sushi Tama Toyama Station:
Japan, 〒930-0001 Toyama, Meirincho, 1−220 きときと市場 とやマルシェ内
Sushizanmai Shinbashi:
Japan, 〒105-0004 Tokyo, Minato City, Shinbashi, 2 Chome−9−4 新橋乾盃ビル 1階
Sakaesushi Takasagodori:
20-5 Matsukazecho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0035, Japan
うまい鮨勘 ゆとろぎ青森＆ラビナ店 (umai sushikan yotorogi):
Japan, 〒038-0012 Aomori, Yanakawa, 1 Chome−1−5 青森駅ビル・ラビナ 1F 青森駅東口
立喰寿司 スタンド きんぼし (Stand Kinboshi):
2 Chome-5-9 Nibancho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-0002, Japan
Music by Roa
https://youtube.com/c/RoaMusic
#JapanSushi #AffordableSushi #BestSushiJapan #CheapSushi #BudgetTravelJapan #JapanFoodGuide #SushiRecommendations #TravelJapan #JapaneseFood #LocalSushi #JapanTravelTips #EatingInJapan #FoodTravel #SushiLover #IsomaruSuisan #KaratoFishMarket #KaitenSushiHokkaido #SushiTama #SushiZanmai #Sakaesushi #Hakodate #Shimonoseki
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