Good sushi in Tokyo doesn’t have to cost ¥30,000. For a few thousand yen you can eat very well at a conveyor belt counter, a standing sushi bar or a lunch set at a proper counter. This guide covers the best options by type, with typical prices and how each one works for visitors.
Prices are per plate or per person, as listed in November 2026. They change often, so treat them as a guide.
Quick picks
- Best conveyor belt sushi: Nemuro Hanamaru (Ginza and Tokyo Station). Expect a queue.
- Best conveyor belt near Skytree: Toriton at Tokyo Solamachi, with Hokkaido seafood from ¥143 a plate.
- Cheapest and easiest: Sushiro, Hama Sushi or Kura Sushi, with plates from about ¥110–¥120 and English touch screens.
- Best standing sushi: Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara).
- Best lunch omakase under ¥5,000: Sushidan in Hiroo, from about ¥3,500.
Premium conveyor belt sushi (about ¥2,000–¥5,000)
These kaiten-zushi restaurants use better fish than the big chains, and locals queue for them.
Nemuro Hanamaru
Ginza (Tokyu Plaza Ginza 10F) · Tokyo Station (KITTE Marunouchi 5F) · plates from about ¥143
A Hokkaido chain famous for its fresh fish. Neither branch takes reservations. Take a number from the ticket machine at the entrance, then scan the QR code on the ticket to track your place, so you can shop while you wait. The Ginza branch has the longest waits, sometimes two hours or more, and tickets can run out by early evening. KITTE is usually quicker.
Toriton
Tokyo Solamachi 6F, at the foot of Tokyo Skytree · plates from ¥143 · 11:00–21:30
Another Hokkaido favourite with generous cuts: try the crab miso, salmon roe and Hokkaido shrimp. Pick plates from the belt or order on a slip. Queues are long at peak lunch and dinner times, so go early.
Katsu Midori
Seibu Ikebukuro 8F and Shibuya · ¥132–¥242 per plate
Run by the people behind Sushi no Midori. Good quality for the price, with tablet ordering. There are queues outside at mealtimes.
Ganso Zushi
Shinjuku, Ebisu and Asakusa · from about ¥130
A long-running chain with an old-school feel. You can order from the belt or directly from the chef.
The big conveyor belt chains (about ¥1,000–¥2,500)
Japan’s biggest chains are cheap, fun and very visitor-friendly: you order on a touch screen in English, Chinese or Korean, and your plates arrive on the belt.
- Sushiro — Japan’s largest chain, with plates from about ¥120. The official app lets you reserve a time, which saves waiting.
- Hama Sushi — Usually the cheapest, from about ¥110 a plate, with more than 200 menu items and an app for timed reservations.
- Kura Sushi — From about ¥115 a plate. Covered plates and a prize game after every five plates (Bikkura Pon!). The global flagship on the 4th floor of Asakusa ROX is themed like an Edo-period festival, with games and over 270 seats (11:00–23:00), which makes it great for families.
- Uobei — Plates arrive on a high-speed express lane straight to your seat, about ¥150 a plate. The Shibuya Dogenzaka branch is a classic.
Standing sushi bars (about ¥1,500–¥4,000)
Tachigui (standing) sushi bars serve counter-quality sushi without the seats or the price. Order directly from the chef, eat a few pieces, and leave. A quick lunch takes 20–30 minutes.
- Uogashi Nihon-Ichi — Shibuya Dogenzaka, Shinjuku and Akihabara. From about ¥150 for two pieces, with seasonal fish. It is the best introduction to standing sushi.
- Tachigui Sushi Uogashi Yamaharu — T-Market in Toranomon, run by a long-standing seafood wholesaler. Lunch is about ¥900 for five pieces, and dinner about ¥3,500 for eight.
- Maguro Bito — Asakusa and Ueno, focused on tuna, from about ¥160 for two pieces.
Lunch omakase and sushi sets under ¥5,000
Lunch is the cheapest way to sit at a real sushi counter. These serve set courses for about ¥3,500–¥5,500:
- Sushidan — Hiroo. Its lunch “Shiro” (nine nigiri and a roll) is about ¥3,500, and “Kuro” about ¥5,800.
- Edomae SS — Shinjuku, in a food hall. Lunch from about ¥4,000.
- Manten Sushi — Marunouchi, popular with office workers. Lunch from about ¥4,400.
- Sushi Azabu — Kamiyacho. Lunch omakase from about ¥4,800, with about 14 items.
- Sushi Tokyo Ten — Shibuya. Lunch about ¥5,500. It is cashless.
- Tsukiji Sushisei Honten — In the Tsukiji Outer Market since 1889. The 12-piece omakase is about ¥3,800. See our Tsukiji, Toyosu & Shimbashi sushi guide.
- Kibun Zushi — Asakusa · rated 3.68 by Japanese diners · about ¥3,000–¥3,999. A traditional sushi shop near Senso-ji that accepts reservations.
Worth a step up (¥10,000–¥20,000)
If you can stretch your budget, real omakase starts at about ¥10,000:
- Sushi Hayashi — Koenji · 3.70 · ¥10,000–¥14,999. Two minutes from Koenji Station.
- Lunch at top counters — Shimbashi Shimizu (from ¥16,000), Sushi Tsubomi (from ¥16,500) and Sushi Yuki (from ¥17,600) can all be booked online. See Best Omakase in Tokyo.
Tips for cheap sushi in Tokyo
- Avoid peak times. Queues are worst from 12:00 to 13:00 and 18:30 to 20:00. Arriving at 11:00 or after 14:00 makes a big difference.
- Use the apps. Sushiro and Hama Sushi let you book a time slot in their apps. At Nemuro Hanamaru, take a ticket and come back.
- Tea, ginger and wasabi are free. At most conveyor restaurants you make green tea at your seat from powder and a hot-water tap.
- Plates are counted at the end. Stack your empty plates; the colour or pattern sets the price.
- Go for the local fish. Try seasonal specials, Hokkaido scallops and hikarimono (silver-skinned fish like horse mackerel and sardine). These shine at the premium conveyor counters.
FAQ
What is the best conveyor belt sushi in Tokyo?
For quality, Nemuro Hanamaru (Ginza, Tokyo Station) and Toriton (Tokyo Skytree) are the favourites. For low prices and easy ordering, the big chains Sushiro, Hama Sushi and Kura Sushi are reliable.
How much does cheap sushi cost in Tokyo?
At conveyor chains, plates start at about ¥110–¥150, so a filling meal is ¥1,500–¥3,000. Premium conveyor and standing bars cost about ¥2,000–¥5,000, and lunch sets at sit-down counters ¥3,500–¥5,500.
Is conveyor belt sushi good in Japan?
Yes. Even the big chains are better than most sushi abroad, and premium conveyor restaurants use fish as good as many sit-down counters.
Do I need a reservation?
Not for conveyor or standing sushi, although the Sushiro and Hama Sushi apps let you book a time. Lunch omakase counters usually recommend booking.
More sushi: Best Sushi Places in Tokyo · Best Sushi in Shibuya · Sushi in Tsukiji, Toyosu & Shimbashi · Best Omakase in Tokyo · How to Book Omakase