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Restaurant

Wakana Sushi

4-chōme-25-8 Nagasaki, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0051, Japan

Recommended by 1 person

Updated

Find Wakana Sushi

4-chōme-25-8 Nagasaki, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0051, Japan

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+81 3-3957-1696
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 7:30 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 7:30 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 7:30 PM Friday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 7:30 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 7:30 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 7:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Wakana Sushi

Tucked away on a quiet residential backstreet in Toshima, this six-seat counter offers handmade nigiri prepared by a solo octogenarian female sushi artisan. No glossy menus or modern flash—just wooden hiragana tiles on the wall, a cup of hot tea, and genuine machi-zushi hospitality. Regulars flock here for the unpretentious tokujo sets, where generous, thick-cut slices of melt-in-your-mouth chutoro and fluffy anago drape over hearty mounds of seasoned rice. Everything moves at an unhurried, heartfelt pace, right down to the bonus tuna rolls, house pickles, and crisp nori handed across the wooden counter. Bring cash.

  • Exceptional Nigiri Value: Set menus priced between ¥2,000 and ¥3,000 feature oversized cuts of tuna, scallop, and anago with substantial portions of rice.
  • Solo Veteran Craft: An eighty-year-old artisan runs the entire five-to-six-seat counter solo, hand-pressing each piece with care and welcoming guests like family.
  • Nostalgic Machi-Zushi Setting: A traditional Showa-era backstreet counter in Toshima City operating strictly cash-only with hand-written hiragana menu tiles.
RestaurantJapaneseSushiRestaurant

Recommended by 1

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What's On at Wakana Sushi

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Wakana Sushi

Handcrafted Edomae nigiri and heartfelt hospitality from a veteran female sushi master in Toshima City.

  • Mastered by an Octogenarian Female Artisan

    Master artisan Sachiko Shimizu operates the intimate 5-to-6 seat wooden sushi counter single-handedly, preparing each piece with dedication right before seated guests.

    The most authentic sushi experience from the hand of an experienced female sushi chef.

    Gal·la Millán

  • Front-Row Craft Behind the Counter

    Watching the veteran owner handcraft each nigiri piece behind the compact counter offers a rare, captivating window into traditional sushi craftsmanship.

    You can watch her work on your order behind the counter. It's a wonder to behold.

    Anderson Chow

  • Comforting Home-Like Warmth

    The warmth of the owner and the homey hospitality leave diners feeling nurtured and cherished, reminiscent of visiting family.

    Eating at Wakana Sushi was like eating at the chefs home.

    mscicc

  • Pure Nostalgia and Reverence

    The intimate space and chef's heartfelt dedication create a poignant, reverent atmosphere that deeply moves travelers.

    I was so moved just entering this space. The sushi is incredible, but beyond that there is an energy in this small restaurant that is so incredibly special.

    Ben and Dev

  • Generously Sized, Thick-Cut Portions

    Sets priced between ¥2,000 and ¥3,000 deliver exceptional value with unusually thick sashimi cuts, rich chutoro, and hefty shari portions.

    いずれもネタの分厚さと大きさに大満足

    zako2 H

  • High-Grade Fish at Accessible Prices

    Diners receive premium items such as chuutoro, scallop, and bonus maki rolls at accessible, neighborhood-friendly price points.

    2500 yen for the set included hits like chuutoro, scallop, ebi sushi

    Musho Pea

Signature sushi sets and standout cuts hand-crafted by Wakana's veteran artisan.

  • Special Nigiri Set

    Special Sushi: ¥3,000

    Jium Mak

  • Toro Nigiri

    とにかくトロがデカくて美味しかった

    zako2 H

  • Tekkamaki

    マグロの中落ちを使った鉄火巻も絶品

    mary requiem

  • Nigiri Jo

    小肌、イカ、タコ、鮪、海老、白身、とびっこ軍艦巻き、いくら軍艦巻き、玉２個

    Akemi (ミニ苺パフェ)

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality and intimate personal gestures at Wakana Sushi

  • House-Cured Pickled Plum (Umeboshi) Offering

    The chef warmly welcomes travelers and invites guests to try her traditional pickled plum (umeboshi) right from behind the counter, turning a counter meal into an intimate cultural exchange.

  • Surprise Bonus Maki and Pickled Sides

    Sets often come with complimentary bonus sides, such as an extra serving of maguro maki alongside house-cured pickled cucumber.

  • Personal Wasabi Preferences and Care

    The chef attentive to guests checks individual wasabi preferences directly before pressing, gladly accommodating personal needs such as preparing nigiri without wasabi for children.

  • Handmade Connection Across Languages

    Operating a cozy 5-to-6 seat counter, the artisan warmly converses with guests across languages—even consulting translation apps to connect personally with international diners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is payment cash-only?

Payment is strictly cash only, with set menus priced around ¥2,000 to ¥3,000. Be sure to bring Japanese yen, as credit cards and digital payments are not accepted.

How many seats are available, and should I expect a wait?

Seating is very limited, consisting of a tight counter with just 5 to 6 wooden seats operated solo by the elderly chef. Due to the small space and limited room for luggage, expect potential wait times if seats are full.

What sets are available and how are the portions?

The menu is straightforward, centering on tiered nigiri sets (such as Special/Tokujo, Regular, and Standard) priced between ¥2,000 and ¥3,000. Pieces feature generous, thick cuts of fresh fish and hearty rice portions, often served with items like tuna rolls and homemade pickles.

How do I order if I do not speak Japanese?

Ordering is straightforward even without fluent Japanese. You can simply specify your preferred set tier (such as the Special or Tokujo set) or show photos on your phone, though keep in mind the chef may ask whether you prefer wasabi included.

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