Tips for getting a reservation at an upscale sushi restaurant

To dine at a well-regarded sushi restaurant, a reservation is basically essential.
There are few shops you can walk into on the day. At popular shops that are hard to book, customers who come to dine often make their next reservation on the way out, so seats rarely open up.
So how can you get a reservation? Let's look at the key points.

Point 1: First, check the reservation method

Popular sushi restaurants often have reservation rules such as "reservations for the following month open at a certain time on a certain day each month" or "reservations open at a certain time one month before the desired visit date."

Check the rules of the sushi restaurant you want to visit on the shop's website, social media, and so on. If you aim for exactly the date and time reservations open, your chances of securing a seat increase.

Because reservations are concentrated, congestion is inevitable, and at popular shops you often cannot get through no matter how many times you call, but the key is to keep calling patiently.

Even when you finally get through, it is not uncommon for your desired date and time to already be fully booked, so prepare several candidate dates and times so you can still book even if your first choice is taken.
If that still doesn't work, put yourself on the cancellation waiting list.

Point 2: The best time to call is between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Except when the reservation date and time are fixed, you need to be careful about when you call a restaurant.
Around opening time they are busy with prep, and during business hours they are tied up serving customers in the shop, so it is wise to avoid business hours.

Around 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. it is relatively easy to get through and they can respond calmly. Especially for shops with two services, lunch and dinner, the time just after lunch service ends seems good.

It is easy to rush because you want to book quickly, but check the shop's hours in advance and contact them with good timing in mind.In fact, there are cases where someone called during this time slot and happened to luck into a same-night cancellation, getting a reservation.

Point 3: Check the shop's social media

Even when a shop has a website, the website is often made by an outside company, so it is hard for the shop to keep updating the latest information itself.Sometimes it hasn't been updated at all since the website was launched.

In that respect, social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is easy to post to.Even a master or staff not skilled with computers can manage it. Lately many shops use social media, so if a shop you are interested in has an official account, we recommend following it.

At one popular shop, when a cancellation comes up they announce on social media something like "seats for a certain number of guests have opened up at a certain time on a certain day."So that you don't miss cancellation information, check regularly on a daily basis.
However, in that case reservations are first-come, first-served, so if a cancellation comes up, contact them immediately.

Point 4: Lunchtime is a better target than dinnertime

There are also sushi restaurants open not only for evening dinner service but also for daytime lunch service.
At popular shops, reservations are mostly full both day and night, but weekday lunches in particular tend to be easier to book than evenings or weekends.

If you can adjust your schedule, aiming for a weekday lunch is one option.
Also, while lunchtime menus often have a limited range of options, they are set at more reasonable price ranges than dinnertime. You can enjoy authentic sushi at a bargain with the same quality of taste.

Use online reservation services wisely

For the super-popular sushi shops said to be hard to book, you often cannot get a reservation even by calling or following on social media. Moreover, calling many times takes time and effort.

In such cases, we recommend using an online reservation service that lets you easily book restaurants.
You may be able to book faster and more easily than reserving on your own.
Each has its own features, so choose a service that suits your needs.

OMAKASE

"OMAKASE" is a service specializing in reservations at hard-to-book shops. For sushi shops listed here, everything from booking to, in the unlikely event you have to cancel, the cancellation procedure can be done online. It is also reassuring that the bookable menus and prices are clearly stated.

Reservation rules differ by shop, so check the reservation period at the time before booking. If there are no open seats, wait for the date and time the next slot opens.

Using the "OMAKASE" service requires membership registration, but the benefit is that it saves you the time and effort of calling. If you register a sushi shop you are interested in as a favorite, you can receive notifications when cancellations occur and announcements from the shop.

PLAN

"PLAN" is a service that lets you book restaurants through LINE. Many of Japan's representative famous shops are listed, such as shops in the national top 10 of the "Tabelog" rankings and shops that have earned three stars in the "Michelin Guide," so it can also be used to book upscale sushi shops.

It is very easy to use: add the "PLAN" LINE account as a "friend," then send the name of the shop you want to book and information such as date, time, and number of people by message, and just wait for the result.

The reservation result arrives by LINE message within three business days after the reservation start date. It is also nice that there is no fee regardless of whether the reservation is successful.
However, if you cancel a reservation, you need to contact the shop directly.

Pocket Concierge

"Pocket Concierge" is a service that gathers only high-quality restaurants and handles everything from booking to payment.Its biggest feature is the "waiting list function," which lets you wait for a reservation cancellation.
Even if the restaurant you want is fully booked, if you register your desired date, time, and number of people, the reservation is confirmed the moment a cancellation occurs.

Cancellations seem to be rare, but if you register a shop you would like to visit, you may get a chance.
Also, if you register your credit card information and choose to pay with that credit card at the time of booking, you don't need to pay on the day of the meal. Being able to settle the bill smoothly is another attraction.

Ikyu.com Restaurant

"Ikyu.com Restaurant" is a service for searching and booking upscale restaurants. Only restaurants that have cleared a rigorous screening under its own standards are listed, so it is reputed that you will be highly satisfied no matter which shop you choose.

On the site, the atmosphere of the shop, its dedication to sushi, and so on are introduced in detail with photos. Also, "Ikyu.com Restaurant" sometimes holds limited-time flash sales and coupon campaigns.

Since you can book popular shops at a bargain, we recommend checking the site regularly. Furthermore, if you register as a member, you accumulate points according to the amount you spend.
The points you earn can be used on future reservations.

If you master the key points, even hard-to-book sushi restaurants can be reserved!

What did you think? Truly popular shops are quite hard to book, but that is precisely a sign of how appealing their taste is.Precisely because you go to such trouble to get a reservation, visiting the shop becomes something to look forward to, and the deliciousness when you actually taste the sushi is different on every level.

When booking, rather than calling blindly, you can raise your chances of getting a reservation by being thoughtful, such as considering when to call and using social media and reservation services.Using the methods introduced this time as a reference, by all means take on the challenge of booking a popular sushi shop and spend a special time.