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Why you should (or shouldn't) eat conveyor belt sushi in Japan
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Kaiten sushi, or conveyor belt sushi, is a quirky, popular and uniquely authentic part of modern
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Japanese food culture. Known for being affordable and interactive, you can enjoy a wide variety of
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delicious sushi in a casual and accessible environment. And while the value for money
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can be quite phenomenal, it might not be the perfect choice for everyone's itinerary
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But in this video, we'll go over the pros and cons, look at actual orders from popular Tokyo
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locations, and hopefully help you decide if Kaiten sushi is the right option for your Japan
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explorations. First, let's start at Mawashi Sushi Katsu, one of the higher rated and incredibly
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popular Kaiten sushi locations conveniently located in the heart of Shibuya. This is an
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excellent choice if you have existing plans in the area, as the restaurant is literally minutes
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from the famed Shibuya crossing. But it's here where we see one of the biggest strengths of
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Kaiten sushi, value and variety. You can sample all sorts of sushi, from the basics like salmon
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and bluefin tuna, to lesser known and more adventurous delicacies. While there's a
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staggeringly vast menu that's bound to have something for everyone's sushi preferences
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all the prices are relatively budget friendly, with most plates averaging a few hundred yen
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The ordering system is also easy and interactive, where you can simply grab whatever looks
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appetizing straight off the belt. And while this can be great for exploration and eating with your
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eyes, I personally recommend using the a la carte system for receiving your sushi fresh to order
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And while most establishments use RFID chips in the plates to manage inventory and prevent the
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food from sitting out too long, submitting the orders directly ensures your sushi is fresh as
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can be. They'll often even have a completely separate conveyor belt line specifically designated
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for direct delivery. And now here's another popular and accessible spot in Shinjuku, where you can see
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a similar selection of sushi choices at comparable prices. For instance, this is a pretty standard
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going rate for the more premium cuts like fatty bluefin tuna, with the price points varying plus
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or minus a couple hundred yen depending on the restaurant. And while the prices are fairly similar
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across different Kaiten locations, what truly sets the best conveyor belt sushi restaurants apart
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is the superior quality of the fish served. But on the topic of superb sushi quality, now's the
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perfect time to mention one of Japan's highly esteemed Kaiten sushi chains, Nemuro Hanamaru
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Originating from a local port town in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido, this brand has made a name
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for itself for serving incredibly fresh, high quality sushi at the conveyor belt price point
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Wildly popular amongst visitors and locals alike, they offer a range of consistently delicious
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seafood with an emphasis on seasonal specialties sourced directly from Hokkaido. And while some of
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these offerings may look a bit basic at a glance, that's one of the company's strong suits. They
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prioritize the simple elegance of traditional sushi and aim to emphasize the inherent deliciousness of
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high quality seafood. Though I'm certainly not the only one who fancies this chain, as its most
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centrally located stores near Tokyo Station and Ginza can command wait times of over two hours
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during peak dinner time. And on the topic of less than ideal queue times, it's probably appropriate
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to mention why Kaiten sushi might not be the ideal choice for your Japan itinerary. But fret not
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as we'll also pose potential alternatives that may better suit your sushi preferences
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The most obvious downside is the potentially dizzying wait time. Hard to avoid even outside
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of peak hours, my recommendation is to have some backup options in the area. For example, the Ginza
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and Tokyo Station Nomuro Hanamaru locations have far less busy standing sushi counters in the exact
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same area, which I've discussed in a previous video. Another note to consider is the lively and
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laid-back ambiance of Kaiten sushi, which is great for casual dining, but perhaps not the ideal choice
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for an elegant night out. And lastly, while the sushi quality can be fantastic for the price point
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there are ultimately far more premium sushi options available in Japan with higher budgets
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But all in all, conveyor belt sushi is a fantastic option for those seeking a casual
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quirky, and affordable experience. And if you want a balance of quality, variety, and value
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Kaiten sushi might be perfect for your Japan itinerary. Thanks so much for watching
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and I'll see you in the next video. Cheers! you
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