Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant was visited by President Obama during his first night in Tokyo Wednesday, April 23, 2014. The trip to Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant by the United Staes president gave him an unforgettable Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant experience, as was with any other person having tasted the world-class sushi.
Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant is a world-class restaurant, owned and operated by iconic sushi master Jiro Ono. The 89-year-old sushi master was the subject of the 2011 documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi."
As such, Obama had the privilege of being invited to dine in this historical sushi restaurant by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, together with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and national security adviser Susan Rice.
According to reports, though it usually only takes less than 30 minutes to eat at the Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant because of its single item menu, Obama and prime minister Abe spent about 90 minutes in the Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant.
Obama said as he was heading back to his hotel, "That's some good sushi right there." Though Obama was able to have this delightful dining experience at the Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant, reporters traveling with the United States president was not able to enjoy the world-class sushi. They ate at a nearby Belgian restaurant instead.
The Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant was featured in the 2011 81-minute American documentary, 'Jiro Dreams Of Sushi'. It was directed by David Gelb, and its main focus was the owner, sushi master and 88-year-old Jiro Ono. As featured in the film, Ono's discipline and unending pursuit of perfection for sushi is simply spectacular.
The Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant, though very famous, is simply designed and tucked in the basement of a business building in Tokyo, just a minute's walk from the Ginza train station.
Below are five facts every traveller who dreams of eating the sushi at the Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant must know.
SUKIYABASHI JIRO SUSHI RESTAURANT FACT 1: The restaurant has three Michelin stars
The Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant has been given three Michelin stars, an honour renewed every year since 2007. Owner Jiro Ono has unbelievably been making sushi since he left home at 9 years old. Ono is already considered a national treasure.
Though known by the world, Ono has a typical daily routine which he follows religiously: going to work through train.
Dining at the Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant costs at least 30,000 yen, that's about US$368, per person.
While it is expensive, the the Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant, the mall's dining room is amazingly attached to a nearby subway station, and as such, diners are able to finish their meals in less than half an hour.
SUKIYABASHI JIRO SUSHI RESTAURANT FACT 2: There is another outpost
Ono has a younger son named Takashi, and he runs the only outpost of Sukiyabashi Jiro in Roppongi, about 5km away from the original store at Ginza, where Ono works.
Yoshikazu, the older one, works under his father at the Ginza restaurant, and is expected to succeed him.
SUKIYABASHI JIRO SUSHI RESTAURANT FACT 3: It is tough to get reservations
The sushi bar only has 10 seats by the counter. If you really want to eat here, you must call for reservations at least a month after.
If you want to book now, below is their number.
Sukiyabashi Jiro is at Tsukamoto Sogyo Building, B1F 4-2-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (tel: +81-3-3535-3600)
Customers who want to secure a place must book months ahead of the dining experience as they are almost always fully booked. They have earned the reputation as one of the hardest restaurants in the world to get a reservation.
SUKIYABASHI JIRO SUSHI RESTAURANT FACT 4: There is only one item on the menu
There the sushi in the place is to die for, there is only one item on the menu - a set consisting some 20 pieces of sushi. Served in a specific order by the chef, they are served as such in order to ensure that customers enjoy their sushi's taste to the fullest. You cannot pick the sushi that they will serve. The restaurant is so legit that each day brings an entirely different sushi set on the Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant menu.
SUKIYABASHI JIRO SUSHI RESTAURANT FACT 5: Try not to wear any perfume while dining
According to the people of the restaurant, the smell of perfume might affect the taste of the fish and make your dining experience less enjoyable.
Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant is a three Michelin starred restaurant which every traveller must be able to try even once in his or her life.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
