It had been a while since I visited Kichijoji. My family of four gathered together for the first time in a while, so we decided to go out for a meal. Our friend suggested sushi, and we ended up visiting "Sushi Itou Ichiro" located inside my hotel, Excel Tokyu. We sat at the counter and ordered a la carte dishes. Here's what we had: - Appetizers: simmered octopus, flat shellfish wrapped in seaweed, bonito tataki with garlic soy sauce, assorted sashimi including kasago, houbou, firefly squid, otoro, white clam, and abalone, steamed asari clams with spring cabbage, butter-grilled scallops - Sushi: mackerel, gizzard shad, horse mackerel, striped jack, tuna with plum, sea bream marinated in kelp, shrimp, sea urchin, salmon roe, crab, conger eel from Tsushima, tuna belly from Miyauchi, egg, tuna with fat, conger eel roll, scallion roll - Dessert: amaou strawberry gelato, black soy We started with beer and then switched to Hakushu highball. We enjoyed every dish from the tender simmered octopus to the refreshing gelato. The freshness of the ingredients made everything delicious. After settling the bill, as I was looking over the limited menu from Kanazawa while sipping tea, I realized I forgot to try the black soy. I mentioned it quietly, and to my surprise, the chef quietly placed a piece of black soy sushi in front of me as a service. It was deliciously crunchy. The chef was so thoughtful and attentive, keeping up with our fast pace and even engaging in friendly conversation. The other staff members were also warm and welcoming to us first-timers. It was a comfortable and delightful experience. Although I may not have many opportunities to visit Kichijoji in the future, if I do come back, I will definitely visit Sushi Itou Ichiro again. Or rather, I will definitely come back... haha

Located on the 2nd floor of Kichijoji Excel Hotel, a 6-minute walk from Kichijoji Station. I visited for lunch on a weekday. The lunch menu includes white wine and complimentary oolong tea. Each piece of sushi was carefully prepared and delicious. There are counter seats and table seats available. I think it's a great place for solo diners, families, or group meals. I usually don't like ikura or sea urchin, but I was able to enjoy them here.

⭐️ Visited "FUJI" for lunch in Tokyo on a weekday at 11:30. Made a reservation and paid 4,928 yen (including tax and service charge) with a choice of white wine or oolong tea. Due to heavy rain, only one party of 2 customers arrived by 12:45. The sushi was beautifully presented and the bluefin tuna was delicious. However, the squid was a bit tough, almost like it had been doing squats! The texture was too chewy. This time we sat at a table for a business meeting, but next time I want to sit at the counter and try the crispy nori sushi rolls. The restaurant was clean and the service was excellent. ⤴️⤴️

Second visit. I went once before, but the restaurant was closed due to kitchen renovations. A bit disappointing. This visit is for revenge. Last time, the lunch was like a course meal, with many appetizers and delicious sushi. This time, the lunch menu has changed quite a bit. It is mainly nigiri sushi, ranging from 2420 yen to 6050 yen. All menus come with chawanmushi, soup, dessert, and a drink. This time, I chose the 2420 yen lunch, limited to 10 servings. I asked to change the tamago to a different topping. I sat at the counter alone. The counter was almost full. Impressive. The toppings were akami, mackerel, yellowtail, squid, scallop, boiled shrimp, and anago. There was also a roll. The chawanmushi was very creamy. The ingredients in the chawanmushi were diverse. The miso soup had shijimi clams. Everything was delicious. Especially the yellowtail. Sparkling wine or oolong tea was included, and I chose oolong tea. The service was good, and I had a comfortable lunchtime. This place might be a hidden gem.

The work of the polite craftsmen was wonderful, and the dishes were excellent. My favorite was the grated yam with seafood. The combination of seafood and yam was irresistible, and it was a masterpiece beautifully presented in a steamed bowl. Additionally, the homemade squid salted roe was amazing. It was so smooth and perfectly seasoned, a first for me. I thought it was just salted roe, but once I tasted it, I found it to be a delicious salted roe that made me want to keep drinking. Of course, the sushi was beautifully crafted with a skillful knife, making it both visually appealing and tempting to eat. The sushi toppings such as mackerel, horse mackerel, and conger eel, which can be found in any sushi restaurant, were all wonderfully delicious, showcasing the craftsmanship of the chefs. You can tell that they put a lot of effort into their preparation. Whether it's a meal with loved ones or a leisurely drink and snack, this sushi restaurant is a great choice for both occasions.

The first Hotel in Kichijoji has changed to Excel Hotel... Kichijoji has changed in various ways and I was surprised. There is a sushi restaurant! I love sushi. I went for lunch alone right away. The restaurant is on the second floor of the hotel. There were counter seats, table seats, and private rooms inside. I asked for a counter seat and was planning to just have nigiri sushi, but they only had lunch sets with appetizers. Of course, you can choose what you like. But this time, I chose the "Hagi" set for 3630 yen. It was a lunch set with appetizers, nigiri sushi, wine, and dessert. I changed the wine to oolong tea, skipped the egg and dessert, and chose small rice portions. They also had seafood bowls and bara chirashi. Since I was at the counter this time, I went for nigiri sushi. The lean tuna and fresh mackerel were to my liking. The side dishes were also delicious, and it was a satisfying nigiri sushi lunch. The fatty tuna was... considering my current health condition. It was delicious. The minced tuna with green onions was also good. I would like to go again. They also take orders for Ehomaki (lucky direction sushi rolls) for 1500 yen each. I want to attract good luck this year, so maybe I'll try Ehomaki this year.

The atmosphere, the vibe, and the staff's service were all top-notch, just as you would expect from a hotel. The lunch menu and flavors were also really good. This place has become a definite go-to for me. The owner was friendly and made our lunchtime enjoyable.