New Year Dining 2022

Finding somewhere good to eat out over the New Year Holiday in Japan can be a challenge with most independent and quality restaurants closed until 5th or 4th January 2022.  That, inevitably, means some compromise if you want to dine out.  Hotels are open, of course, if you don't mind paying a premium, though the finest hotel restaurants may still be closed.  Most department stores and commercial buildings are closed on 1st January but re-open on 2nd.  Roppongi Hills and its restaurants are open on 1st Jan as usual.  Most restaurants inside Tokyo Station are open on 1st Jan: see here and here for full details (Japanese only).  All Atre operations are closed on 1st Jan.  Most Ecute facilities are open, with the exception of Kanda Manseibashi / 'Maach'.

Toyosu Market is closed on 31st Dec and re-opens on 5th Jan so most restaurants will not be able to get fresh fish until then but even at the re-opening, the usual complement of boats won't necessarily have all landed by then.  Other suppliers around Japan will also close for the New Year so restaurants will not be able to get their other usual produce.  Not all fish a restaurant serves will have been bought that day.  Most sushi restaurants age some fish.  Much of the wholesale maguro that is sold is sold frozen.  If you've ever eaten ikura in the off-season it will have been frozen.  But shellfish and oily fish need to be as fresh as possible.  So, all considered, if you do find somewhere open over the New Year, particularly when it comes to fish, it's quite likely the restaurant won't be at its best.  So bear this in mind when considering a booking.

With that said, here, in approximate order of luxury, are details of decent restaurants that are open over the holiday this year.

Haramasa

Lyla

Gracia is closed but Sant Pau is open from 2nd Jan.

Ushigoro

Maison Marunouchi

Caveman
Open 1/1-/1/2
Closed 1/3-1-6

Wolfgang's Steakhouse

Morton's The Steakhouse
(Closed 1st Jan)

Ivy Place

PST Roppongi

PST Higashi-Azabu
(Dinner only)

Smokehouse
(Closed 1st Jan)

Kimura Don
(Closed 1st Jan)

Kintan
All branches open from 2nd Jan.  Omotesando and Harajuku branches open on 1st Jan.

Arabikidaze
Closed 12/30-31
Lunch only 1/1-1/3

Malins
(Closed 1st Jan)

Cityshop
(Shibuya Branch closed)

Crisp Salad Works
All branches except Roppongi Hills closed on 1st Jan
Some other branches open from 2nd Jan
See here for details
Buy one get one free on salads when you use the Crisp App and the promotion code 'love-shogatsu' until 12/30!

Pariya
Aoyama, Toranomon branches closed
Nihombashi, Roppongi, Shibuya (T/O only) branches open from 2/2

Tarekatsu
From 3rd Jan

Rokurinsha
Solamachi, Tokyo Station, Osaki branches open
Haneda branch closed
Ueno branch closed New Year's Day
See here for details

Afuri Ramen
All branches except Roppongi Hills closed on 1st Jan
Other branches open from 2nd Jan
See here for calendar

Akemashite omedetou gozimasu!