One of the best eating experiences you can have in Tokyo is kaiseki, a traditional, seasonal, multi-course Japanese meal. But the cost (usually from around ¥10,000 for lunch at a good restaurant) is often enough to put off even the most dedicated of foodies out there. As we are wont to do, we’ve scouted around for a good deal so that you can sample this exquisite cuisine in a beautiful setting without forking out too much cash.
At Ko-No-Hana, which is one of the restaurants inside Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel, you can enjoy a mini kaiseki lunch for ¥6,000 (their full dinner course is ¥9,500). And don’t be put off by the word ‘mini’ – there are still seven courses involved and plenty of rich, satisfying ingredients to fill you up. Each course is presented with such precise attention to detail that it’s almost a shame to disturb the perfectly arranged bite-sized bundles. But when you do, you’ll marvel at how the chef has achieved a dish that is as flavourful as it is pretty.
The restaurant is fairly formal but they welcome more casual diners to join them for a 'taste of Japan'. You can request a private room, take up a counter seat and watch the chef at work, or choose one of the tables that look out onto the Japanese garden. The menu changes monthly, giving you a good excuse to go back several times, and if you have an extra ¥1,000 to spare, be sure to pair your meal with the Ko-No-Hana original sake.