Tengu Sushi — Restaurant in Nozawaonsen

Overpriced and Underwhelming – Not True Fine Dining

This restaurant presents itself as a fine dining experience, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite live up to the standard. While the setting is traditional yet modern, and we were warmly greeted and seated, the overall experience felt lacking given the premium pricing.

The space is intimate, which can be a plus or minus depending on your company and the other guests. The kitchen is run by one main chef with two assistants, and while it’s interesting to watch the sashimi chef prepare some dishes, it was disappointing to see many pieces pre-cut and wrapped in cling film. At this price point, I expect the sashimi to be freshly sliced to order, as is standard in top-tier sushi establishments. Additionally, some of the fish didn’t feel as fresh as it should, which was concerning.

The Wagyu beef was another letdown, unexpectedly chewy rather than melt-in-your-mouth tender, which is what you’d expect from high-quality Wagyu.

Service flow was also inconsistent—the meal started painfully slow, but towards the end, there was a mad rush to serve all dishes quickly, likely to prepare for the next seating. This took away from the relaxed, refined experience fine dining should offer.

I also opted for the sake pairing and an additional glass of wine, but was disappointed to find that both the champagne and wine were under-poured compared to industry standards, making it poor value for money.

While the ambiance and initial welcome were pleasant, the execution, service flow, and value for money didn’t justify the fine dining price tag....

Way too expensive and really bad service.

We were the only customers seated at a table which means that although we paid the full price of ¥10,000, we were not able to have the full experience of seeing the chef prepare the meals. The ingredients were of great quality but the taste was bland and the whole menu very unimaginative. On top of this, the service was just bad even for a regularly priced restaurant. The lady in the geisha outfit told us off for arriving 15mins early although our table was available. The dishes were cleared out at different times for each of us (we were a group of 3) and the some of our dishes were brought out too early and waited on the water serving table while we were still eating the previous dish. The dishes were not served in the order of the menu and one of the deserts wad not served at all but we were not given an explanation until we asked for it. The other desert had changed from lemon to strawberry and was served without prior explanation for the change. Finally, at the end of the dinner she did not ask for feedback as is common at restaurants who charge this much but instead asked us ‘whats your favourite dish’!! At least our dinner ended in laughter from the audacity!

All in all a really expensive bad experience. Would never go again and do not recommend. It was our last meal in Nozawaonsen and it was a shame that it ruined the...

A Culinary Masterpiece. Tengu Sushi is an absolute must-visit for any food enthusiast.

Exceptional Service: The service is impeccable, attentive, and discreet. Culinary Excellence: The food is exquisite, with each dish showcasing the chef's incredible skill and creativity. Beautifully Designed Omakase: The omakase menu is a true culinary journey, offering a delightful selection of high-quality sushi and other delicacies. High-end Ambiance: The restaurant itself is beautifully designed and provides a refined dining experience. More expensive than most options in Nozawa Onsen, but I believe the menus are well priced considering the quality. The most expensive omakaze set is ¥18,000 and the second most expensive set is ¥15,000 + additional for sake pairing and extras.

Overall: Tengu Sushi is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in town. The combination of exceptional food, impeccable service, and elegant ambiance makes it a truly memorable dining experience. The pictures truly do speak...