Please note: Reservations are required; walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
Please note: Reservations are required.
Many families visiting Tokyo from overseas look forward to enjoying authentic Japanese sushi during their trip.
At the same time, parents traveling with children often contact us with concerns such as:
“My child can’t eat raw fish.”
“My child is a picky eater.”
“My child doesn’t eat sushi.”
“We want to enjoy an omakase experience, but we’re worried about what our child will be able to eat.”
These are questions we regularly receive at REONA Sushi Tokyo.
We tend to receive even more inquiries during the summer holidays, when more families travel with children.
For adults, trying authentic Edomae sushi when visiting Tokyo can be one of the highlights of their trip.
But children don’t necessarily feel the same way.
Some have never tried raw fish before. Others don’t like fish at all or are picky eaters. Some children simply don’t eat sushi.
This leaves parents wondering, “We want to enjoy an omakase experience, but what will our child eat?”
We often hear from families who want to visit REONA but are unsure whether there will be anything their children can eat.
The questions we receive also vary depending on the child’s age.
For children around five years old and younger, parents often tell us that their child has never tried raw fish or cannot eat it.
At REONA, we can offer chirashi sushi without raw fish, so we suggest this option for children who are not yet ready to eat raw fish.
For older children, we tend to receive different questions, such as:
“Should we order the Signature Course for our child?”
“Would the Kids’ Plan be a better choice?”
The best option depends on how much sushi the child can eat and what they usually eat at home.
When you live in Japan, you can choose to get food your child likes from another restaurant while the adults visit the restaurant they want to try.
But it isn’t always that simple when you’re traveling.
For families visiting Tokyo from overseas, time is limited, and there are also sightseeing and shopping plans to fit into their stay.
Parents may find themselves thinking, “We want to eat sushi, but our child won’t be able to eat anything there. Maybe we should go somewhere else.”
As a result, it can be difficult for the whole family to share the same experience.
At the same time, we don’t believe children should be pressured into eating sushi if they don’t want to.
At REONA, we value the option of letting adults enjoy an omakase course while children have food that suits their needs.
Adults are not permitted to bring their own food into the restaurant, but we do allow families to bring food from outside for their children.
One family once visited with a child who was an extremely picky eater.
The food they had brought for their child was, surprisingly, McDonald’s.
That might sound unexpected, but we see it as a perfectly valid option.
The parents wanted to enjoy authentic sushi while visiting Tokyo, but they also didn’t want to force their child to eat something they didn’t like.
In that situation, bringing food the child felt comfortable eating meant the child could enjoy their meal while the adults took their time enjoying sushi.
For us, making sure the whole family feels comfortable is more important than expecting everyone to eat the same food.
As we received more inquiries from families, we wanted to make it possible for parents to enjoy authentic sushi even when visiting with children. That is why we created the Kids’ Plan at REONA.
However, having a Kids’ Plan doesn’t mean we recommend the same option for every child.
For children who cannot eat raw fish, we may suggest chirashi sushi without raw fish.
Children who are comfortable eating sushi may be able to choose the Signature Course.
For children who don’t eat sushi or have very limited food preferences, the Kids’ Plan or bringing food from home may be better options.
What matters is not making children eat the same food as adults.
We believe the important thing is to find an option that works best for each family, without putting unnecessary pressure on anyone.
Many families contact us before making a reservation to ask questions such as, “Our child is this age. Which option would you recommend?”
In these cases, we ask about the child’s age and what they can eat, then explain which options may be suitable for their family.
Some parents may feel that visiting a high-end sushi restaurant with children is a little daunting.
“What if my child gets bored halfway through the meal?”
“What if they don’t eat the sushi?”
“What if we can’t enjoy our meal at a relaxed pace?”
These are completely understandable concerns.
However, we have received lovely feedback not only about the children’s experiences at REONA, but also from their parents.
Guests have told us that their children were delighted, that the adults could enjoy sushi with peace of mind, that they were glad the whole family could visit together, and that their child tried sushi for the first time.
One review shared how much a child enjoyed the experience:
“My 13-year old son came out buzzing with excitement and I know it’s an experience he’ll never forget.”
Another review described how having a playroom for the children allowed the parents to enjoy their meal at a relaxed pace:
“The kids were completely absorbed in the playroom, and that gave us the rare gift of enjoying an exceptional sushi meal without rushing a single bite.”
We have also heard from a family who enjoyed the omakase experience together:
“Absolutely amazing and perfect sushi omakase experience for my family, with children ages 5-15.”
Another guest highlighted how the playroom made visiting with children more comfortable:
“They have a special play room for young children, so you can feel quite comfortable coming to this experience with a family.”
When we receive feedback like this, it reminds us that the approach we value, helping the whole family enjoy their time without unnecessary pressure, can make a real difference to families visiting us.
If you have traveled all the way to Japan, we believe adults should be able to enjoy the experiences they are looking forward to, and children should be able to enjoy the experience in their own way, too.
Everyone doesn’t have to eat the same thing to share a wonderful experience in the same place.
If you would love to try authentic Edomae sushi or enjoy a Tokyo omakase experience but are worried about what your child will eat, we encourage you to contact us before giving up on the idea of enjoying sushi together as a family.
At REONA Sushi Tokyo, we do our best to suggest suitable options based on your child’s age and what they can eat.
We hope to help families enjoy a sushi experience in Tokyo where neither the adults nor the children feel they have to miss out.