Genki Sushi: Affordable Sushi Train in Shibuya (Closed)

Genki Sushi, located near Shibuya Station in the heart of Center Gai, was one of my favorite affordable sushi trains in Tokyo. With multiple branches across Japan and a few international locations, Genki Sushi became popular with both locals and visitors for its cheap sushi, numerous menu choices, and its unique and entertaining sushi train delivery system.

Arrival

As Genki Sushi (and now Uobei) is extremely popular with both locals and international visitors, you can usually expect a small wait. This is especially true during weekends and dinner.

Turnover here is high, so the wait is rarely long. If you don’t want to wait, I recommend visiting during off-peak hours when you can typically walk right in and get a seat.

After waiting only a few minutes, my seat was ready and I walked to the front of the line. A server handed me a small black clipboard. Listed on this clipboard was a table number along with a bar code at the bottom.

I was then walked over by a worker to my seat at the counter. A number at my seat matched the number on the clipboard I was holding.

Interior

The interior of the casual restaurant was plain but bright. All the ceilings and walls were white except for one brown on the left which proudly displayed the Genki Sushi name and logo. A vibrant pink glow was coming from the lights at each seat.

While there were a few tables in the center of the dining room, almost all the seats in the house were at the counter. The counter wrapped around the entire restaurant. At the center were a few booths for small groups of three or more.

Genki Sushi Menu

At each seat was a tablet with an interactive touchscreen menu used to place orders. There were eight sections of the menu: Recommended Sushi, Nigiri Sushi, Gunkan-Maki (Battleship Rolls), Sushi Rolls/Inari, Side Menu, Desserts, Alcohol, and Soft Drinks. Only three plates could be ordered at the same time.

Don’t speak Japanese? No problem. The language could be changed to English and other languages including Korean and Chinese.

Genki Sushi Train

Genki Sushi was not your traditional conveyor belt style sushi restaurant. Instead of a slow conveyor belt, Genki Sushi used an almost futuristic idea to deliver food directly to you at lightning speeds. They used a sushi train.

Hear a bell? That’s the sound of the sushi train about to arrive at your seat. Only minutes after placing my order through the interactive touchscreen menu, my sushi arrived on a track, straight from the kitchen directly to my seat.

Scallops

I always seem to order Scallops first, as they are one of my favorite sushi. They did not disappoint. These scallops were so tender and buttery soft, exactly how they should be. Each meaty bite just melted in my mouth without any fatty or stringy bits.

Tuna

I believe that Tuna is the most popular item ordered at Genki Sushi. I never have sushi without ordering tuna. The tuna served here was basic but the pieces looked beautiful and fresh with a stunning deep ruby-red color.

The meat was tender except for a few bits of fat running right through the middle of each piece. This made the tuna somewhat stringy and difficult to eat.

Salmon with Green Onion & Chili Oil

Genki Sushi was well known for their Salmon with Green Onion & Chili Oil. Out of all the sushi I ordered, this plate was by far the most beautiful.

What made this piece of sushi so special were the green onions and chili oil topping the salmon. The thinly sliced green onions were fresh and aromatic, while the rich chili oil added a nice smoky, salty flavor to each bite.

Shrimp Tempura Roll

Next up was the Shrimp Tempura Roll. The breading of the shrimp was thin and crispy. The sesame seeds, coating every inch of the rice, added an earthy flavor along with a crunchy bite. The shrimp was juicy and fresh with a rich mayonnaise sauce.

Sea Urchin (Uni)

Luckily at Genki Sushi, you could try Sea Urchin without breaking the bank. Unfortunately, the flavor here was much too harsh for my liking, with a distinct iodine flavor, and the texture was gritty instead of creamy.

Sweet Shrimp

Sweet Shrimp is another one of my favorites. Each piece was fresh with a balanced salty, sweet flavor and a delicate, soft bite. A quick dip in soy sauce and wasabi enhanced the natural flavors of the shrimp.

Fried Oysters

The Fried Oysters arrived with three large pieces, a tartar dipping sauce, and a wedge of lemon. The panko breading was wonderfully crunchy, the perfect texture to complement the soft oyster underneath.

Service

The servers seemed friendly, though interaction was minimal since I ordered everything through the tablet. All the orders, other than drinks, arrived quickly by track. This made Genki Sushi great for those times you just want a quick, easy meal.

Conclusion

Is Genki Sushi the best sushi in Tokyo? Of course not. But if you wanted to try a variety of budget-friendly plates in a casual, fun environment, Genki Sushi was a great choice.

Most of the food was delicious and, much like the conveyor belt sushi in Shinjuku, it was very easy on the wallet.

While this specific location is now closed, I suggest checking out the nearly identical experience at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka just down the street.

​

Pros

• Affordable
• Good quality sushi for the price
• The futuristic sushi train was a great experience
• Accepted credit cards

Cons

• Usually a wait during busy lunch and dinner hours
• Some dishes hit or miss on quality
• Not a traditional Japanese sushi experience

Last Updated on February 4, 2026