Numazuko Shinjuku Tokyo Review: Conveyor Belt Sushi

Kaiten Sushi Numazuko Shinjuku Main Store (Honten), located just outside the east exit of Tokyo’s JR Shinjuku Station, is a popular conveyor belt sushi restaurant. While this restaurant might not be as cheap as nearby Uobei Sushi, the quality of the seafood makes it popular with travelers.

If you are looking for more information about Tokyo and Japan, I highly recommend you pick up a guidebook such as Lonely Planet Best of Tokyo 2020.

Interior

The interior of Numazuko Shinjuku Main Store was basic but bright. At the center of the restaurant, chefs dressed in white were preparing custom ordered plates of sushi.

Wrapping around the kitchen was a rectangular counter. The conveyor belt, with plates rotating clockwise around the restaurant, followed the counter.

What I loved about Numazuko Shinjuku was how casual it was. Nothing too fancy. It was quiet with just the sound of the chefs preparing food. The focus was on the quality of the food over the ambiance of the restaurant.

Numazuko Shinjuku Main Store Menu

The menu at Numazuko Shinjuku Main Store had all your traditional sushi choices found in sushi joints across Japan. There were also some more unusual options including raw young sardines.

I noticed that many items found on the menu were not found on the conveyor belt. In this situation, if you can’t find your desired choice, just ask one of the servers standing around to put in a special order with the chefs. After a few minutes, your freshly prepared dish will be ready and placed in front of you.

Plates at Numazuko Shinjuku vary in price based on the color of each plate. Charts were posted all around the restaurant so you can easily determine the cost of each selection.

Signs in both Japanese and English, along with a photo, were placed at the front of each set of plates on the conveyor belt. This made deciding what to select much easier, especially for those who do not speak Japanese.

Scallops

First up were the Scallops. Scallops are at the top of my list of favorite types of sushi to order while in Japan. Each meaty scallop was wonderfully fresh with just a hint of sweetness and saltiness, balanced by a touch of wasabi. These scallops were tender like butter and just melted in my mouth.

Yellowtail

The color of the Yellowtail was beautiful. The large pieces were meaty without any stringy or fatty bits. It was tender with a nice bite and a hint of salty flavors.

Raw Bonito

The Raw Bonito had a dark ruby red color and a strong, briny flavor. Topping the fish were green onions and grated ginger, which kept the stronger flavors in check and added some texture to each bite.

Seared Salmon

The Seared Salmon was flaky and tender. It was cooked lightly, seared only on one side to add a smoky charred flavor. It was topped with sliced white onions, green onions, and a drizzle of mayonnaise.

Octopus

The Octopus was my least favorite item. While fresh, it was much too chewy for my liking. It took quite a bit of effort to finish even one piece.

Soy Marinated Tuna

The Soy Marinated Tuna was soft and tender. The marinade added a salty, sweet, umami component that I really enjoyed. It was topped with sesame seeds and green onions for extra texture.

Shrimp

The Shrimp was quite basic. While the pieces were thick, they were a bit dry, likely from spending too much time on the conveyor belt.

Eel

The Eel was fully cooked but remained moist and flaky. It was seared until charred on the outside, giving it a smoky flavor that paired perfectly with the drizzled salty-sweet sauce.

Egg

I finished off my meal with the Egg (tamago). It was thick, layered like a cake, and had a delicious salty-sweet flavor.

Last Updated on October 28, 2026