Sushi no Musashi Kyoto Station Review: Affordable Conveyor Belt Sushi

Sushi no Musashi is a casual conveyor belt sushi restaurant inside Kyoto Station near the Hachijo Exit. I had previously eaten at its Sanjo location, and during my November 2018 trip, I visited the Kyoto Station branch to see whether it offered the same combination of affordable sushi and the freedom to choose whatever looked good from the conveyor belt.

Sushi no Musashi was founded in Kyoto in 1977. Its Kyoto Station restaurant is located along ASTY Road, making it a convenient option before or after a train journey.

During my visit, I waited about 30 minutes for a counter seat and tried 12 different sushi plates. Some were excellent, especially the broiled eel, scallops, medium fatty bluefin tuna, jumbo shrimp, and tuna with green onions. Others were bland, fishy, or less fresh than I had hoped.

I would not call Sushi no Musashi the best sushi in Kyoto, but that is not really why you come here. It is a convenient and affordable choice for a quick, casual sushi meal at Kyoto Station.

Waiting in Line at Sushi no Musashi Kyoto Station

Sushi no Musashi was easy to spot along ASTY Road at Kyoto Station. During my November 2018 visit, there was a line outside the restaurant.

I joined the line and waited about 30 minutes before a seat at the counter became available. The wait was manageable, especially compared with some of the much longer waits I had heard about.

For anyone who did not want to wait for a seat, Sushi no Musashi also offered takeout sushi during my visit.

The selection included nigiri, makizushi, and gunkan-maki, also known as battleship sushi. Takeout options started at 315 yen during my November 2018 visit.

Sushi no Musashi had a bright, open interior. At the center of the restaurant, sushi chefs dressed in white coats and hats prepared plate after plate of sushi.

All of the seating was arranged around a large rectangular counter overlooking the chefs and conveyor belt.

As with other conveyor belt sushi restaurants, I could either choose plates as they passed by or order sushi directly from the staff.

When I wanted something freshly prepared, I let a staff member know what I wanted. The order was passed to the chefs, and one of them handed the finished plate to me a few minutes later.

Sushi no Musashi Menu and Prices

I returned to Sushi no Musashi Kyoto Station in November 2024 and photographed the updated menu, although I did not eat there during that visit.

The menu was listed in English and Japanese, and the photos made the different options easy to identify.

The plate signs I photographed in November 2024 displayed seven pre-tax prices: 146, 263, 364, 463, 634, 764, and 888 yen. Tax-included prices were also shown.

When I checked the official Sushi no Musashi menu in July 2026, it still listed those same seven pre-tax price levels. The restaurant now serves all sushi without wasabi, with wasabi available at the table.

Menu and Prices During My November 2018 Visit

When I ate at Sushi no Musashi in November 2018, I could either choose plates from the conveyor belt or order directly from the sushi chefs. To order, I only needed to get a staff member’s attention and point to what I wanted on the menu.

Unfortunately, several options were unavailable during my meal. These items were marked with a red dot on the menu.

The pricing system at Sushi no Musashi was much simpler at the time. There were three plate designs but only two prices.

The blue plate with a white center cost 146 yen and included wasabi. The rainbow plate with a white center also cost 146 yen but came without wasabi. The solid blue plate cost 346 yen.

That plate system was specific to my 2018 visit and is no longer current.

The counter had everything I needed, including soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, ponzu sauce, sliced ginger, green tea packets, and wasabi. The bottle of wasabi was especially large.

The sliced ginger was quite spicy, so I learned to use it sparingly.

Raw Shrimp (Namaebi)

First up was the Raw Shrimp (Namaebi).

Although thin, the shrimp had a meaty texture and a good bite. It was not stringy, but it was chewier than I expected.

The flavor was less impressive. It was not sweet like amaebi and had a strong, almost harsh briny taste.

It was not bad, but it was not one of my favorites.

Broiled Eel (Aburi Unagi)

The Broiled Eel (Aburi Unagi) was one of my favorite plates.

The eel had a sweet and salty flavor, while the broiling added a smoky aroma and brought out its rich, savory taste.

Since it was cooked through, the eel had a meaty, flaky texture. It was also extremely tender and nearly melted in my mouth.

Although the plate included only one piece, I would highly recommend the broiled eel.

Scallops (Kaibashira)

Next up was the Scallops (Kaibashira), one of my favorite types of sushi.

Although they were not as thick as I expected, the scallops had a satisfying, meaty texture. They were also buttery and tender enough to melt in my mouth.

The flavor was even better. The scallops tasted fresh and slightly salty, with a hint of sweetness.

Medium Fatty Bluefin Tuna (Hon-Maguro Chu-Toro)

Of all the sushi I tried at Sushi no Musashi, none looked better than the Medium Fatty Bluefin Tuna (Hon-Maguro Chu-Toro). Each piece had a beautiful deep ruby-red color.

The menu also listed a fattier bluefin tuna option, the Hon-Maguro Otoro, but unfortunately it was sold out.

The chu-toro tasted as good as it looked. It had the same buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture as the scallops, along with a fresh and slightly briny flavor.

There was nothing complicated about it. The quality of the tuna was allowed to speak for itself.

The medium fatty bluefin tuna was one of my favorite plates and well worth the higher price. I could have eaten it every day, and I only wished the otoro had also been available.

Salmon Roe (Ikura)

The Salmon Roe (Ikura) was served as gunkan-maki, also known as battleship sushi. A strip of seaweed was wrapped around the rice and topped with salmon roe.

Each bite delivered a burst of briny, salty flavor. The roe was tasty, although the eggs did not have the firm pop I usually enjoy.

The sliced cucumber underneath added a much-needed fresh and crunchy texture. In contrast, the seaweed was softer than I expected and lacked that light, crispy bite.

Blowfish (Fugu)

When I saw Blowfish (Fugu) on the conveyor belt, I knew I had to try it.

Fugu is a Japanese delicacy that can be dangerous if its toxic parts are not removed correctly. Its preparation is strictly regulated. In Kyoto Prefecture, anyone who processes fugu must be licensed after passing written, identification, and practical examinations designed to test whether they can identify species and safely remove toxic parts.

The texture was chewy and firm, with more resistance than most of the other fish I tried. However, it was not stringy or fatty.

Unfortunately, the flavor was disappointing. The ginger and sliced green onions added some flavor and texture, but the blowfish itself was bland and seemed almost waterlogged. It also lacked wasabi, so there was little heat to make it more interesting.

Even though the flavor was disappointing, I was glad I tried fugu once.

Yellowtail (Hamachi)

I had high expectations for the Yellowtail (Hamachi), but it was forgettable.

The yellowtail tasted bland and somewhat salty, although the wasabi added a welcome kick of heat and flavor.

The fish was not chewy or stringy, but it also lacked the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture I had hoped for. Each piece had a firm bite instead.

With so many more flavorful options available, I would pass on the yellowtail next time.

Original Egg (Tamago)

The bright yellow Original Egg (Tamago) was hard to miss. Tamago is not something I always order, but it was a nice break from the seafood.

The egg was different from a typical omelet made at home. It had a sweet and salty flavor, possibly from soy sauce or other seasonings.

The piece was massive. It was dense and substantial while still remaining surprisingly fluffy.

Fatty Salmon (Toro Salmon)

The Fatty Salmon (Toro Salmon) caught my attention as it made its way around the conveyor belt.

Although the plate included only one piece, the slice of salmon was quite large. There was a strip of pale skin or connective tissue left along one side, which I expected to be chewy, but it was not an issue.

The salmon had a firm bite, although I would have preferred it to be more tender and buttery.

Its flavor was somewhat fishy and salty, making it one of my less memorable plates.

Roast Fatty Salmon (Yaki Salmon Harasu)

After trying the fatty salmon, I picked up a similar option from the conveyor belt, the Roast Fatty Salmon (Yaki Salmon Harasu).

Despite its name, the salmon did not appear roasted or seared. I was hoping for a smoky, savory flavor, but it was missing.

The fish tasted somewhat fishy and bland rather than fresh. It also came without wasabi, leaving the ginger as the only ingredient that added much flavor.

Although the salmon was not chewy, it lacked the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture I usually enjoy with fatty salmon.

Jumbo Shrimp (Ebi)

The Jumbo Shrimp (Ebi) looked beautiful, with two large pieces of bright shrimp.

The shrimp was not especially tender or delicate, but I enjoyed its meaty texture. I believe it was steamed, giving each bite a satisfying chew without being stringy.

It had a fresh, salty flavor with a hint of sweetness.

Although I prefer sweet shrimp, I thought the jumbo shrimp was a great value.

Tuna with Green Onions (Negitoro)

Just when I thought I was full, I saw the Tuna with Green Onions (Negitoro) pass by on the conveyor belt. It looked too good to pass up.

This gunkan-maki was made with rice topped with minced tuna and green onions, then wrapped in seaweed.

The minced tuna was delicious, with a fresh, slightly salty flavor and a smooth, creamy texture. The green onions added a pleasant crunch, and I thought there may have been some ginger mixed in as well.

As with the salmon roe, the weak point was the seaweed. The nori was softer than I would have liked and could have been much crispier.

Service

Although my interaction with the staff was limited, the servers were friendly and attentive whenever I needed something.

Freshly prepared sushi arrived quickly, as did the beers I ordered throughout the meal.

Conclusion

For the price, I would recommend Sushi no Musashi, especially if you want a quick and casual meal inside Kyoto Station.

I would not consider it the best sushi in Kyoto, and the quality varied from plate to plate. Still, several dishes were excellent for the price, and the conveyor belt made it easy to eat as little or as much as I wanted without spending too much.

As someone who enjoys conveyor belt sushi, I had a good time at Sushi no Musashi. I would return for the convenience and value, but anyone looking for a quieter or more traditional sushi experience may want to eat elsewhere.

Pros

• Affordable conveyor belt sushi inside Kyoto Station
• Several plates were excellent for the price
• Freshly prepared orders arrived quickly

Cons

• Quality varied between plates
• I waited about 30 minutes for a seat
• Several menu items were unavailable during my visit

Last Updated on July 19, 2026