Michelin Guide 2012 in 3 minutes

The latest edition of Michelin's Tokyo guide, which now stretches to Yokohama and Shonan, was unveiled at a launch party and press conference on November 29. It's been five years since the French food bible first arrived in Japan, drawing a mixed response from local gourmands who chafed at the notion of having foreigners determine which of their grub was superiror. They needn't have worried about Michelin skimping on the praise, however: this is the first year in which Japan has surpassed France itself for the total number of three-starred restaurants, with 17 in the Tokyo area and another 15 in Kansai (covered in the recently released Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka Kobe Nara 2012).

This year's guide sees Roppongi temple of gastronomy Ryugin promoted from two to three stars, while Ginza's Sushi Yoshitake and Shonan's Koan make their debuts in the coveted top spot. As has become the norm, the highest rated restaurants tend to specialise in French and Japanese cuisine, although one notable addition is Harajuku's Moranbong, which becomes the first Korean restaurant ever to be awarded two stars by Michelin. A further two Korean joints, Kagurazaka's Matsunomi and Odaiba's Sennohana, earn one star each, though none of the establishments in Shin-Okubo have been deemed worthy of inclusion.

While its reputation for promoting ludicrously expensive eats is well-earned, Michelin hasn't neglected the more budget-conscious diner. The Michelin Guide Tokyo Yokohama Shonan 2012 continues last year's policy of using a coin symbol to designate places where you can eat lunch and/or dinner for under ¥5,000, and over 40% of the restaurants qualified.

Here's the complete list of restaurants that have been awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide Tokyo Yokohama Shonan 2012:

Sushi Araki
Japanese Azabu Yukimura
Modern Japanese Esaki
Japanese Hamadaya
Japanese Ishikawa
Modern French Joël Robuchon
Japanese Kanda
Japanese Koan NEW!
Japanese Koju
Modern French Quintessence
Modern Japanese Ryugin NEW!
Tempura 7chome Kyoboshi
Sushi Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten
Sushi Sushi Mizutani
Sushi Sushi Saito
Sushi Sushi Yoshitake NEW!
Fugu Usukifugu Yamadaya

Michelin Guide Tokyo Yokohama Shonan 2012 is available in book shops nationwide from Dec 2. The Japanese edition costs ¥2,520, while the price of the English edition varies depending on the shop