Usukifugu Yamada-ya

The Tokyo branch of Ryotei Yamadaya (a traditional Japanese restaurant that's been serving pufferfish to customers in Usuki, Oita Prefecture, since the Meiji era), Usukifugu Yamada-ya can be found hidden away below a residential apartment block located down an alleyway a short walk from the Nishi-Azabu intersection. They offer seasonal cuisine, including Shiroshita Karei (righteye flounders from Shiroshita Kaigan in Oita) during May and June, and stonefish and pike eel in July and August. The restaurant has an à la carte menu; however, if you’re looking for a rare treat (and have about three hours to spare to enjoy it all), opt for a set course to enjoy a range of different fugu (pufferfish) dishes, including fugusashi (pufferfish sashimi), karaage (deep-fried) and fuguchiri-zousui (a hot-pot meal of pufferfish, vegetables and rice).