Hakuun

The story

Hakuun – Michelin-Starred Japanese Restaurant in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo

Hakuun

In the quiet streets of Minami Aoyama, Tokyo, Hakuun offers a Japanese dining experience that is both grounded and free. The restaurant’s name comes from a Zen phrase: “Seizan moto fudo, hakuun onozukara kyorai su” — the blue mountain stands still, while white clouds come and go of their own accord. The mountain represents the unwavering tradition of Japanese cuisine, and the clouds, a spirit of flexible creativity. By adding the character for “person” to “white cloud,” the name Hakuun was born.

Chef Shingo Sakamoto opened Hakuun in January 2021, after graduating from Tsuji Culinary Institute in 2004 and honing his skills at Japanese restaurants in Tokyo. His cooking is a direct expression of this philosophy: a deep respect for ingredients, temperature, aroma, and vessel, all presented with a sense of ease.

The restaurant seats eight at the counter and five in a private counter room, allowing for an intimate, focused meal. Every detail — from the feel of the lacquerware to the scent of the broth — is considered. Hakuun’s approach to Japanese cuisine earned it two Michelin stars, a recognition of its “excellent cooking” and the quiet mastery behind each course. Here, the food is not a performance but a conversation between tradition and the present.