Welcome to Sushi Hana

“ The first question you might be asking is, how did I come to eating at Hana. Well... I decided about a year ago that I wanted to attend an event in Japan. My best friend immediately accepted my invitation to join me and make an adventure of it. The event is a multi-day affair so we have parts of our day free to explore the sights, sounds, and tastes of Japan. Although I have been here before, this is his first trip. On a free day, we decided to take a short ride on the Shinkansen so that we could tick that box. The only question was North or South. We settled on north and picked the first stop of Omiya. We planned to visit a shrine and have lunch, but we didn't realize that the roundtrip to the shrine would be about 3 hours, and we needed to be back in Tokyo by late afternoon. No time for the shrine. We had also planned to have wagyu lunch, but the places we had selected did not open until 5PM. No wagyu. We had seen Hana inside the SOGO Center and since Mike had never had sushi we decided to give it a try. We looked over the lunch menu, which had approximately 6 different set menus, and chose one that offered a broad selection. Although it was lunchtime our wait was not long. The waiter welcomed us and seated us at the sushi counter. The decor is pretty much what you might expect for a non-fastfood restaurant in a shopping mall. The lighting is warm and matched to the soft tones of the paneling on walls and wooden tables and counter. There was a worn area on the counter where I was seated. Is this important? Probably not, but it is important for framing. There were two sushi chefs busily preparing the assorted dishes for the patrons. It felt like an older crowd. I mean old by American standards, but this did not impact the atmosphere. The staff were kind, accommodating, and friendly to us... patiently answering our many questions and helping us get sorted Everything still felt light and welcoming. Although it was noonish, we did have plum wine with our set meal. The food was promptly delivered to us. Visually, everything was consistent with what I have had at other sushi restaurants around the world. The thing that struck me most was the way in which the flavors of the rice, fish, wasabi, and soy sauce created a depth that is atypical for most American food. The taste was clean and distinct for each piece of nigiri. I appreciated that. I suppose it is a reminder that eating is much more than just getting our bellies full. It is about engaging our minds and other senses while we take in our food. Slowing life down to appreciate the essence of what enables us to live. The miso soup was decent. The chawanmushi was silky and flavorful. Mike leaned over to me and said I'm a convert. His first sushi experience was transformative. Thank you Hana for providing a memorable gastronomic experience for my friend in an stress-free setting. ”

“ Very good sushi. This is on the 9th floor of Sogo Department store. There are also many other restaurants. ”

“ We arrived just shortly after 3:30AM, and yes, there was already a line forming. There's a small group that lines up right in front of the restaurant; the rest wraps around the corner, so don't be fooled if you only see the small crowd standing in front. As the minutes passed, the line behind us grew longer and longer, and any regret I had for waking up so early quickly disappeared. We passed the time however we could (mainly with our phones and sleeping while standing). There are also vending machines one alley over in case you get thirsty or need a pick-me-up. I opted to not get anything because I have a terribly small bladder and knew I would need a restroom instantly (which is also located down the alley that Sushi Dai is in, according to signs I saw; I, surprisingly, didn't have a need to use them, so I can't say for sure if they were open or how clean they were). ”