SushiMap

How We Score

Every restaurant on SushiMap is evaluated across 6 axes, totaling 100 points. We call this the FitScore — it measures how well a shop fits our philosophy of "local advantage, intimate counter, honest craft."

100

Total Points

A B C D E F

A. Local Advantage

30 pts

How much of the neta comes from local ports and nearby seas? Direct relationships with local fishermen and markets score highest. A sushi shop in Toyama using Toyama Bay fish earns more than one importing from Tsukiji.

30/100

B. Intimate Counter

20 pts

6-10 counter seats is ideal. 11-14 is acceptable with deductions. 15+ seats significantly reduces the score. Single seating (no rotation) scores highest; double is acceptable; triple or more incurs heavy penalties.

20/100

C. Price Sweet Spot

20 pts

The sweet spot is ¥22,000-27,000 (tax included) for dinner omakase. This is not about cheapness — it is about the zone where quality, generosity, and value align. Below ¥15,000 or approaching ¥30,000 gets lower marks, though composition and satisfaction can adjust scores.

20/100

D. Honest Craft

15 pts

Proper knife work, aging (shime, kobujime), careful nikiri application, and a high nigiri ratio. Multi-course extravaganzas that bury the sushi under appetizers lose points. We want sushi-forward omakase.

15/100

E. Photo Friendly

10 pts

Can you photograph your food without tension? "Photos welcome" scores highest. "Please ask first" is fine. Strict no-photo policies reduce the score — not because photography is a right, but because it signals the overall atmosphere.

10/100

F. Calm Atmosphere

5 pts

Is the focus on eating rather than entertaining? Corporate entertainment crowds, Instagram showmanship, and excessive theatrical presentations lose points. Quiet concentration on the food is what we value.

5/100

GTrust — Google Reliability Score

What It Is

A Bayesian-adjusted reliability score (0-10) derived from Google Maps ratings and review counts. It corrects for shops with very few reviews and provides a reliability check — not a quality judgment.

How It Affects Ranking

GTrust only acts as a tiebreaker when two restaurants are within 4 FitScore points of each other. It never overrides a significant FitScore gap. Think of it as a secondary signal, not a primary one.

The Formula

GTrust = (C × m + R × v) / (m + v)

Where R = Google rating, v = review count, C = global mean rating (prior), and m = minimum reviews for reliability. This is a standard Bayesian average that pulls low-review-count shops toward the mean.

What We Don't Do

Rank "The Best"

We help you find sushi that fits your trip, not a single #1.

Inflate for Advertisers

Zero conflict of interest. Affiliate links never touch scores.

Fake Visits

Unvisited shops are always labeled "Database Recommended."

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FitScore the same as a quality ranking?
No. FitScore measures how well a restaurant fits our philosophy of "local advantage, intimate counter, honest craft." A lower-scoring restaurant might still serve excellent sushi — it simply may not align with the specific criteria we prioritize, such as local sourcing or small counter seating.
Why is Local Advantage weighted so heavily at 30 points?
We believe proximity to source is the single biggest differentiator for regional sushi. A shop in Toyama using Toyama Bay fish has an inherent advantage over one relying entirely on Tsukiji/Toyosu supply chains. This is what makes traveling beyond Tokyo worthwhile for sushi.
Do you visit every restaurant you score?
No. Restaurants are labeled either "Scout Verified" (scored from primary scouting data with cross-referenced sources) or "Database Recommended" (scored from publicly available data). We never claim to have visited a shop we have not.
Can a restaurant pay to improve its score?
Absolutely not. Our scoring is independent of any commercial relationship. We earn revenue through affiliate booking links, but this never influences scores. Zero conflict of interest is non-negotiable.
What is GTrust and how does it affect ranking?
GTrust is a Bayesian-adjusted reliability score (0-10) derived from Google Maps ratings and review counts. It corrects for shops with very few reviews. GTrust only acts as a tiebreaker when two restaurants are within 4 FitScore points of each other — it never overrides a significant FitScore gap.
How often are scores updated?
Scores are updated whenever new scouting data becomes available. Price changes, seating changes, and policy updates (e.g., photography rules) are incorporated as we learn about them. Major re-scoring happens during dedicated scouting rounds for each prefecture.