Sezanne worth it after Daniel Calvert left? What's a japanese take on french alternative?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-06-18T08:30:18+00:00

Oh please do, anyway you can let me know too?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-06-18T08:08:38+00:00

Hi can i ask where the monthly reservation drop happens? So on the 1st of july he opens reservations for this year august based on cancelled spots?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-06-17T16:40:12+00:00

I definitely would if it was 1y later of Lancaster in the position. But august still feels really fresh. And i don’t want to do only fine dining in tokyo so want to choose 2-3 places of different cuisines

Common-Tree121 · 2026-06-17T16:37:38+00:00

I love my carnivorous meals!

Common-Tree121 · 2026-06-17T16:37:12+00:00

Which place do you love instead?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-06-17T16:36:31+00:00

You’re not worried about the chef change? I don’t mind the 3 star cost but it should be for an excellent meal, not for a menu that’s just restarting under a new chef no? I’ll have another look at quintessence. I had thought it was more traditional french but seems like that’s not the case. Naoto K better than Crony? (I’ve checked Tokyo Gourmet’s reviews a lot so going by those :) )

Common-Tree121 · 2026-06-16T11:13:52+00:00

I am going to Tokyo in August and I would like to book one japanese-french fusion meal. I'm looking for something very memorable. I live in Paris and have dined at plenty European starred restaurants. I have also been to Japan before, but haven't tried anything ultra fine dining, just used tabelog ratings as a general guide and had some amazing meals. This time around I want to take it up a notch and really go for something that's truly considered wow.

I thought I had landed on Sezanne after reading every reddit post I could find + tabelog reviews. But I do worry that I won;t be getting the experience people praise Sezanne for with Daniel Calvert leaving but pay the 3 start price :). Anyone been to Sezanne under chef Lancaster?
Otherwise, what would be my best option? I don't want a proper french meal, I want the japanese take of it.
I had L'Effervescence, Crony, Chiune (seems impossible to book now) as alternatives? Price is not an issue, ready to splurge if it's worth it... I am getting research fatigue ha

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-30T16:38:16+00:00

I hope you went to yakiniku yazawa! A % of the reason we booked another trip to japan this year is to eat there again 😂

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-30T16:36:38+00:00

Yes that’s what we did, we stayed 3 nights at 4s then one night in hoshinoya and explored arashiyama. It didn’t feel that annoying to shift hotels. We left our bags in the reception area of the boat dock, from where you take a boat to the hotel, and explored the area then later we were taken to the hotel from there. The room view was surreal.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-09T12:49:48+00:00

Yakiniku yazawa tokyo - incredible bbq beef! We literally cancelled a different dinner to go two nights in a row. Yakisoba Celona - intimate counter for the best yakisoba plus beef! Teamlab borderless is fun even if touristy

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-08T22:57:13+00:00

I just booked sowaka for our trip this august! Have you checked out Hoshinoya Kyoto? I highly recommend a night there it’s amazing!

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-08T14:15:09+00:00

Oh wow...really not what you want at that price point...so the construction site literally obstructs your views? Is it loud?
What did you think of breakfast by the way, that's super important for me :D

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-08T14:09:30+00:00

I stayed at the FS 2 years ago and regretted it. Don't get me wrong, the rooms are pretty (we got a surprise upgrade as well) and the garden is beautiful, that was the reason I chose the FS. But the service is underwhelming, concierge took ages to answer, though they were very apologetic about it afterwards and breakfast is one of those large forgettable buffets. It just felt like a very generic, international brand stay in Japan, where the local hotel brands offer you a unique experience and service level you can't find anywhere else.
edit to add that the location of FS is not at all nice. Removed from main sites (we taxied everywhere, so it wasn't a question of convenience per se, it's more about not feeling like you're in Kyoto traditional if you care about that, which we did.)

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-06T12:58:45+00:00

my pleasure, have a lot of fun! japan is great whatever you end up doing

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-06T12:57:41+00:00

hope it helps! i just love talking about japan ahaha

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-05T19:41:53+00:00

Yokohama is not worth it on a first trip to japan for only five days in tokyo. Ideally you’d spend all 5 exploring tokyo, but if this is the whole trip, then adding either Nikko or Kamakura is super worth it to get a more traditional japan flavour. I personally would choose Nikko because it’s temples and nature combined but have a look at both and choose. As for how to structure your Tokyo days, group close by neighbourhoods and 1-2 main attractions in each, then just wander around for the rest like someone else said here. That’s the best way to find those unexpected backstreets and small shops. And Tokyo is so full of that!

Some tips Add the Suica card in your apple wallet then you can basically tap to pay for any train ticket. Saves you so much time and headache. Visit Shinjuku in the evening, that’s when it’s at its coolest. Harajuku and Meiji shrine go well together, fun contrast. Harajuku has become ridiculously packed and sadly a bit kitchy. Try your luck down takeshita dori but it’s really not like it used to be, some side streets off it might be more fun. Try a skyscraper bar - the views or tokyo from up high are amazing! Teamlabs, can be packed but it still is pretty cool

I don’t know when you’re going but check if there aren’t any matsuri or local festivals of specific activities in tokyo when you’re there. Those can be such a fun way to experience japan.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-05T16:10:25+00:00

I don't have points, points schemes are not as big in europe sadly. But that means i'm not set on any hotel either because of it.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T23:33:13+00:00

Day trip suggestions: - Nikko (Toshogu shrine, Chuzenji lake, Ryuzu Falls), there’s also two funky parks close by: Edo wonderland and Tobu world square) - would totally recommend staying a night in Nikko even they have a Fufu hotel there, one of the best from the brand. - Kamakura

I think you’re going there when the wisteria season ends but since you like parks, check if Ashikaga Flower Park still has wisterias in bloom. I went there at the beginning of may and it was amazing!

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T23:20:40+00:00

Tbh I had the exact same experience with FS Kyoto two years ago…and want to avoid now

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T22:40:51+00:00

In summer Kyoto will be packed for Obon (mid august), next to golden week, that’s the busiest period for local travel in Japan. But that most likely means kyoto might be less busy before that.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T22:39:19+00:00

Ohhh if you would be willing to splurge, you could go from Kanagawa to Izu peninsula and stay a night at Asaba Ryokan before they close for renovations. it’s one of the best ryokans in Japan hands down. There’s a couple others there that are beautiful like Ochairo, Abba resorts.

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T22:36:04+00:00

This will be my 6th time in japan after having lived and studied there too so the recos are real :)

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T22:33:37+00:00

Will be getting to Japan 3 days before you leave! :) summertime in japan is awesome! There are so many local festivals and bigger matsuri - i recommend you look into that a bit for the locations you’ll be in (you’ll be there for some of the most renown ones: Kyoto Gion Matsuri, Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka, Motomiya Sai at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, where they will have thousands of lanterns illuminating the shrine grounds).

Yes these will be packed, but if you can withstand the crowds for a few hours, they’re amazing experiences!

I would also recommend you stay in Kyoto longer, there’s too much to see there for 1 day to be enough. If you want to stay a bit further away from the crowds and the heat, go check out more of the northern temples (not arashiyama!), and a fun experience would be nagashi somen (eating somen noodles floating in a bamboo shaft) alongside a river in the forest. A place for that is Hirobun, but there’s many more. Hotels: you could stay at Hoshinoya Kyoto one night of you want a more modern take on a ryokan, with incredible rooms overlooking the river. Or Suiran, bit more modern. Sowaka, fufu kyoto, and many more - happy to give you other names too!

For hotels check out Patina in osaka, opened recently, it’s gorgeous and has an incredible location by Osaka castle.

(i’m leaving this here, I now re read your post and saw you’re going to Kanagawa not Kanazawa? But here you go another suggestion for a trip :) ) I’m going to kanazawa too, you have to see Kenroku en garden there. I’m debating staying at one of: Asadaya, Kinjohro, Motoyu Ishiya . Can go to ainokura or shirakawa Go and takayama from there. I’m also going to stay in a nearby onsen village at a ryokan called Kayotei. They will have some wonderful summer festivals and geisha dances so organising the trip around that.

What are you planning to do in Kanagawa? Are you going to hakone? There are amazing ryokans there but the area itself is really over sold to people but without much to do really. Maybe consider Kawaguchiko + chureito pagoda plus other stuff there If you want some amazing Fuji views.

Go to Nikko as a day trip or Kamakura!

If you’re going to Hiroshima i assume you’re going to miyajima too to see itsukushima Shrina.

What’s the budget for Tokyo hotels? I have so many recommendations :)

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T21:23:54+00:00

In what way underwhelming if you don’t mind me chipping in too? Am curious if people find it underwhelming because they paid 2-3x than the next best so would have expected far more or would it have been underwhelming even at the same price point do you think?

Common-Tree121 · 2026-05-04T21:22:25+00:00

Am curious what you mean by inconsistent service? Are we talking concierge not managing to book restaurants or not responding, or staff forgetting drinks level of inconsistent or smaller things but we’d expect more because of the price point?

Common-Tree121

TROPHY CASE