Restaurants on the ITS Health Insurance Plan, by Occasion

Hello, it's Yoko, your food blogger.

This time I put together a roundup of the ITS health insurance restaurant posts I've published recently!

ITS is short for the Kanto IT Software Health Insurance Society.

If you work in IT you probably know it already: it's a health insurance society that only companies whose main business is things like "providing information through computer use" or "selling and maintaining computers and peripherals" can join.

It runs all kinds of programs to promote the health of members and their families, such as discounted use of Konami Sports Club (about ¥1,000 per visit) and campsites for ¥1,000 a night.

It also has five restaurants, which are the easiest perk to use, so I went ahead and tried them all (lol).

So today I'll introduce recommended restaurants by purpose and occasion, for new graduates who haven't used them yet, people deciding whether to choose ITS as their company's health insurance society, and anyone wondering where to go right now!

[Sushi Isshin] For family or small groups, or banquets of up to about 15. You get to feel rich

It's sushi, after all, so out of the five it's No. 1 for feeling rich!

The value for sushi goes without saying, and it feels especially great if you can sit at the counter in a small group, say just two of you.

The service is also the most stylish and sharp of all the restaurants.

I've used it for a banquet too, but the seating is in four-person tables spread apart rather than one long table, so I recommend coming in a small group rather than a big one.

[ITS Health Insurance] Enjoying the Head Chef's Omakase Course at Sushi Isshin

[Ristorante Al Faro] For good-value wine, and for learning about wine

To be honest, I didn't find Al Faro to be a great value compared to the other four.

The location, Akebonobashi, isn't very convenient either...

But!

One distinctive thing is that they hold wine and cooking classes, so you can use it for more than just meals.

The class fees are cheap too...

They also have a very large wine cellar.

It seems to be stocked with many kinds of wine at all times, so if you love wine, it's worth a visit.

And although it's Italian, they had wines from many countries, not just Italy.

[ITS Health Insurance] Ristorante Al Faro (Akebonobashi / Italian)

[Ookarou] For big banquets and weekend lunches!

Chinese food means a lazy Susan! (lol) For a banquet with a big group, Ookarou is the clear choice.

It has a lot of seats and plenty of private rooms, so you don't have to worry about group size.

It's also recommended for weekend lunch! The building that houses Ookarou is right by Shin-Okubo Station, in the middle of Koreatown.

So after lunch you can graze on Korean street food or go to a supermarket for Korean ingredients, which is fun ♥ (okay, that has nothing to do with ITS, lol).

[ITS Health Insurance] Ookarou (Shin-Okubo / Chinese): A Bargain Authentic Chinese Course

[Kotoritei] For business entertaining or a calm meal. Warm service!

Kotoritei is in a building in Akasaka, so it's easy to stop by after work.

On price alone it's the most expensive of the five, but the food is delicate, carefully made and delicious.

The tables are separated by bamboo blinds, so it's recommended when you want a relatively quiet meal in a small group!

The proprietress explains each dish properly and checks in on you often, and the caring service warms your heart.

[ITS Health Insurance] Moved by the Kaiseki Meal at Kotoritei (Akasaka / Japanese)

[Bar Blossom] No reservation needed, so it's easy to use! A bar with a master

Bar Blossom is in the same Akasaka building as Kotoritei and Sushi Isshin.

It's the only one where no advance web reservation is needed, so it suits anyone who wants to drop in on a whim.

(It can be full, though, so it may be best to call and check.)

I went after dinner at Kotoritei and it became full just as we walked in, so aim for an early hour or just before closing!

If you're lucky, you might meet the bartender known as a master of the bar world.

[ITS Health Insurance] Bar Blossom (Tameike-Sanno / Bar) Turned Out to Have a Master

...That's all five restaurants. Was it helpful?!

Except for Bar Blossom, you have to reserve on the web or by phone, so it's not easy to get a table...

I've been frustrated more than once when I couldn't book the date I wanted, so I hope this helps anyone about to make a reservation!