Tokyo 'the world's culinary capital'

The Japan National Tourist Organisation has proclaimed that Tokyo is the world's "culinary capital" after it was awarded an extra 36 Michelin stars in the company's 2009 guide to the city.

Tokyo now boasts a total of 227 Michelin stars, more than any other city in the world.

The 2009 Michelin guide to the Japanese capital includes nine restaurants with three stars, 36 with two stars and 128 that have received the award once.

Tokyo is now tied with Paris for its number of eateries that have been recognised with a Michelin star three times.

A total of 203 establishments feature in the 2009 Michelin guide to Tokyo – 173 restaurants and 30 hotels – including the now three-star Ishikawa restaurant.

Jean-Luc Naret, director of Michelin Guides, said: "Tokyo's gastronomy has improved and evolved in the course of the year and the rise in stars shows that. There is great potential in Tokyo and it can get even more stars."

The 2009 Tokyo restaurant guide is more comprehensive than ever, as it includes reviews of eateries in 13 'ku', or wards, of the city – five more than in the 2008 publication.

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