Hikari Sushi Train is a Japanese restaurant brand serving authentic Japanese cuisine, with a focus on high-quality ingredients and customer service. The brand operates across several New Zealand locations, including Five Mile Shopping Centre and Queenstown Airport in Queenstown, Riverside Market in Christchurch, and Dunedin CBD on George Street.
Hikari's concept spans three formats: a Sushi Bar offering over 24 different kinds of sushi in a display cabinet, a Sushi Train where guests sit around a conveyor belt and take small plates of freshly made sushi as they rotate past, and Teppanyaki, where a chef grills a meal tableside for a more interactive, entertaining dining experience. Each branch prepares a fresh sushi selection daily.
Beyond dine-in, Hikari also offers sushi platters that can be ordered ahead for parties and gatherings through a dedicated platter ordering site, and select branches provide online ordering for takeaway.
Hikari brings authentic Japanese cuisine to several New Zealand locations, built around a straightforward promise: high-quality ingredients paired with genuinely attentive customer service. Rather than sticking to a single format, Hikari runs three distinct dining styles across its branches, giving guests different ways to experience the same commitment to fresh, well-made Japanese food.
The Sushi Bar format puts more than 24 different kinds of sushi on display in a cabinet, letting diners choose based on mood and taste rather than working through a fixed set menu. The Sushi Train format takes a more interactive approach — guests sit around a conveyor belt, and small plates of freshly made sushi rotate past continuously, ready to be taken as they catch your eye. It's a format that works well for groups with different tastes, since everyone can pick exactly what they want as it comes around rather than negotiating over a shared order.
Teppanyaki rounds out the lineup, gathering diners around the chef's teppan grill for a meal that doubles as entertainment. Watching a chef work through a mouth-watering feast right at the table adds a theatrical element that a standard sit-down meal doesn't offer, making it a popular choice for celebrations or anyone wanting a bit more show with their dinner.
Across all its formats, Hikari emphasises that each branch prepares its sushi selection fresh daily rather than relying on pre-made stock sitting out for extended periods. That daily turnover is central to the brand's positioning around quality — with sushi being a dish where freshness makes an outsized difference to the eating experience compared to many other cuisines.
Hikari's offering extends past dine-in service. For anyone catering a party or larger gathering, sushi platters can be ordered ahead through a dedicated platter ordering site, giving a straightforward way to bring Hikari's sushi to an event without needing table service. Select branches also support online ordering, making takeaway a genuine option alongside eating in.
Hikari operates across Queenstown, Christchurch and Dunedin, with locations including Five Mile Shopping Centre and Queenstown Airport in Queenstown, Riverside Market in Christchurch, and Dunedin CBD on George Street. That spread across popular shopping and transit hubs makes Hikari a convenient stop for both locals doing a regular grocery or shopping run and visitors passing through on their way elsewhere.
Hikari also actively recruits through its website, describing itself as looking for talented individuals who are passionate and committed to delivering excellent service — a detail that lines up with the brand's broader emphasis on customer experience alongside food quality.
For anyone new to Hikari, the format is straightforward: pick a branch, choose between sushi bar, sushi train or teppanyaki depending on what's available and what kind of experience you're after, and expect a fresh selection regardless of which format you choose. Whether it's a quick sushi train lunch, a full teppanyaki dinner, or a platter ordered ahead for a party, Hikari positions itself as delivering consistent quality across every format it offers.