Going to EPCOT’s Japan Pavilion is always a lovely experience. It feels very peaceful and beautiful there inside the World Showcase space. The buildings, gardens, and the overall atmosphere really transport you to another place. For years, you could dine at the popular Teppan Edo or just Tokyo Dining.
That space has changed in a big way recently. What was once Tokyo Dining has now become Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. Knowing this area, I had certain expectations from the restaurant. But what I found was so different that it truly shocked me.
This new spot isn’t just about a fresh coat of paint on the wall. It’s a whole new concept of how dining should be. The design and concept have completely transformed the place inside. Entering, you’ll see the upgrades right away, with two spaces that tell a new story. It feels different from what it was before and from others nearby, as I saw later on.
1. **A Shocking Transformation That Exceeded Expectations**: Walking up the big stairs to the Japan Pavilion palace made me excited. There was a new restaurant instead of where Tokyo Dining used to be. I knew the room had changed and there were new plans. But entering Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya amazed me; it had changed much more.
The multi-room space looks nothing like the big open room it was before. This was indeed a shocking change for the room. The concept and design were upgrades right from the start. It was like stepping into a whole new world in the pavilion.
The change wasn’t just about how it looked visually. It promised different interactions and a different dining experience. The scale of the change, turning one room into many, demonstrated this. It was not just redecorating but a major shift in what they offered guests.
2. **Celebrating Japan’s Seasonal Festivals Through Design**: The main idea of Shiki-Sai is to showcase Japan’s seasonal festivals over time. These old traditions mark the arrival of each new season. They celebrate the rebirth of nature in spring, the spectacular summer fireworks, and the leaves changing color in fall. The restaurant brings these celebrations to life in an immersive way.
When you enter, a nice mural with three panels greets you. It shows the theme of the festivals right from the moment of entry. This visual welcome makes it clear that the story, time, and place matter a great deal. It connects the restaurant deeply to its rich cultural past.
As you walk deeper and head to your table, theme-related details hang above. Looking up, you can see hanging lanterns, and the ceiling is painted beautifully. Every flower and animal there represents a different season it depicts. It’s a quiet reminder of the festivals that are always present there.
3. **Two Very Unique Dining Spaces**: A big change from the earlier place is how they use the room now. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya took the one big open floor plan. They expertly split it into two different rooms with unique feelings. This creates varied moods and dining experiences within the same restaurant location.
The first room you might see has a large, open sushi bar built. This design allows people to watch chefs make food right in front of them. It is an active and interesting setting that shows cooking as part of the entertainment.
The second space gives a completely different feeling. It is a brightly lit dining room next to the windows. The big draw is clear here: great views of all of World Showcase and the Lagoon are visible. These window tables became popular quickly, likely offering the best fireworks view anywhere in EPCOT.
4. **Interactive Digital Screen ‘Windows’**: Even if your seat is near the sushi bar side of the room, where outside windows might not be at the booth location, Shiki-Sai has put in a smart and interesting digital screen feature. Some booths have screen “windows” showing a different view now.
These screens show landscapes from places in Japan. It’s like a virtual window into lovely scenes. The really unique part is that the views change a little during mealtime. This shifting scene shows the themes of the three seasonal festivals that the restaurant celebrates.
Watching these digital scenes closely brings rewards. During the summer festival, pictures on the screen show. You might just see a nice Disney-themed thing, like Mickey’s fireworks lighting up the virtual sky. Small details connect the cultural theme of the place and add magic.
5. **An Impressive and Informative Menu**: Right away, a menu is placed in your hand, and it feels special. It is a heavy leather-bound book with a nice flower design. The front shows the four seasons, linking to the restaurant’s main design concept. This attention to detail is not just on the outer cover.
The first page of the menu explains more about the festivals that Shiki-Sai embraces now. It helps guests understand the concept even deeper than before. What stands out greatly are the high-quality pictures near the dish descriptions. These photos are very helpful for food that guests are not familiar with, showing exactly what you will order.
Each dish clearly shows a picture next to the description. This makes ordering food much simpler and looks appealing now. The amazing service team there is always ready to answer questions. They bridge the gaps that the photos leave for a well-informed dining experience. The back of the menu also has a list of new cocktails made just for here, with sake and Japanese whisky names.
6. **The Elevated Izakaya-Style Dining Concept**: The idea at Shiki-Sai copies that of Izakaya restaurants back in Japan. These are usually relaxed places known for inexpensive food. The food is served when it’s ready, with no special order expected, and it’s meant to be shared among a group of friends. Shiki-Sai takes this simple idea but upgrades everything.
The food here is made for sharing on plates. Everyone orders food together at a party, and the dishes come out when they’re ready. It truly embodies the Izakaya spirit of communal-style eating. This approach encourages trying many dishes and fosters communication between guests there.
This upgrade means the experience costs much more than at inexpensive places. The idea of sharing food stays, but the food quality is higher, the space is nicer, and the price point is likely much greater. It is an Izakaya reimagined for a different park setting now. It offers a taste of culture in a nice place.
7. **Exceptional Staff as Cultural Representatives**: A really special part of dining at Shiki-Sai now is the staff. The whole service team consists of Japanese people. They are part of EPCOT’s cultural representative exchange program. This means guests can talk directly to people who grew up in the culture being celebrated.
This background adds so much realness and knowledge to the service. Our server, Kaori, was a joy, happy and excited to answer questions about menu items and the culture she grew up in. This willingness to share makes dining not just about food but also a good cultural exchange.
Talking with the staff gives guests a unique chance to learn and connect. Asking about dishes, festivals, and Japanese traditions is widely welcomed. This makes a meal more than just buying things. It is educational and personal, making the experience more memorable and meaningful.
8. **A Memorable Parting Wish Tradition**: Dining at Shiki-Sai finishes with a nice and interactive tradition. At the end of the meal, every guest gets a piece of paper shaped like ‘bamboo’. The design of the paper shows whatever seasonal festival is currently being displayed. This connects the end of the meal back to the restaurant’s main idea.
Guests are asked to take a moment and think of a wish, hope, or dream they want to come true. The paper is the place where you capture your personal wish. The next part is writing this wish onto the paper. It’s a small act of reflection and hoping before leaving the place.
The final part of this tradition is hanging the wish on a tree. A bamboo tree near the exit of the restaurant is waiting now. This shared act of hanging wishes creates a feeling of community and shared hope. Talking to the server, like having the wish translated into Japanese, makes the moment even more special. It feels like a culturally real ending to the meal, not just paying the bill and leaving.
Related posts:
Review: Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in EPCOT
My party of 3 spent $171 on lunch at Disney World’s hibachi restaurant Teppan Edo, and we wouldn’t dine there again
