Led by visionary Alex Kinjo of MF Sushi, Kinjo Room, and Yakitori Kona, the new Japanese venture is a shining star on his extensive resume.

Bringing walkability and new infrastructure to the city, Atlantans boast about the BeltLine for good reason, and the latest BeltLine buzz grows with Junction Krog Street’s new hot spot Yuji Modern Japanese.

Influence from the culturally rich Japanese city is evident upon first glance. A true renaissance man, Kinjo led interior design efforts and was guided by scenes from his nature-filled trips when visiting Matsumoto. Cherry blossom blooms and paper lanterns linger overhead, while a wall of windows allows for an extra dreamy golden hour. What was once a hindrance during development, an unsightly support column was beautifully transformed into a showstopping 360-degree bar with radial wood beams and sparkling pendant lights.

The full sushi bar offers an up-close look at the chef’s masterful creations. And in true Sushi, Robata Grill and Yakitori dishes are intended for sharing and focused on textures and flavors. For an enchanting evening, start with your choice of nigiri followed by sushi appetizer to bake dishes. The perfect pairing awaits with the Desert Rose cocktail with codigo blanco, lime, raspberry, and hibiscus.

Drink selections abound inside and on the spacious covered patio, where chilled sake can be found on tap and diners can sip on Japanese whiskey or creative craft cocktails.