Eating Out in Japan: Ordering, Manners & How Restaurants Work

Dining out is a highlight of any trip to Japan. A few local customs will help you order with confidence and enjoy every meal.

Getting seated

• At many places you wait to be seated — look for staff or a "please wait" sign.
• Some casual spots use a ticket machine (shokken-ki) at the entrance: choose your dish, pay, and hand the ticket to staff. Common at ramen and set-meal shops.
• On sitting down you will usually get a hot or cold towel (oshibori) to wipe your hands, and a glass of water or tea, often free.

Ordering

• Many restaurants have photo menus or plastic food models in the window, which makes pointing easy.
• Call staff over with a polite "sumimasen" (excuse me); some tables have a call button.
• At izakaya (Japanese pubs) you may be served a small starter called otoshi, which usually carries a small seat/cover charge. This is normal, not a mistake.

Table manners

• Say "itadakimasu" before eating and "gochisosama" when finished.
• With chopsticks: do not stand them upright in rice, and do not pass food chopstick-to-chopstick — both relate to funeral customs.
• Slurping noodles is perfectly acceptable, even appreciated.
• Pour drinks for your companions rather than yourself — a friendly custom.

Paying

• You often pay at the counter on the way out, not at the table.
• Take the bill slip from your table to the register.
• Remember: no tipping. The price is the price.

Handy to know

• Cash is always accepted; many places also take cards or IC cards, but smaller eateries can be cash-only.
• Set meals (teishoku) and lunch sets are great value.
• If you have dietary needs, an allergy card in Japanese helps enormously.

Relax, point at what looks good, and enjoy — Japan rewards curious eaters.