Japan guide

Eating out

Eating out

You'll be welcomed with a loud “Irasshaimase!” — no reply needed. After that, eating out in Japan is easy once you know a few local routines.

13 steps · 7 common mistakes· Show in Japanese (4)
A wooden counter in a Japanese restaurant, with cups of chopsticks and paper napkins set out at each seat.

Photo: Masashi Yanagiya / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Getting a table

At a restaurant entrance with a blue noren curtain, a visitor holds up two fingers to show the number of people while the staff member bows.

Step by step

  1. Wait at the entrance until a staff member comes to you, even if there are empty seats.

  2. Show how many people you are with your fingers.

  3. If there's a list or a ticket machine for the queue by the door, write your name or take a number.

Common mistakes

  • Sitting down at a free table without asking.
  • Joining a queue from the side — lines form outside along the wall.

Ramen shops: the ticket machine

Outside a ramen shop, a visitor presses a button on a meal-ticket machine; the ticket drops into the tray.

Many ramen, curry and beef-bowl shops have a machine by the door. You buy a meal ticket before you sit.

Step by step

  1. Put in cash first (many machines take only cash; some take IC cards).

  2. Press the button for your dish. Toppings and drinks are separate buttons.

  3. Take the ticket and your change.

  4. Hand the ticket to the staff or put it on the counter when you sit down.

Common mistakes

  • Sitting down and waiting to order — staff will wait for your ticket.
  • Forgetting the change in the machine.

Good to know: Look for an “English” button on the machine. If there isn't one, show the line below and someone will help.

Ordering and the wet towel

Step by step

  1. Use the hot or cold wet towel (oshibori) to wipe your hands before eating.

  2. To call staff, raise your hand and say “sumimasen” — or press the call button on the table.

  3. Point at the menu photo, or order on the tablet or QR code if there is one.

  4. Water and green tea are usually free; ask for more any time.

Common mistakes

  • Wiping your face or the table with the oshibori.
  • Waiting silently to be noticed — calling “sumimasen” is normal, not rude.

Allergies and food you don't eat

At a restaurant counter, a guest shows a phone card to the staff; a vegetable dish has a tick, and a fish has a cross.

Menus rarely list every ingredient, and dashi (fish stock) is in many dishes that look vegetarian.

Step by step

  1. Before you order, show the line below.

  2. For a detailed list (allergies, halal, vegan), use the show-to-staff card in this app.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming tofu or vegetable dishes have no fish or meat stock.
Open the food card (allergies, halal, vegan)

On HAKOBUNE Spot

Ramen, soba, sushi and more — each listing shows which languages the staff speak.

See all places

Sources

Sources (checked 2026-11-04). Facts, numbers and prices on this page come from these official pages.

  1. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)Japanese Customs and Etiquette (Responsible Travel Guide)(opens in a new tab)JNTO: Japanese customs and etiquette for responsible travel
  2. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)Japan Travel Planning(opens in a new tab)JNTO: official Japan travel planning pages
NextVegetarian, halal & prayer rooms

More in this section