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EATING AT A RESTAURANT

FOOD PAGE ETIQUETTE TOURISM Restaurants Japanese dishes Table manners Chopstick

The following is a description of a visit in an average Japanese restaurant, for example, in one that you can find on the restaurant floors of department stores: A Japanese restaurant usually presents its dishes with the prices in a window just in front of the entrance. The presented dishes are made of wax and look very similar to the real ones. When you enter the restaurant, the restaurant stuff will welcome you with the word "Irashaimase" as it is done in any Japanese store. The waitresses and waiters are trimmed for efficiency, politeness, and attentiveness. After sitting down, green tea or water will be served for free and later refilled. You also get a wet towel (oshibori) to clean your hands. In some traditional Japanese restaurants you may eat sitting on tatami mats. In such restaurants you must also take off your shoes before stepping onto the tatami floor. If chopsticks are not already put on the table, you can find them in a box. Often they are wooden chopsticks that must be separated into two chopsticks before usage. The bill will be given you upside-down right after you get the meal. You will pay at the exit when you leave. Do not give a tip. Tipping is not done in Japan. In some restaurants, you may have to pay first at the entrance and get a coupon which you exchange for the meal inside. Please visit also our pages about table manners and chopsticks.

DINING OUT Where to Dine - At the Right Price (JNTO Homepage) General information for tourists (incl. restaurant list). No links yet.