Tips for Enjoying Dining Out in Comfort

Tokyo’s restaurants are known for their cleanliness and high-quality service, but travelers may sometimes feel confused by cultural differences.
By understanding proper behavior in restaurants, you can enjoy your dining experiences in Tokyo even more.
This guide introduces key points of behavior to help both restaurants and guests enjoy eating out in a comfortable and pleasant way.

Tips for Making and Keeping a Reservation

For popular restaurants in Japan, it’s generally a good idea to make a reservation in advance, unless the restaurant does not accept bookings.

If you need to cancel, please be sure to do so through the website or by phone. Not notifying the restaurant can cause trouble, so we kindly ask that you complete the cancellation process.

Once you have made a reservation, being on time is considered very important in Japan. Arriving late may also inconvenience the restaurant. If you’re running late for unavoidable reasons, please contact the restaurant as soon as you can.

Since travel plans can change, it’s helpful to check the cancellation rules and any fees in advance. You can confirm these on the reservation website or when booking by phone. This is especially important for larger groups, as changes can have a bigger impact on the restaurant.

If you visit without a reservation, you may find a line at popular restaurants. In that case, please join quietly at the end of the line and avoid cutting in. Lining up properly is an important part of social etiquette in Japan, and cutting in line is considered inappropriate. Even if you express dissatisfaction, it will not affect the order.

Popular restaurants may have long lines, so please wait quietly for your turn.

Dress Codes & Scent Etiquette

Many upscale restaurants have a dress code, so checking in advance can help you feel comfortable and prepared. In many cases, venues specify attire such as “smart casual,” and wearing items like shorts, jeans, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, or sandals may not be permitted. A more refined style is generally preferred.

Outfits that reveal a lot of skin may not be ideal for tatami-mat rooms. In addition, going barefoot in tatami or wooden-floored seating areas is generally discouraged for hygiene reasons.

To ensure a comfortable experience, it’s a good idea to check the restaurant’s website in advance for any dress code information.

Many high-end restaurants have a specified dress code.

In Japan, strong scents are generally avoided. It’s appreciated if you refrain from using strong perfume, heavily scented hair products or deodorants, and from smoking before or during meals.

This is especially important at Japanese restaurants such as sushi or kaiseki establishments, where delicate aromas are an important part of the experience. Strong scents can easily interfere with the flavors of the food.

Table Manners in Japan

In Japan, there is a strong value placed on not wasting food as a way of showing gratitude to both the ingredients and the people who prepared the meal. Try not to over-order. If you are unsure about portion sizes, we recommend asking the staff before ordering. This helps prevent situations where the amount is more than expected and also helps reduce food waste.

If you are unsure how to use chopsticks or other Japanese utensils, feel free to ask the staff.

A calm atmosphere is valued in many Japanese restaurants, so speaking softly can make the experience more enjoyable for everyone. As tables are often close together, a bit of consideration for others goes a long way. If you need to blow your nose at the counter or near other guests, it’s best to do so quietly or step into the restroom.

When taking photos of food or the interior, be careful not to include other guests or staff in the shot. It is polite to ask for permission first.

Enjoy your meal quietly and be considerate to those around you—this is the Japanese way.

In Japan, it is not customary to throw trash on the floor in restaurants. Please leave any food scraps on your plate rather than dropping them on the ground.

Taking leftover food home is also not very common, due to hygiene concerns and the cultural importance placed on freshness. If you have no choice and would really like to take leftovers with you, please check with the restaurant first. Please be aware that doing so is considered your own responsibility.

Please also avoid taking items from the table, such as soy sauce, shichimi pepper, toothpicks, or paper napkins. These are meant to be used only inside the restaurant, and taking them may affect how future travelers are perceived.

Water is usually provided free of charge, and some restaurants offer self-service dispensers. However, please refrain from filling large personal bottles with water.

Regarding smoking, indoor areas in Tokyo’s restaurants are generally non-smoking. Smoking is allowed only in designated spaces, so if you are unsure, feel free to ask the staff.

Items on the table are provided for use inside the restaurant only.

Enjoy Tokyo Even More with Local Etiquette

In Japan, being considerate of the restaurant and of others is highly valued, and some unique customs may apply. However, these rules are not meant to make guests feel uncomfortable. They exist so that all guests can feel welcome and receive the best possible service, through mutual respect between the restaurant and its customers, as well as among the customers themselves.

By learning Japan’s unique considerations and customs, both you and those around you can enjoy a more comfortable and unforgettable dining experience in Tokyo. Embrace these cultural differences and experience Tokyo’s rich food culture with an open heart that goes beyond language.

Knowing etiquette and proper behavior is a doorway to understanding a place’s culture more deeply.

With expert review by Emi Sunai
Founder and Director, EMI SUNAI School of Etiquette Offers lessons in etiquette, graceful behavior, conversation skills, social etiquette, table manners, and party protocol.