Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Eating in a Japanese Restaurant
When you enter a restaurant, you'll be greeted with a hearty irasshaimase (Welcome!). In
all but the most casual places the waiter will next ask you nan-mei sama (How many
people?). Answer with your fingers, which is what the Japanese do. You will then be led
to a table, a place at the counter or a tatami room.
At this point you will be given an oshibori (a hot towel), a cup of tea and a menu. The
oshibori is for wiping your hands and face. When you're done with it, just roll it up and
leave it next to your place. Now comes the hard part: ordering. If you don't read Japanese,
you can use the romanised translations in this topic ( CLICK HERE ) to help you, or direct the
waiter's attention to the Japanese script. If this doesn't work, there are two phrases that
may help: o-susume wa nan desu ka (What do you recommend?) and o-makase shimasu
(Please decide for me).
When you've finished eating, you can signal for the bill by crossing one index finger
over the other to form the sign of an 'x'. This is the standard sign for 'bill please'. You can
also say o-kanjō kudasai . Remember there is no tipping in Japan and tea is free of charge.
Usually you will be given a bill to take to the cashier at the front of the restaurant, but
some places allow you to pay while seated at your table. Only the bigger and more inter-
national places take credit cards, so cash is always the surer option.
When leaving, it is polite to say to the restaurant staff, gochisō-sama deshita , which
means 'It was a real feast'. Note that if you are invited to dine in a private home, it's also
polite to use this expression when finishing the meal and some people repeat the phrase
when leaving the house.
EATING ETIQUETTE
When it comes to eating in Japan, there are quite a number of implicit rules, but they're
fairly easy to remember. If you're worried about putting your foot in it, relax - the Japan-
ese don't expect you to know what to do, and they are unlikely to be offended as long as
you follow the standard rules of politeness from your own country. Here are a few major
points to keep in mind:
» Chopsticks in rice Do not stick your hashi (chopsticks) upright in a bowl of rice. This
is how rice is offered to the dead in Buddhist rituals. Similarly, do not pass food from your
chopsticks to someone else's. This is another funeral ritual.
» Polite expressions When eating with other people, especially when you're a guest, it is
polite to say itadakimasu (literally 'I will receive') before digging in. This is as close as
the Japanese come to saying grace. Similarly, at the end of the meal, you should thank
your host by saying gochisō-sama deshita which means, 'It was a real feast'.
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