Handbook · at the table · 食事

Eating out: the table, the diet, the bill

Two phrases, the sushi and noodle rules everyone worries about, and what a vegetarian or halal diet needs to say before the food arrives. From the Japan National Tourism Organization's own guides.

01 · At the table

Two phrases and a clean plate

  1. いただきます
    Itadakimasu

    Said before eating: something like 'I am glad to receive this meal'.

    JNTO, Understanding and mastering Japanese manners ↗checked 1 October 2026

  2. ごちそうさまでした
    Gochisosama-deshita

    Said after the meal: loosely, 'thanks for the food'.

    JNTO, Understanding and mastering Japanese manners ↗checked 1 October 2026

  3. Leftovers

    Leaving food is frowned upon, and asking to take leftovers home is generally not accepted. At a shared table, ask before you take the last piece.

    JNTO, Understanding and mastering Japanese manners ↗checked 1 October 2026

  4. Chopsticks, or not

    If you would rather have a fork or a spoon, ask the staff; at more traditional places there may not be one.

    JNTO, Custom & Manners ↗checked 1 October 2026

02 · Sushi and noodles

The two rules people ask about

  1. Sushi: hands are fine

    Chopsticks or fingers, both are normal. Dip the fish, not the rice, in the soy sauce, and do not stir the wasabi into it. A good sushi counter keeps to this more strictly than a conveyor-belt shop or a chain.

    JNTO, Understanding and mastering Japanese manners ↗checked 1 October 2026

  2. Noodles: slurp, or don't

    At most ramen, udon and soba shops people slurp, and it is accepted; you do not have to.

    JNTO, Understanding and mastering Japanese manners ↗checked 1 October 2026

03 · Vegetarian and vegan

Say it early, ask about the stock

'Vegetarian' is a borrowed word in Japan and is understood loosely, so asking for a vegetarian meal may not be enough, JNTO warns.

  1. Ask about the dashi

    Check the dashi and the base ingredients of a dish for fish or other animal products.

    JNTO, A Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Japan ↗checked 1 October 2026

  2. Tell them when you book

    Give your dietary needs when you reserve, especially for a set menu; a translation app helps at the table.

    JNTO, A Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Japan ↗checked 1 October 2026

  3. Look for the sticker

    Many vegetarian and vegan restaurants show a sticker from The Japan Vegan Society, VegeProject Japan or The Japan Vegetarian Association.

    JNTO, A Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Japan ↗checked 1 October 2026

04 · Halal

Where alcohol and pork hide

  1. No single certifier

    Japan has no central agency for halal accreditation; a restaurant's 'halal-friendly' sign is its own description.

    JNTO, Muslim Travelers ↗checked 1 October 2026

  2. Mirin, cooking sake, miso

    Cooking sake and mirin, with soy sauce, are the base of many seasonings such as mentsuyu, the usual noodle broth; some miso contains alcohol unless it is additive-free and labelled 無添加 (mu-ten-ka).

    JNTO, Muslim Travelers ↗checked 1 October 2026

  3. Bread and sweets

    Gelatin and animal fats such as butter may be in breads, snacks and sweets.

    JNTO, Muslim Travelers ↗checked 1 October 2026

05 · Paying

Cash in your pocket, no tip on the table

  1. Cash, cards and no tipping

    Some independent places do not take cards, so carry cash; nobody expects a tip.

    Money
  2. Where the press says to eat

    Every restaurant, café and bar the Japanese press named, with its address and the article.

    Eat

Manners differ between a counter in a back street and a chain; when in doubt, follow the table next to you. Every line names where it comes from; the newest was checked 1 October 2026.