In Japan, convenience stores and restaurants follow a few simple but important customs: there’s no tipping, plastic bags cost extra, and many izakayas add a small “otoshi” appetizer charge automatically. Here’s what first-time visitors to Japan need to know.
Convenience Store Etiquette in Japan
Convenience stores in Japan are simple to use once you know how to pay, how to queue, and where eating in-store is allowed.
- Payment: Cash, IC transit cards, credit cards, and mobile payment are widely accepted.
- Plastic bags: These cost extra everywhere in Japan under a nationwide rule that took effect in July 2020 — bring your own bag, or ask to decline one.
- Queueing: Line up at the register and wait your turn; cutting in line is considered a serious breach of manners.
- Eat-in counters: Many stores have a small eat-in area, but what you’re allowed to eat there varies by store, so check the signage.
- Keep phone calls quiet while inside the store.
Restaurant Etiquette in Japan
At restaurants, the two biggest surprises for visitors are the automatic “otoshi” charge and the fact that tipping isn’t expected — everything else follows fairly simple patterns.
- Entering: Staff will usually ask how many people are in your group. During busy times, you may need to add your name to a waitlist.
- The “otoshi” (or “tsukidashi”) charge: At izakayas especially, a small appetizer you didn’t order is often served automatically when you sit down, along with a modest charge (typically a few hundred yen). This surprises many first-time visitors who assume it’s a mistake — it isn’t; it functions as a seating charge.
- No tipping: Tipping isn’t customary in Japan and can actually confuse staff. There’s no need to leave one.
- Ticket-machine restaurants: Many ramen shops have a vending machine near the entrance — you buy a meal ticket first, then hand it to staff once seated.
- Paying: Most restaurants have you pay at a register on your way out, rather than at the table.
- Keep conversation at a moderate volume, and be mindful not to include other diners in your photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tip at restaurants in Japan? No. Tipping isn’t customary in Japan, and leaving one can confuse staff rather than please them.
What is “otoshi” and can I refuse it? “Otoshi” (also called “tsukidashi”) is a small appetizer many izakayas serve automatically when you sit down, along with a modest charge of a few hundred yen. It functions as a seating charge, so it generally can’t be declined.
Do convenience stores in Japan charge for plastic bags? Yes. Since July 2020, stores nationwide charge a small fee for plastic bags, so it’s worth bringing your own bag.
How do I order at a ticket-machine ramen shop? Buy a meal ticket from the vending machine near the entrance before you sit down, then hand it to staff once you’re seated.
Do I pay at the table or at a register? At most restaurants in Japan, you pay at a register near the exit when you leave, not at your table.
In Summary
- Convenience stores: pay however you like, expect a small bag fee, and queue politely.
- Restaurants: skip the tip, expect an “otoshi” charge at izakayas, and pay at the register on your way out.
- Rules can vary slightly by shop, so always follow the posted signage or staff instructions.