Seating and table manners

Tatami and Horigotatsu Seating

Some Japanese restaurants have zashiki seating, where you remove your shoes at the entrance and sit on tatami. Some of these rooms use horigotatsu, a sunken area under the table so you can let your legs hang down. You can sometimes request this when booking.

Oshibori

You're often handed a damp towel (oshibori) as soon as you sit down. It's meant for wiping your hands, using it on your face or the table is best avoided.

Water and Tea

Water or tea is often served free without being ordered. If you'd like a refill, just ask a staff member.

Sharing a Table and Lingering

During busy hours, you may be seated with strangers at a shared table ("aiseki"). At crowded shops, it's also considerate to avoid lingering too long once you've finished eating.

Chopstick Etiquette

A few habits are best avoided: passing food chopstick-to-chopstick ("watashibashi"), stabbing food with your chopsticks ("sashibashi"), and hovering your chopsticks over dishes while deciding what to take ("mayoibashi"). These take some getting used to, but keeping them in mind helps.

Lifting Your Bowl

It's normal to lift small bowls, like a rice bowl or soup bowl, while eating. Larger plates and shared dishes are usually left on the table.

Time Limits on All-You-Can-Eat/Drink

All-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink plans are often time-limited. See All-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink customs for the details.

Photos, Trash, and Dishes

If you're taking photos of your food, it's considerate to avoid capturing other customers, and worth a quick word to staff if you're unsure. At most shops, leaving trash and finished dishes on the table is fine, except at self-service spots with a designated return counter.

Related dishes

This kind of seating often comes with donburi rice bowls, and pairs naturally with sake.