Late afternoon, in the kitchen of a small restaurant. The day’s ingredients are being set out to match tonight’s reservations. Some small restaurants buy and prep their ingredients based on reservations.
In Japan, you can walk into most everyday restaurants without a reservation. The place to think about booking is the one spot you’ve picked as “the place for that night” on your trip. Even if you can’t make a phone call in Japanese, there are still ways to get a reservation.
There are three things to know.
・Fast food places, family restaurants and ramen shops often seat you without a reservation, in the order you arrive. Reservations are for popular restaurants and places that serve set-course meals
・There are three ways to book: on a reservation website / by asking the front desk where you’re staying / by calling the restaurant
・Once you’ve booked, go at your reserved time. If you can’t make it, let the restaurant know as soon as you know
1 Where You Need a Reservation and Where You Don’t — Everyday Places Seat You in the Order You Arrive
Casual places like fast food chains, family restaurants and ramen shops usually don’t take reservations, and they seat people in the order they arrive.
At places that don’t take reservations, there’s sometimes a waitlist sheet by the entrance. Write your name and the number of people in your group, then join the line, or take a seat if there are chairs. You’ll be called when your table is ready.
How to tell what kind of restaurant it is from the entrance is covered in How to Order at a Restaurant in Japan. For places where you can save your spot in line with an app, see Conveyor-Belt Sushi.
On the other hand, in the downtown areas of popular tourist destinations, many restaurants do require a reservation.
One place to start looking for restaurants is the Japan National Tourism Organization’s “Restaurant Search” page. It lists sites where you can search for restaurants, along with the languages each one supports, and from there you can also check each restaurant’s reservation rules.
For lunch or a light dinner, try a place you find while walking around. Save reservations for the one spot you’re looking forward to on your trip.
2 Three Ways to Book — A Reservation Website, the Front Desk Where You’re Staying, or a Phone Call
On a reservation website — Many restaurants can be booked in other languages
Many restaurants take reservations online, and when they do, many of those sites also support other languages.
Even for small or more traditional restaurants that only have a Japanese website, you may be able to use a translation feature to check how to book.
Ask the front desk where you’re staying — Instead of making a call
If you’re staying at a hotel or similar place, the front desk may be able to help you make a reservation. Before you head out, ask at the front desk.
Hotel concierges or travel agents may also be able to help. They know the booking process well, so they may also be able to ask the restaurant any questions you have for you.
Some places only take reservations by phone
Some restaurants only take reservations by phone. If you’re not comfortable speaking Japanese, or you can’t make calls, remember the two options above, especially asking the front desk where you’re staying.
Even if you don’t speak Japanese, there’s more than one way to get a reservation.
3 Before You Press “予約する” (Reserve) — Read the Rules First
Ordering a course, or just booking a table
Some reservations are for a table only, and some also lock in a set-course meal.
On Gurunavi, for example, there’s no advance payment for a table-only reservation, and you order your food after you arrive. For a course reservation, you choose the course online and pay in advance.
Some reservation websites charge a fee just for making a reservation. Before you confirm, check the amount on the screen.
Until when can you cancel?
Travel plans can change along the way. Before you press “Reserve,” check until when you can cancel for free and whether there’s a cancellation fee and how it works. If you’re booking on a reservation website, the cancellation rules are often written on the site, so read them there. If you book by phone and they explain their rules, those rules apply.
For a slow, relaxed evening, or if there’s something you can’t eat
Some restaurants have a time limit for your table. It’s often around 2 hours, so if you want a slow, relaxed meal that night, you can check when you book. For more on 飲み放題 (all-you-can-drink) and time limits, see Izakaya.
If there’s something you can’t eat, you can let the restaurant know when you book. How to tell them is covered in “Allergy Card for Japan.”
Read the rules before you press the button, and on the day, all you have to do is wait for your food.
4 Your Reservation Time — The Food Is Prepared for That Time
At places that serve set-course meals and similar restaurants, the food is prepared so it comes out fresh right at your reservation time, and at some restaurants everyone at the sitting starts eating at the same time.
That’s why, for set-course reservations, some restaurants will turn you away even if you’re only a little late.
Japan’s cities are bigger than you might think, and getting around takes longer than you’d expect. Leave plenty of time between reservations.
If you still think you’ll be late, contact the restaurant as soon as you know. If you can’t make a call, you could also try reaching out through the restaurant’s social media. With course reservations, depending on the restaurant’s rules, you may not get back the money you paid if you’re late.
Arrive on time, and from the very first dish, you’ll be tasting food that was prepared for that moment.
5 If You Can’t Make It — Let the Restaurant Know as Soon as You Know
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan explains to travelers that in Japan, a reservation is a promise that the restaurant will keep your table for you the whole time. For set-course meals and similar food, restaurants may start preparing the day before.
If you can’t make it, cancel as early as you can. At restaurants that prepare ingredients to match reservations, especially small or specialty places, letting them know early can help cut down on wasted food.
As for how to cancel, on Gurunavi, for example, you cancel from the “About your reservation” page before the cancellation deadline. After the deadline, you can’t cancel on the site, and you’re expected to go to the restaurant. If you can’t go, contact the restaurant directly.
Even if it’s at the last minute, if you let them know, the restaurant may be able to welcome other guests to the empty table.
If you cancel on the day, when the food is already prepared, it will often be hard to get back the money you paid. Read the rules ahead of time, and you won’t be caught scrambling on the day.
For now, just this
Everyday places seat you in the order you arrive, no reservation needed. Save reservations for the one spot you’re looking forward to.
There are three ways to book: a reservation website, asking the front desk where you’re staying, or calling the restaurant.
Before you press “Reserve,” check until when you can cancel and whether you have to pay in advance.
Leave plenty of travel time so you make your reservation time. If you think you’ll be late, contact the restaurant as soon as you know.
If you can’t make it, cancel as early as you can.
