Guide to Booking a Restaurant in Japan 🍴

It’s no secret that Tokyo is a paradise for food lovers. From Michelin-starred restaurants to simple pizza spots, you can find just about everything in Japan.

While it’s usually possible to get by without reservations in most places and during most times of the year, if you want to secure a specific restaurant for any reason - it’s recommended to book in advance.

There are many areas where Japan is advanced and leading the world, but restaurant reservations is not one of them. So here’s a quick guide on how to do it.

Here are 3 ways to book a restaurant:

• Online

• By phone

• In person
  

Online 🌏

Most restaurants have a website. Some allow direct booking through their site, some use third-party platforms, and some don’t allow online reservations at all - only by phone. The best method I’ve found so far:

1. Open Google Maps on your phone.

2. Select the restaurant you want

3. Scroll down and click “Find a table”

4. Choose one of the available booking platforms (preferably Tabelog, the largest and most popular restaurant platform in Japan)

5. Translate the page into English using your browser

6. If available, make a reservation (not all restaurants offer online booking)

Phone ☎️

When it comes to restaurant reservations, Japan is still a bit old-school. As of today, the most common way to book a restaurant is by phone, which isn’t ideal for tourists.

While some restaurants may communicate in English, most will struggle with it.

In these cases, ask your hotel reception to make the reservation for you - they’ll be happy to help.

In Person 👋🏻

A great option if you happen to be near the restaurant. Just walk in and ask to make a reservation for a later time. Pro Tip!

Arrive a bit early or exactly on time - Japanese culture places a high value on punctuality. If you arrive late (even 5–15 minutes, which might seem reasonable), there’s a good chance your reservation will be canceled. And even if it isn’t, don’t be surprised if the vibe feels a bit off.

Just like some restaurants in Israel close on Sundays (the quietest day), in Japan it’s often Mondays. Many restaurants may be closed on Mondays for part or all of the day.

Enjoy your meal! 頂きます 🙏🏻