Japanese culture has certain customs you should know so you can show respect and not offend anyone. First, don’t be afraid to dine out in Japan. Keep in mind you’ll be a part of over 20 million tourists visiting Japan each year. Yes, locals have their customs when dining in public, but they are not watching you, waiting to call you out. So, let’s talk about a few general table manners when dinning in Japan to fit in and have respect.
General Table manners
When it comes to table manners, Japanese customs are meaningful but second in nature. Slurping at the dinner table is normal when eating dishes like Ramen or Miso soup. Drawing in air while drinking soup or eating noodles helps cool down the food and enhances the intended flavors. It is also conveying you’re enjoying the meal, but don’t go crazy, like most other cultures, certain noises are disrespectful. When your finished eating you may automatically set your chopsticks on the table but in Japan this message is that you are not finished yet. Setting them sideways across your plate is recommended. In Japan you’ll become accustomed to the practice of politeness, so at the end of your meal it is customary to put things back in place like it was originally.
Hand Towels are not for washing your face. Dining at home, washing your hands before a meal is taken for granted. The hand towelette is to wash your hands before and throughout the meal. At the end of the meal place it on top of the opened package as a sign that your finished
Chopstick Etiquette
- Do not serve food with your own chopsticks, it is unsanitary so ask for a separate serving set of chopsticks.
- Do not rub your chopsticks together, it is impolite.
- Do not use chopsticks to stab food. If you’re not talented at using chopsticks yet, ask for a knife and a fork. It’s ok to use them, people won’t judge you.
- Do not use your chopsticks to pass food to someone else’s chopsticks.
- Do not put chopsticks in your mouth like you would a spoon or a fork. Chopsticks are intended to pass food to the mouth, not into the mouth.
- Do not stand chopsticks in food. This resembles an offering used at Japanese funerals and is disrespectful.
Dipping Etiquette
When eating sushi to not dip the rice in soy sauce, it is an insult to the chef. The taste of sushi is created to already be perfect. Also, the rice will be compromised and break apart. If you use soy sauce just touch the fish to the sauce. Do not double dip food in community sauces. Take what you will use on tour plate. Don’t take too much and leave unused sauces behind, it’s considered wasteful.
Drinking
Do not pour your own beverage, It is customary to pour for others and have someone pour yours.
It’s is polite to wait for everyone at the table to get their beverages before imbibing. It is also customary to say “kampai!” meaning cheers! In Japanese.
Tipping
There is no tipping in Japan. The set price of the meal includes everything.
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