Tips on How To Behave in a Japanese Restaurant

Are you planning to visit the fantastic country of Japan in 2020? Whether it be for business or pleasure, you are certainly in for a real treat. The cities of Japan dazzle visitors through unbelievable entertainment, marvellous historic features and some of the wackiest fashion and dining experiences that the world has to offer. During your stay, we imagine that you will want to experience some of the iconic dining experiences for which Japan is known. It’s important to remember, however, that culture is very important in this society, and there are some manners that you should familiarise yourself before dining – especially if you are eating with local clients. Read on to discover everything you need to know. 

Sharing Bowls

First thing’s first, you will want to make the most of the menu that you will see. If you’re fortunate enough to be dining in one of the stunning sunshine city restaurants, then you will be tempted to order every single thing on the menu. However, there are plenty of sharing options available so that you can sample as much of the flavours as you desire. This is an incredibly popular way to dine in restaurants, however, you should be sure to not offend others at the table. We recommend that you never eat directly from the sharing bowl. Not only is this not hugely hygienic, but it is considered very bad manners in Japan and may cause offence. Instead, use a separate set of utensils to dish out a portion onto your plate before eating – that way, you can enjoy all the flavours without a bitter atmosphere. 

Drinking

When dining in one of the fantastic sunshine city restaurants, you may quickly realise that communal drinks are quite a common thing. Whether this is water, sake, wine or other, communal jugs are a great way to save a little money and share an experience with those around you (as well as making some great talking points if you are with clients). However, one thing you should definitely not do is fill up your own glass. This is considered selfish and will be frowned upon by most locals. Instead, you should offer to fill up your neighbour’s cup, this will not only keep your friends happy, but they will then return the favour so that you can have a refill also. It is also good to remember if you are meeting a client, that the person who extended the invitation pays for the dinner. This is typical in Japanese culture, so if the client invited you and is keen to pay – you should let them and avoid embarrassment and offence. 

General Table Rules

Now we’ve covered the two biggies, we’ve got a few smaller tips that you should try to remember while dining at the sunshine city restaurants. Firstly, chopsticks should not be raised above your mouth or rested upon your bowl, this is just the table etiquette – like placing your knife and fork neatly once you’ve finished a meal. Secondly, you shouldn’t take slurping as bad manners – it is in fact a sound that shows appreciation, so slurp away, especially if you’re enjoying the soup. Lastly, you should always return your plates to how you found them at the start of your meal. Again this is just a common courtesy that you should follow to avoid displaying bad manners.

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