To make your trip to Japan even more enjoyable and help build stronger connections with locals, here are some essential Japanese dining etiquette tips. In Japanese culture, food is more than just sustenance; it reflects deep-rooted traditions, with a strong cultural emphasis on gratitude and respect. Keep these tips in mind and enjoy a more pleasant dining experience.

11 Japanese Table Manners

1. Say thanks before and after your meal
Before eating, say itadakimasu (“I humbly receive”), and after finishing your meal, say gochisousama deshita (“Thank you for the meal”). These expressions show your appreciation for the food and those who prepared it.

2. Keep your voice down in restaurants
Speak quietly when dining out to avoid disturbing others. Maintaining a calm and respectful atmosphere is considered polite.

3. Avoid talking on the phone during meals
Taking phone calls while eating is considered impolite. If you really need to make or answer a call, step outside the dining area.

4. Mind your chopstick manners
Don’t stab food, wave chopsticks around, or lick the tips of your chopsticks. Also, never stick your chopsticks upright into a bowl of rice—Japanese culture associates it with funeral rituals, so it’s considered bad luck.

5. Hold dishes properly
It’s fine to hold up small dishes, like rice or miso soup bowls, in your hands, but you should keep larger plates and bowls on the table while you eat.

6. It’s okay to slurp noodles
In Japan, slurping noodles like ramen or soba is perfectly acceptable and even seen as a way to enjoy them. However, try to avoid making loud chewing sounds.

7. Use serving utensils for shared dishes
Use the serving chopsticks provided (called tori-bashi) to take food from the communal plate. If no serving chopsticks are provided, use the other end of your chopsticks or ask the staff for serving utensils.

8. Be considerate when pouring alcohol
Rather than pouring a drink for yourself, it’s customary to pour drinks for each other into glasses.

9. No tipping necessary
Tipping is not customary in Japan. They usually include service charges in the bill, so they sometimes consider offering a tip as rude.

10. Only order what you can finish
Finishing your plate is an act of gratitude towards the ingredients and the people who made your meal. Only order a portion you can comfortably finish.

11. Water and tea are complementary
Most restaurants offer complimentary water or hot tea. Feel free to help yourself.

You can create more meaningful and memorable travel experiences by being mindful of local manners.