How to make Restaurant Reservations in Japan: Apps & Phrases

By Yoko Hori
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Array of Japanese sushi on a rectangle shaped plate.

In Japan’s larger cities, the lines in front of popular restaurants are continuing to get longer and longer. Although trying the best foods is one of the most memorable things you can do while traveling or living in Japan, waiting in line for a long time especially when the weather is bad, is not something anyone wants to do.

In this article, we will introduce popular Japanese apps and websites and explain how to make restaurant reservations in Japan. So, if you are not confident with your Japanese skills yet, do not panic – no need to make a phone call!

When do you need restaurant reservations in Japan?

You don’t need to make restaurant reservations in Japan to go to casual chain ramen shops and curry shops. But these days, restaurants have become even more popular because of social media. So, if you want to eat at one of these restaurants, you probably should make a reservation. Also, since the travel restrictions were lifted in 2022, some areas in Tokyo, such as Shibuya, Ginza, and Asakusa are packed with people on weekends, and getting a table without reservations is getting harder to do.

In big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, restaurants can be very crowded, especially on Friday evenings, weekends, and holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and towards the end of the year when people have year-end parties called Bōnenkai (忘年会)! For some restaurants, you even have to make a reservation a few months in advance.

Tabelog app used to make restaurant reservations in Japan is displayed on a phone next to a bowl of ramen.

The most popular restaurant apps in Japan

The most popular app and website used to make restaurant reservations in Japan is Tabelog. Tabelog allows users to read and write reviews of restaurants and find popular places by looking at restaurant scores. Using the app with GPS on your phone, it can show you a list of restaurants nearby and often with their availability for reservations. You can also input the location and type of food you want, to find the best place to eat in that area. The app also allows you to filter by price, atmosphere, payment method, etc to make it easier to find restaurants.

You don’t need to sign up to look up restaurants, but when you want to make online restaurant reservations in Japan, you have to register with your e-mail address. So, if you live in the country or are going to be here for a while, it is worth downloading it and getting a handle on how the app works!
If you want to learn how to make a reservation online on the Tabelog app and want to learn some Japanese phrases you need to know in order to make a reservation, keep reading!

Gurunabi and Hot Pepper Gourmet are the second, and third most popular apps/websites for looking up and making online restaurant reservations in Japan similar to Tabelog. Both Gurunabi and Hot Pepper Gourmet list a wide range of restaurants across Japan and are easy to navigate because they both have websites in English. Hot Pepper Gourmet ranks No.1 in the number of restaurants with online reservations available as of June 2021. 

People have preferences over which apps they use, so try them out to see which one is easier for you to navigate! Unlike Tabelog, you can make restaurant reservations in Japan in English with Gurunabi and Hot Pepper Gourmet, so if you want to avoid using Japanese, try using one of these two.

How to use the Tabelog App in Japanese

Now, we will explain how to use the most popular app to make restaurant reservations in Japan, Tabelog! Although you have to know basic Japanese to use the app, it is fun to read reviews of restaurants you want to visit and even write reviews about the restaurants you have visited. So, let’s get started!

  1. The first thing to do after downloading the app is to sign-up for free. You can use the app without signing up, but when you try to make a reservation, you will be asked to sign-up.
  2. When you see the sign says “無料会員登録はこちら (for free sign-up),” click on it and follow the instructions using an existing account listed on the page. The easy ones are probably either signing in with Google or with Apple. 
  3. After signing up, it asks for your email address and if you want a newsletter from Tabelog. Check the box if you want the newsletter then click “登録 (register).”
  4. You are done! It asks you to set up your profile “プロフィール設定” but you can skip it for now unless you want to.

Now you are ready to use the app to start making restaurant reservations in Japan! Let’s say that you have a location and type of restaurant in mind. Go to the search bar, input the location and the food type in Japanese, then search. The app will show you a list of restaurants around the area with their rating. Usually, when the rating is above 3.5 the restaurant is very good. 

When you go to a restaurant page and see 電話・ネット予約, it means you can make a reservation by phone or online. If you want to make a reservation online, it is very straightforward, but make sure to study the following words before making a reservation so that you can select the right information! 

Storefront of sashimi bowl restaurant 'mina to shokudo' in Ebisu, Tokyo.

Expressions and Kanji for making a reservation online

There are several expressions and kanji that are good to know when navigating restaurant reservations in Japan online or through an app.

Start the reservation

電話, denwa, phone 
– If you want to call the restaurant, select this option.

ネット予約 netto yoyaku, online reservation 
-If you want to make a reservation online, select this option.

来店日 raiten bi, date of visit 
来店人数 raiten ninzū, the number of people who visit

〜名 -mei
〜 number of guests

席 seki, seats/table
– Sometimes, you can select which table you want to reserve. E.g. terrace 

席のみ seki nomi, table only 
– When you do not want to book a course menu but want to book a table only

指定しない shitē shinai, Unspecified 
– When you do not mind where your table is e.g. booth, counter, terrace seats

クーポンの利用 kūpon no riyō, Using coupons 
– Sometimes Tabelog offers coupons you can use when you make a reservation.

After making a booking

完了 kanryō, Completion 
– It means that your reservation is complete.

予約番号 yoyaku bangō, reservation number 
– It’s a number you need to refer to when you want to contact the restaurant.

確認メール kakunin mēru, confirmation email 
– You will receive a confirmation email from Tabelog when your reservation is confirmed. 

Other popular websites for foodie tourists

Some booking websites, such as byFood and Savor Japan are made specifically for food-loving inbound tourists to make restaurant reservations in Japan. These websites list a wide range of restaurants, including high-end restaurants. So it is good for both those who are looking for a casual restaurant or a one-of-a-kind eating experience, check them out! ByFood also sells food tours that you can participate in to enjoy more than food but the whole culture surrounding the food by interacting with local people!

Useful phrases you can use at restaurants

Check out some of the useful phrases you will hear while eating at a restaurant in Japan!

Things you hear at restaurants

Welcome
いらっしゃいませ
irasshaimase

Do you have a reservation?
予約はありますか
yoyaku wa arismasu ka

How many people?
何名様ですか
nanmē sama desu ka

What would you like to order?
ご注文は
gochūmon wa

Additional information

Sometimes, you can get a T-point when you make restaurant reservations in Japan online that you can use for the next visit or convert to PayPay points! T point is a point card that allows you to earn points from purchases at Tsutaya and other T-Point alliance stores and restaurants. You can either get a physical T card at Tsutaya or download the app to collect and use the T points. 

PayPay is an electric payment service that has become popular in recent years. PayPay allows customers to pay by entering the amount they want to pay or scanning a store-specific QR code with their phone.

We hope you can make restaurant reservations in Japan with ease after using our guide. If you’ve found this article useful, check out other posts about useful phrases and information in Japan on our blog!

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