Making Restaurant Reservations in Japan: Apps, Phone Calls and Course Menus
Updated: 2026-08-28
Quick answer
Hi, I'm Miya, and one question I get a lot is whether you really need to reserve a table in Japan. For a quick lunch or a casual bite, usually not — you just walk in. But for popular restaurants, weekend dinners, and anything with a set course, a reservation is what gets you a seat instead of a wait or a 'sorry, we're full tonight.'
There are really only two ways to book: through a reservation app on your phone, or by calling the restaurant directly. Both are simple once you've done it once, and both quietly rely on having a Japanese phone number. Let me walk you through when to reserve, how each method works, and what a Japanese course menu actually involves.
When a reservation is expected
You can happily eat your way through Japan without booking anything — ramen shops, cafes, and casual chains are walk-in by nature, and many even discourage reservations. The moments you'll want to reserve are specific: popular or small restaurants that fill up, Friday and weekend dinners, larger groups, and anything you've traveled across town for and don't want to miss.
The clearest case is the izakaya course dinner. When you're going out with a few people — a welcome party, a birthday, a work gathering — the group almost always books a table in advance, often with a set course. Trying to seat six people on a busy Friday without a reservation is how you end up wandering from door to door. If in doubt, a quick booking removes all the uncertainty.
Booking through a reservation app
Reservation apps and websites are the easiest route, especially if your spoken Japanese is still growing. You search for the restaurant, pick a date and time, choose the number of people, and confirm — the whole thing is done with taps, no phone conversation required. Many restaurants show their open slots in real time, so you instantly see what's actually available.
The step people forget is registration. Most reservation services ask you to create an account, and they verify it by sending a one-time code as an SMS to your phone — which needs to be a Japanese mobile number. After booking, you'll usually get a confirmation, and sometimes a reminder message, the same way. So the app path is smooth, but it assumes you're already connected with a local number that can receive those texts.
Booking by phone
Some of the best places — small counters, older establishments, restaurants that never bothered with an app — only take reservations by phone. Calling is also the way to go when you want something specific: a particular seat, a dietary request, a course adjustment, or a same-day table when the apps show nothing. It feels intimidating at first, but the call is short and follows a pattern.
A simple script goes a long way. Give the date and time, the number of people, and your name — 'yoyaku onegaishimasu' (I'd like to make a reservation) is enough to start. They may ask for a contact number in case they need to reach you, so having a callable Japanese line matters here too. If your Japanese is shaky, ask a friend or your workplace to call, or lean on the app option instead — but knowing you can phone opens up all the spots the apps don't cover.
Understanding course menus and nomihodai
For group dinners, especially at izakaya, you'll often book a 'course' (kosu) rather than ordering dish by dish. A course is a fixed set of dishes at a fixed price per person, usually several small plates brought out in sequence — a relaxed way to eat that means nobody has to negotiate the menu. When you reserve, you typically choose the course at the same time, and everyone at the table eats the same set.
Many courses come with 'nomihodai,' meaning all-you-can-drink for a set time window, often around two hours. You order freely from a drinks list during that period, which makes budgeting for a group easy since the price is agreed upfront. Watch for a couple of norms: courses often require the whole group to join, there may be a minimum number of people, and some izakaya add a small seating charge (otoshi) — a little appetizer served automatically. None of this is a catch; it's just how the format works.
Etiquette, changes, and no-shows
Reservations in Japan are taken seriously on both sides, so treat yours as a real commitment. If your plans change, cancel or adjust as early as you can — through the app, or with a quick call. Restaurants, especially small ones that prepared a course for your group, are genuinely affected by no-shows, and some now charge a cancellation fee for late changes or missed course bookings.
A few small courtesies smooth everything over: arrive on time, let them know if you'll be late, and give an accurate head count since courses are prepared per person. If you booked by phone and something comes up, a short call to explain is always appreciated. Handle it kindly and you'll be the kind of guest a place is happy to seat again.
Get connected first, then book the good tables
Notice how both booking paths lead back to the same thing — your phone. Apps verify your account and send confirmations by SMS to a Japanese number, and phone bookings need a local line the restaurant can actually call back. Without one, you're locked out of exactly the popular seats and course dinners that reservations exist to secure.
So I tell newcomers to sort out a Japanese number and mobile data early, before the first group dinner invite lands. With Rakuten Mobile you can apply online with just your residence card, and if your phone supports eSIM you can be set up in around fifteen minutes without visiting a store. Check the current conditions on the page before you apply, and I'll help with the mobile part — then the good tables are just a few taps or one short call away.
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