Basic Japanese Eating Etiquette: What to Know Before You Sit Down

Dining in Japan is about more than enjoying good food. It's also about showing respect through small, thoughtful gestures. While visitors aren’t expected to know every custom, understanding the basics of local table manners can help you feel more comfortable and avoid unintentional slip-ups.

Here are a few easy-to-remember tips for eating the right way in Japan.

1. Hold Your Bowl While Eating

When eating rice or soup, it’s polite to pick up the bowl and bring it closer to your mouth. This shows respect and also makes it easier to eat. Leaving the bowl on the table and leaning over it is seen as bad manners. Some people call this “dog eating,” and it’s best avoided.

2. Don’t Pass Food from Chopstick to Chopstick

This is an important one. In Japanese funerals, family members use chopsticks to pass bones from one person to another. Passing food in the same way is seen as a strong reminder of that ritual. If you want to share, use the other end of your chopsticks or let the other person take food directly from the plate.

3. Don’t Lick or Chew on Your Chopsticks

Avoid licking, biting, or holding chopsticks in your mouth. It may seem harmless, but it’s considered impolite. Once you're done picking up food, place your chopsticks neatly back on the rest or across your plate.

4. Say “Itadakimasu” Before Eating

Before your first bite, it’s common to say “Itadakimasu”. It’s a way of giving thanks to everyone who made the meal possible, from the farmers to the cooks. Saying this is polite and shows appreciation for the food in front of you.

5. Don’t Stick Chopsticks Upright in a Bowl of Rice

Never place your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice. This is another action connected to funerals and is used as an offering to the dead. Instead, place them flat across your bowl or on the chopstick rest if one is provided.

6. Slurping Noodles Is Fine

If you're eating ramen, soba, or udon, go ahead and slurp. In Japan, slurping noodles is completely normal and even a sign that you're enjoying the food. Just don't slurp other dishes like rice or soup.

Be Polite, Not Perfect

Japanese people don’t expect travelers to know every rule. As long as you try to be respectful and follow the general customs, your effort will be appreciated. Watch what locals do, follow their lead, and you’ll be just fine.