How to Make Restaurant Reservations in Japan

Language barriers and local customs make it difficult to reserve tables at good restaurants in Japan, but it can be done. Here are all the details on booking restaurants yourself, via hotel concierges, and using restaurant booking services.

The Takeaway:

• You don’t need reservations at many restaurants in Japan, only at relatively expensive and popular places.
• You can try reserving yourself by going to a restaurant in person a day or so before you want to dine there. This is hit or miss.
• Booking through a hotel concierge is a reliable way to make reservations, but only luxury hotels (and a few mid-range hotels) have concierges. We list hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto that offer concierge service (and not all of them are expensive).
• There are several online booking services that work well in Japan.
• Scroll down for all the details.

First, Do You Need to Make Reservations?

You really only need reservations at relatively expensive, proper sit-down restaurants, especially those that are popular. For more casual and inexpensive places, even quite nice places, you can just enter and ask they have a table or a spot at the counter. And at many casual places like ramen restaurants, they don’t even take reservations – it’s all first-come, first-served.

Why Is It So Hard to Reserve Restaurants in Japan?

First, obviously, there’s the language barrier. But, beyond that, many Japanese restaurants have been burned by people making bookings and then pulling a no-show or cancelling at the last minute. This is very damaging at a small restaurant that might only be able to seat 10 people at their counter. Thus, Japanese restauranteurs much prefer to deal with a known quantity such as a regular Japanese patron, a hotel concierge, or a restaurant booking service. Finally, the best thing you can do to keep good Japanese restaurants accessible to foreign travelers is to honor any reservations you make.

Making Reservations Yourself

If you speak decent Japanese, you can try calling a restaurant directly to reserve. A better bet, especially for those who do not speak Japanese, is to go to the restaurant in person a few days before you’d like to dine there. There may well be someone there who speaks enough English to take your booking (or you can muddle through with Google Translate etc). It helps to go during a quiet period, say, before the dinner or evening rush. Do not be offended if they won’t take a reservation – as explained above, many restaurants only want to work with people or businesses they already know.

Book Via the Restaurant’s Own Site

Some of Japan’s high-end restaurants have their own websites with booking capabilities. This is the best way to book these restaurants, but check the cancellation policies carefully before booking.

Book Via a Hotel Concierge

Booking via a hotel concierge is one of the best ways to book good restaurants in Japan, and the concierge can explain your preferences (and restrictions) to the restaurant. Obviously, restaurants like this method because they will be familiar with the concierge (or, at least, with the hotel).

Note that true concierges only exist at luxury hotels and some nicer mid-range hotels. Do not confuse concierges with normal front-desk staff; it’s not fair to try to convince front-desk staff to make restaurant bookings for you. Even if they agree to, they will likely not have relationships with high-end restaurants.

Keep in mind that some hotel concierges may be unwilling to make reservations far in advance for you, even if you’re booked into their hotel. The reason is that some people have reserved at hotels to gain access to their concierges, then when their restaurant bookings are made, they cancel the hotel booking.

Also keep in mind that concierges tend to have relationships with some restaurants and not with others. A good concierge will be able to suggest a similar restaurant if one on your wish-list is booked out or won’t take reservations. They will also know which restaurants are basically impossible to get and which will actually take bookings.

Finally, a few of the top ryokan in Japan also have concierges who can make restaurant bookings for those nights when you aren’t eating at the ryokan.

Hotels in Tokyo with Good Concierges

The following hotels in Tokyo are known for their excellent concierges:

• Mandarin Oriental Tokyo (Tokyo Station Area)
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Nearly perfect in every way, this hotel takes the top spot in the Tokyo luxury category.
• Ritz Carlton Tokyo (Roppongi)
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  The Ritz is a superb hotel and the views from the rooms are among the best in the city. And, it’s in the heart of Roppongi.
• Tokyo Station Hotel (Tokyo Station Area)
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Directly above Tokyo Station, this old world hotel is superbly welcoming and comfortable. And it costs less than many other hotels in this class.
• Conrad Tokyo (Shiodome)
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  With eye-popping views over Tokyo Bay, the Conrad is an excellent hotel with a great location.

Hotels in Kyoto with Good Concierges

The following Kyoto hotels are known for their excellent concierges. Note that the Cross Hotel Kyoto and Genji Kyoto are unique in offering concierge services despite their mid-range prices (making them a great bargin for cost-conscious gourmands). The Hyatt Regency and Kyoto Hotel Okura are also good values.

• Cross Hotel Kyoto
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Right in the heart of downtown and this hotel has great rooms and a hip lounge/restaurant. It’s hard to beat Cross Hotel for cost performance.
• Kyoto Okura Hotel
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  The Kyoto Hotel Okura occupies the single most convenient location in all of Kyoto. It’s an elegant and solid hotel with great Japanese service. The rates are well below most other luxury hotels in Kyoto. It’s a great value.
• Genji Kyoto
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Overlooking the Kamo-gawa River, within easy walking distance of downtown, the Genji Kyoto has oodles of Japanese style, an intimate feeling and excellent service. It’s a small gem in a great location.
• Ritz-Carlton Kyoto
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto has the best location of any hotel in town: It’s right on the Kamo-gawa River and just steps from downtown. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, many with sweeping views of the river and the Higashiyama Mountains. It’s a superb choice and gets top honors on this list.
• Hyatt Regency Kyoto
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  The Hyatt may not offer the same ultra-lux experience of the Ritz or the Four Seasons, but rooms here average less than half the price of those two. It’s Kyoto’s most reasonably priced international luxury hotel brand.

Machiya in Kyoto with Concierge Services

If you’d like to experience living in a traditional Kyoto machiya (townhouse) but also have access to a concierge, we highly recommend Old Kyoto. This company offers four exquisite machiya in the Gion/Higashiyama area. Their staff members can reserve restaurants and help with any other issues you may encounter during your stay. Old Kyoto manages to combine attentive personal service with the privacy and convenience of a private residence in Kyoto, making it a unique offering indeed. Check out their website.

Credit Card Concierge

Holders of American Express Platinum cards have access to the Amex concierge service. This service may not have the same connections as the concierges at the top hotels in Tokyo, but they can certainly make bookings at some great restaurants in Japan – and it’s free for members.

Restaurant Booking Websites

There are several online booking services for Japan. The following are all reputable and efficient:

• Omakase
• JPNEAZY
• Pocket Concierge
• My Concierge Japan

Additional Information

See our personal picks of the best restaurants in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka:

• Best Tokyo Restaurants
• Best Kyoto Restaurants
• Best Osaka Restaurants

Kyoto District Map

Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation