Restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and more: In Japan, you’ll never go hungry, and it’s all tasty
Whether restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, food stalls, festivals, and more, when you visit Japan as a family, you can always eat well. In this family guide to eating in Japan with kids, we’ll break down the best dining options for families, tips for young and/or picky eaters, and how you as a parent can stress less and enjoy your trip (and every meal) more.
Our family has been visiting Japan since 2013. Visit after visit, we always leave so impressed (not to mention full). You might find us enjoying Japanese-style breakfast at a ryokan (traditional inn), picking up ingredients from a supermarket to cook dinner that night, or tucking into something tasty at a festival food stall. And we know you can have just as much fun as we do.
The secret to dining out in Japan as a family
There’s a trick to dining out in Japan as a family, though. And it’s crucial to know this before you take your trip.
See, magazines and influencers usually show all the teeny places. Those are awesome. We sometimes enjoy them too.
But when you are traveling with kids, small places with only a few seats rarely work for a family. That’s especially the case during busy meal times. After all, if you have a family of four like we do, that divine 2-seat specialty place is not exactly a good fit.
The secret to dining out in Japan as a family is to embrace every option.
That includes a range of chain restaurants, which serve up affordable, tasty fare—all in spaces that have family-friendly seating. It also means heading to convenience stores, bakeries, wee stalls, and food carts.
In Japan, you can dine as high-end as your budget allows. You can also enjoy balanced meals—or guiltless indulgences—anywhere from convenience stores to vending machines.
There’s novelty. There’s deliciousness. And throughout your visit to Japan, there will be far more delicious food and drink than you could try in a lifetime.
Hint: Google Reviews are an excellent resource. However, also head to Tabelog. Not only do many restaurants use Tabelog for reservations. You can find more reviews there. Japanese culture is more reserved about rewarding stars than, say, American culture. If a place has 3.5 stars out of 4, for example, that’s the Japanese equivalent of a 5 out of 5 stars rating in the USA.
Food options in Japan
For starters, let’s talk about food options in Japan at a high level.
I’m going to level with you: At home in the USA, you’ll hardly ever find me in a convenience store (unless we’re on a road trip).
In Japan, though, I don’t think twice about nipping into a konbini (cone-bee-nee) just about every day.
It’s not uncommon for us to have one evening a week where we even go for “konbini dinner,” where we head to the nearest 7-Eleven, Family Mart, or Lawson’s to pick up the foods of our choice. It’s a family budget-friendly, simple luxury that we take great delight in.
“As long as you’re making a good-faith effort to be kind and respectful, it’ll come across that you’re trying. That’ll do just fine for you throughout Japan.”
No matter where you’re coming from, aspects of food and dining in Japan may take some mental recalibration. So here are some options that could be on your personal travel menu—and the lovely thing with Japan is that any of them can be an option and deserve your consideration:
- Convenience stores/konbini (range of fresh, convenience, and ready-made foods)
- Chain restaurants (consistent, easy to find, and suitable for families, especially for seating everyone)
- Small local eateries, such as cafes and izakaya (distinctive, sometimes with unique or specialty offerings)
- High-end restaurants (Japan is known for its fine dining for a reason)
- Supermarkets and other grocery stores (ingredients for own cooking, but most also have ready-made meals and other dishes, including convenience foods, and for better prices than konbini)
- Pharmacies (no, seriously: even pharmacies typically have a grocery section)
- Food carts and food stalls (whether permanent fixtures or temporary deliciousness such as for a festival)
- Vending machines (not just snacks and beverages; you can find vending machines selling everything from cakes to full specialty entrees of local eel, and plenty more)
In Japan, the wonderland of food options is everywhere, and it is there for you, dear family traveler.
All you have to do is go with it.
Hint: For families encouraging independence, consider having responsible kids walk to the nearest convenience store on their own. Japan is a safe place to visit, especially for families. Now that our kids are old enough, we regularly have them go to the nearby konbini together to pick up things we need. Scout it out together first, and set whatever rules of the road work for your family. We love knowing that our kids can go to the store without us adults, and it encourages the kids to take responsibility, help the family, and gain experience with practical tasks such as handling money, choosing items, and talking with adults.
Why Japanese chain restaurants work well for families
Coming from an American perspective, I’m accustomed to having mixed feelings about chain restaurants. Some are junky. Others are okay. None blew me away. That’s not the case in Japan.
Part of my learning curve in Japan was embracing chain restaurants.
Japanese restaurants rely on chains so they can have multiple locations. That’s even more important with limited space, as it is in so many areas. More locations in different parts of town spread out your restaurant’s ability to get people in the door.
And the quality is excellent.
Japanese chain restaurants work great for families dining out:
- Consistent quality, hygiene, and affordability across locations
- Easier to find seating for an entire family
- Clear pricing, picture menus, and language options
- Family-friendly atmosphere
- Reliable food safety standards
When we’re in Japan as a family of four, we prioritize chains. From street-level restaurants to basement food courts at shopping centers, we know we can always find seating for the four of us and have a tasty meal. Our kids are more open-minded with their food choices now too, but during their pickier stages, our experience was that they could always find something to eat.
Navigating restaurant menus, especially with kids
We have to start by stating the obvious: Every culture has kids, and most kids go through some sort of picky phase. Japanese kids are no different. Children often go through phases where they want simple food, and you can find plenty of that on offer at Japanese restaurants.
When eating in Japan at restaurants, you can navigate menus with kids. For example, exterior signage often shows if there is an English-language menu. Many chain restaurants use digital tablets for their menus, and those pretty much always have an English option.
“Remember that restaurant staff understand if you’re unfamiliar with customs or don’t know Japanese. They want you to be at ease, enjoy a delicious meal, and leave with a good feeling about your experience at the restaurant.”
You can also ask staff for an English-language menu (though don’t be surprised if they offer you one without your asking either).
How to ask for an English menu in Japanese?
Ask for an English menu with the Japanese phrase “Eigo no menyū wa arimasu ka?” (英語のメニューはありますか？)
Can my phone translate a Japanese menu?
Use Google Translate or other translation app’s camera translation function: In the app, select the camera option, and hold the camera with the menu area in frame. It may take a few seconds, but usually you’ll get a decent translation. For laminated menus, adjust the angle to reduce glare.
Is it okay to point at what I want to eat in a restaurant in Japan?
Point or gesture: You can always point at the menu item or one of the 3D examples of an entrée in a display case. Hint: Pointing with one finger can be rude. We usually point with all four fingers and tuck the thumb under the palm.
How will I find something for my kids to eat at a Japanese restaurant?
Talk with your kids about what they want to eat: Simple dishes with chicken (chikin or チキン), rice (gohan or 御飯), or egg (tamago or 卵) are usually easy to come by. Japanese cuisine typically focuses on savory qualities.
Chiles and spicy foods are not common or the default, either, so you don’t need to worry about spicy food.
Talk with your server about options. If using a machine to order, such as at many ramen restaurants, you can usually find a plain dish or smaller portion too.
How do I tell a server in a Japanese restaurant that I have a food allergy or dietary restriction?
To communicate dietary restrictions or food allergies, create flashcards you carry with you. For example, gluten sensitivity or celiac disease can be tricky to navigate in Japan. FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) has a free PDF download of cards you can customize and print.
Above all, remember that restaurant staff understand if you’re unfamiliar with customs or don’t know Japanese. They want you to be at ease, enjoy a delicious meal, and leave with a good feeling about your experience at the restaurant.
Family friendly restaurant chains
Japan’s chain restaurants and shopping center basement food courts are an ideal match for families traveling with kids. The seating is usually easier for a family. They’re affordable, and there are so many options, especially in the food courts. And the quality is still outstanding, because, you know, Japan.
We haven’t yet eaten at every chain in Japan, but by gomu-gomu, we are working on it. Below are chains we’ve either eaten at during one of our many visits to Japan. Or we have it on good authority from our own research, or the experiences of other travelers, that these are great for foreign families to visit when dining out in Japan with kids:
Japanese curry houses
Japanese curry (karee, kah-reh, or カレー) is everyday comfort food. It’s also so family-friendly that it’s a common dish on school menus from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
Chains such as CoCo Ichibanya (nicknamed CoCo Curry House) and Go!Go! Curry offer expansive menus for a range of palates and usually have English menus. For anyone who prefers some chile heat, CoCo Curry House has a spicy scale, so you can point at your desired heat level.
Beef bowl chains (gyudon)
For everyday affordable comfort food, it is hard to beat a beef bowl, or gyudon. Most commonly made with beef, onions, and rice (but with other options, dishes, and sizes available), beef bowls can fill you up without emptying your wallet.
You’ll find gyudon places all over Japan. In fact, when I think of pretty much every city we’ve been to, I can’t think of a time when we could not find a beef bowl place.
The three most popular are Yoshinoya, Matsuya, and Sukiya. Some people prefer one over the other. Other people only care about whichever one is closest to their home or workplace. We care that the options are affordable, filling, easy to customize, and truly a part of everyday Japanese life.
Hint: Most beef bowl restaurants have an order kiosk near the entrance, and usually there’s an English language option.
Conveyor belt sushi
Yes, Japan has iconic, top-dollar, high-end specialty sushi shops. But every day, family-friendly sushi is plentiful—and far more affordable.
When we visit Japan with kids, we have yet to go to one of the more high-end sushi places. Now that our kids are older, we might branch out a little, or we adults might take in one for a date night.
Often with English menus and affordable prices, conveyor belt sushi restaurants are a family visitor’s friend.
More importantly? Sushi is not just about raw fish on rice. We get that it’s not of interest to many younger eaters—or to many adults. And that’s okay. You’ll find other types of sushi too. Our preferred chain, Kura Sushi, also spins up sushi with cooked egg, cooked shrimp, meat-loaf-ish hamburger, or even corn chowder (which is so fun, it’s a favorite of ours).
Conveyor belt sushi restaurants typically have conveyor belts running along a booth-style seating area. Foods are often on a little platform covered in a plastic dome. In order to get out the plate, open the dome. It’s a simple way to assure customers nothing’s been messed with.
If you like the idea of the sushi place but aren’t into sushi, there’s usually more on the menu too, such as soups, tempura, and more.
Kura Sushi is our family’s favorite, and we seek them out everywhere we go in Japan. Two other family-friendly standby sushi restaurants include Sushiro and Hamazushi.
Hint: Kura gamifies your sushi experience, and that can make it easier to get younger or pickier eaters to give Kura a go. Your table will have a slot to return sushi plates. Every few plates bring up a video where a character can win or lose. If they win, a machine releases a little toy or keepsake for you.
Family restaurants (famiresu)
In the USA, we have our comfort food-style, easy-eatin’ diners and casual restaurants. Japan does too. These family restaurants, or famiresu (ファミレス) and their menus are designed with families in mind. Menus often have plentiful options, so everyone can find something that works for them.
Popular chains include Gusto and Jonathan’s. There’s even a Denny’s Japan.
Ramen chains
Ramen shops (ramen-ya, or ラーメン屋) abound in Japan. Pretty much everywhere we’ve gone, we can find a small, neighborhood ramen shop within a few blocks of our place.
However, they’re not always easy to visit as a family. Often the shops are small, with only a few seats. The excellent ramen place we found in Osaka’s Sumiyoshi area? We enjoyed ramen galore one night, but another time, not enough seats were open for us to visit. (Though Jodie and I visited on our own one evening for a date.)
We love local ramen shops. But when we are out with the kids and fancy a savory, soothing bowl of ramen, our first choice is usually one of the ramen chain restaurants, such as Ippudo, Ichiran, or Menya Saimi.
Our family favorite, though? Kumamoto-based Ajisen Ramen has a distinct garlicky touch to its ramen that we find delightful. Ajisen locations are all over Japan (not to mention Taiwan, Singapore, and beyond).
Hint: Special note for One Piece statue hunters: When you find Luffy’s statue out front of the Kumamoto Prefectural Office, head down the plaza toward the bus stop. Then turn left for Ajisen’s flagship location.
Okonomiyaki and teppanyaki chains
If you’ve been to a Japanese-style restaurant where the table surrounds a massive flat-top where the food is cooked in front of you, then you already have some familiarity with teppanyaki (teppan’yakiki or 鉄板焼き). In Japan, these can sometimes be cook-it-yourself arrangements.
Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a specialty food—and it’s one of our family’s favorite comfort food dishes when we’re eating in Japan. Osaka-style is the most well-known, with an overall cabbage-and-egg foundation on which there are sauces and bonito flakes (or thin shavings of smoked fish). Hiroshima-style is similar, but the cabbage and egg are on top of a base of noodles.
Either way, the dish is renowned for how easily you can customize it.
Especially in Osaka, you can find okonomiyaki at various dedicated takeaway stalls, or sit-down restaurants such as Dohtonbori and Kinta.
Bakeries
Something you might not expect in Japan?
Excellent bakeries.
French-style, American-style, and other baked goods, breads, pastries, and more abound in Japan. It’s not uncommon to find neighborhood bakeries. And when you’re in a larger train station, odds are there’s at least one bakery.
For a quick snack, a large loaf, sliced sandwich bread, and more, Japanese bakeries are an easy win for families.
Quick service and casual dining
Sometimes, though, you just want a burger. Maybe some fries. And a shake.
You know what? Sometimes that’s what Japanese folks want too.
Japanese quick-serve chains have you. Similar to fast-food chains in the USA, you can find a relaxed environment and a kid-friendly menu.
It’s also fun to try a place that can be like what you know from home. Try out Mos Burger, Freshness Burger, Tenya, or Katsuya.
Hint: Besides regular offerings, watch for limited-time menu items or specials. They often tie in with special seasons, festivals, or times of year, and that item is only available then and there. It’s a fun way to add some novelty to your casual dining meal.
Shopping center food courts and restaurant floors
Throughout pretty much any urban area in Japan, you will find massive shopping centers. Often they can be useful epicenters for themed stores (such as Ghibli stores, anime/manga merch from Shonen Jump stores, and One Piece merch from Mugiwara stores).
If your family is trying to condense your shopping or has a specific need, these shopping centers mean less tromping about town. They’re also convenient to transportation. In fact, many shopping centers have easy access paths directly from nearby train stations.
Japanese shopping centers are also a boon for families trying to find something to eat that’s affordable and a good fit for everyone.
The one important thing to understand about dining in Japanese shopping centers
Most shopping centers have two main food areas:
- An upper floor has nicer but not fancy restaurants. Think of it as elevated casual. They’re nicer settings, sometimes with more limited menus, but are a great way to try fresh foods made well, and at a price that’s still friendly to the family budget.
- A basement floor has a food court, often specialty food vendors, and some sort of grocery store. Families, this is your jam. Food courts will have local restaurants, regional and national chains, and international brands you’ll likely recognize, for those meals where you just want or crave something familiar. Seating is easy, prices are affordable, and everyone can find something that works for them. You can usually find your depachika, or high-end food halls here too, but there’s usually a spread of prices and options.
You’ll find Japanese stand-bys such as ramen and tempura, of course, but far more.
Over the years, we’ve found basement food courts to be such an easy win for meals and snacks with our kids, especially when we’re out for a big sightseeing day. We’ve always used these food courts as a low-stress, low-cost way to try different foods, especially as each child got older and more open-minded in their eating.
For those days when you want some variety, food courts are also a reliable solution, including burgers, fish and chips, Chinese, Indian, and more.
Especially now that the kids are older, we find we can really enjoy the upper-floor restaurants more too. That’s been especially nice when there’s been a particular food we were seeking, or wanted something a touch nicer yet still casually elegant.
When you order from a food court restaurant
- Ordering is about the same as ordering from any food court you may be familiar with. However, there are a couple of steps that might be new to you:
- When you head into the food court, look for an open table and set down your things to hold it.
- Along walls or in central areas there’ll be handwashing sinks, free drinking water stations, and cleaning supplies. Guests are expected to clean their table after use. Wash hands, and if your table needs a wipe, you can clean that up too.
- Snag free cups of water.
- Most food court restaurants take foreign credit cards.
- Usually there are menus on the counter and the wall, so it’s easy to point at the dish, size, and options that you want.
- After you pay, staff will give you a buzzer that goes off when your order is ready for pickup.
- After you eat, look for the tray return area. Usually, each restaurant has its own. Look for a wide opening, usually with a shelf, at the far end of the stall or restaurant. There’ll be disposal areas for trash, then your tray and other items can go on the shelf.
- Linger as you want or need, then clean up your table before you go.
Cafeteria-style restaurants and shokudou
Throughout Japan, also keep an eye out for the cafeteria-style restaurants called shokudou (食堂). These casual restaurants offer a la carte items including soups, grilled fish, tempura items, rice, and so much more.
When you go to a shokudou, there’s usually a hand sanitizer station as you come in. You can choose a table and drop off your things, then go to the food counter. There’ll be an area where you pick up your tray and any other items. Then it’s a simple matter of going around, picking up what you want, and placing it on your tray.
Shokudou typically charge per item. Usually there’ll be small signs with the item’s name, maybe a description, and the price.
A payment station awaits at the end of the line, where a staff member will tally up your items, give you the price, and you can pay the bill with cash or card.
Usually there are free drinks, which typically include cold water, hot or cold green tea, and often hot or cold barley or brown rice tea.
Shokudou are a low-stress, fun way for a family to dine out in Japan with kids. Since you can get individual items, it’s especially an easy way for everyone to try something different or have small portions depending on interest or appetite.
And of course, if you’re still hungry, you can always go through the line again.
Another fun aspect of shokudou for eating in Japan? They are not just standalone restaurants or stalls in shopping centers. Shokudou are a way to experience day-to-day Japan where regular Japanese people go about their day.
For example, shokudou at public offices, universities, and even hospitals are open to the public, and prices may be lower than other restaurants or even other shokudou.
Finding regional specialties in major cities
Wherever you are in Japan, odds are there will be some sort of local or regional specialty. Different seasons, events, or times of year may also mean prime time for special foods or beverages that are only available during that specific time.
As you look into where you’re going in Japan and what time of year, look into what special foods or drinks might be available. Once you’re there, you can typically find these throughout restaurants and stores. Even national chains usually have options on their menus that reflect local flavors or special dishes.
Hint: Train station restaurants, especially, can be a splendid opportunity for finding local specialties. For example, when we visited the onsen town of Beppu, a restaurant inside the Beppu Station area offered casual elegance, plus dango jiru (団子汁, dumpling soup), hita yakisoba (日田やきそば, a noodle dish with protein and veggies), and toriten (とり天, tempura fried chicken) we’d been wanting to try.
Here’s a quick snapshot of some special foods and flavors you might find in major destinations for visitors to Japan:
- Tokyo area: Chains and local establishments all offer regional or limited-time Tokyo-style dishes
- Osaka and Kansai region: Kushikatsu (skewered, panko-coated, deep-fried foods) at chains such as Kushikatsu Daruma; Osaka-style okonomiyaki and takoyaki (battered octopus and tempura balls)
- Kyoto: Kyoto-style dishes are found throughout the city’s restaurants, including tofu-centric cuisine
- Nagoya: Miso katsu (miso-flavored cutlet)
- Fukuoka: Tonkotsu ramen and other Kyushu flavors, such as the green citrus kabosu, farmed in Oita Prefecture
- Yokohama: Chinese-influenced cuisine (especially in the must-visit Chinatown area)
- Hiroshima: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki
Convenience stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies are food sources too
Pretty much wherever you are in Japan, you are near a convenience store (konbini, or コンビニ), supermarket or grocery store (soopaaa, スーパー), and a pharmacy (yakkyoku, or 薬局). All of them—yes, even pharmacies—are great for snacks, beverages, meals, and groceries.
Konbini
Konbini such as 7-Eleven, Lawson Station, and Family Mart are the most well-known. At them you can find a range of convenience foods, but also fresh snacks and meals, such as:
- Onigiri: rice balls with a savory filling
- Ramen, udon, and soba bowls and soups
- Rice entrees
- Fruit
That’s just the beginning, though.
The convenience and affordability of konbini mean that you never need to think twice about going to one. We sometimes have “konbini dinner nights,” where we treat ourselves to various dishes from a nearby konbini. It’s fun; we try various things or have some of our favorites, and it’s still an affordable balance of convenience and nutrition.
- Beverages are a boon in konbini too. During hot weather, juices and electrolyte drinks such as Pocari Sweat and Aquarius can help you recover quickly.
- Check the freezer section for frozen coffees and even fruit or veggie smoothies. Once you choose and pay for your cup, there’ll be a machine that makes yours ready to eat or drink.
- Basic groceries are available too, and prices are usually the same or similar to grocery stores for items such as milk, eggs, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, and pantry items. It’s nice to stop by a konbini for a few essentials and not have to overpay!
- Prepared foods are where konbini can be such a pleasant (and convenient) surprise for families. Many meals balance veggies, protein, and carbs, such as rice or noodles.
- Shredded cabbage: Ideal for a small side salad, bags of shredded cabbage are cheap. Usually there are packet dressings for a few yen, or bottled dressings such as sweet onion or sesame.
- Other veggie or salad dishes: dark green hijiki seaweed salads are mildly nutty, have a slight crunch, and are a delicious side dish. You can find other individual veggie options too.
- Hot cases by the register are where the fun comfort foods live, such as curry buns, beef croquettes, hash browns, bao buns, and of course, fried chicken.
- Check freezer and fridge cases for ice cream, fruit, and other desserts or treats, too. Especially keep an eye out for seasonal ice creams, such as kiwi, mango, or apple.
Konbini make the traveling parent’s life so much easier. However, if you are near a pharmacy or supermarket, you not only get ease, but lower cost and better selection.
Hint: Konbini are go-to’s for many other tasks too. Making copies, printing documents, redeeming codes for tickets: All of these and more are things you can do at a konbini. And by the way, the 7-Bank ATMs in 7-Eleven stores are easy to use, as plentiful as 7-Eleven stores themselves, and consistently work with foreign cards. Select “decline currency conversion” or “use JPY” for a conversion rate that’s more favorable to you.
Supermarkets and grocery stores
Japanese grocery stores have just as much range as the supermarkets you might be familiar with at home. Some are small. Others are large with a vast selection.
Though for the truly vast selection, some cities in Japan even have Costco. And yes, your membership card is valid in Japan too.
When you’re staying longer in Japan or when you want to cook more extensively at your accommodation, a nearby supermarket makes life so much easier.
When you’re scouting our grocery stores, check the payment methods they accept. Outside of major cities, stores might take only cash or Japanese payment methods. We’ve only run into that a couple of times, and both were outside of major urban areas. Some stores might have a dedicated register for credit card transactions, and that’ll be signed near the register area.
Along with broader selections of grocery staples, supermarkets have excellent prepared foods sections. The prices are usually lower than konbini prices too, which is all the better for the family trying to keep their travel costs down.
Hint: If you go to a supermarket after 8 pm, prepared foods (and some fresh foods, such as meat and produce) are normally discounted.
Pharmacies/drug stores
Last but not least, even pharmacies can be a good resource for groceries. Most pharmacies have at least a back corner that has some pantry essentials. Others might have a few aisles with pantry essentials, rice, produce, and various plant and animal proteins.
Time and again we’ve found that if we’re farther from a grocery store, there’s a nearby pharmacy that has a perfectly workable grocery section. It’s helped us have more food and cooking options at our accommodation, while still being affordable and convenient.
Practical dining tips for families
It’s one thing to know where to eat, but how do you handle the practicalities of eating in Japan with kids?
Etiquette and courtesy
When you’re learning about Japan and researching your trip, it’s easy to feel concerned that you’ll commit some sort of social misdemeanor.
Yes, Japanese culture has various customs and etiquette. And yes, it’s smart and courteous to be kind and respectful.
However, you can relax.
Japanese people understand that you are a visitor. They know you won’t know cultural and etiquette ins and outs. Plus, more casual restaurants are just that: more casual.
Honestly, it’s pretty simple:
- Wash or sanitize your hands when you come in
- Use arigato (ah-ree-gah-toh) for thank you
- Use onigaishimasu (oh-nee-guy-she-moss) as saying please when discussing services or requests
- Use kudasai (koo-dah-sigh) as saying please when requesting a thing or item
- Use sumimasen (soo-mee-mah-sen) for excuse me, from getting someone’s attention to an accidental bump
- When in doubt, say sumimasen and give a slight bow
As long as you’re making a good-faith effort to be kind and respectful, it’ll come across that you’re trying. That’ll do just fine for you throughout Japan.
Ticket machines
When you encounter a ticket machine, usually around the entrance, you’ll place your order there.
It’s not uncommon for there to be an English option. If there’s not, the images on the button options can guide you, or you can use your phone’s translation app with the camera function to translate Japanese text into your language.
Follow the machine’s prompts. Usually it’ll print out tickets for you to take to the order counter, and staff can help things along from there.
Payment register
If you order at a register counter, usually there’s a menu around the register, such as on the wall or countertop. Look for a small bowl or tray as well: That’s where you’ll set your card, cash, or coins. It’s also where card, change, and receipt will be returned to you.
If you pay after you eat, you may receive a slip with a scannable code (we encountered a setup like this at Kura Sushi, for example). There’ll be a register near the exit. You’ll scan the code, select your payment method, pay the bill, and be good to go.
If paying with coins, sometimes there are coin slots for you to add coins, and change will come out of a dispenser nearby.
What to do when the adults want specialty dining
If adults want to go out for some grownup time, whether solo, as a pair, or in a group, naturally, a lot will depend on your kids and your family dynamic.
When our son was a toddler during our first trip to Japan, we’d sometimes wait until he was napping in the stroller, then we’d go somewhere a little nicer. Now that our kids are older, we are comfortable with them staying on their own at our accommodation, then we adults nip off to somewhere within a short walk.
With Japan’s amazing range of small eateries, traditional izakaya, bars, and more, there are naturally going to be times where you want to check those out, just the grown-ups. If the kids aren’t ready to be on their own, then there may need to be some dividing and conquering. One adult might go on their own one time while the other stays home with the kids, then next time you swap. It’s no big deal to dine solo in Japan, either.
You and your kids can enjoy dining throughout your trip to Japan
Whether a pork cutlet (tonkatsu) from a supermarket, onigiri from a konbini, specialty dishes at an izakaya, or a regional speciality at a chain restaurant, there are countless ways to enjoy food at family-friendly budgets when eating in Japan.
Even picky eaters in your family can find something they’ll like. So much of the fun of Japan is in the eating. And with this guide, you’ll be ready to try out foods and restaurants throughout Japan.
