How to Order in a Japanese Bar: Phrases That Actually Work

You’ve found the bar. It’s small, the menu is handwritten in Japanese, and the bartender is looking at you, waiting. This is the moment most visitors freeze, point at the first thing they see, and hope for the best. If you’ve ever wondered how to order in a Japanese bar without that moment of panic, this guide is for you.

The good news: you need far less Japanese than you think. About a dozen phrases cover almost every situation, from your first beer to paying the bill. Below, we walk through a night at a Japanese bar in the order it actually happens — walking in, ordering, customizing, getting another round, and paying — with the exact words to use at each step, plus a cheat sheet at the end you can screenshot.

Before You Order in a Japanese Bar: Walking In

Learning how to order in a Japanese bar starts at the door. In most Japanese bars and izakaya, a staff member will greet you with “Irasshaimase!” (Welcome!). You don’t need to answer it — a nod is fine. The next thing you’ll usually hear is a question about your group size:

• “Nan-mei-sama desu ka?” — How many people?

Answer with your fingers, or with the number:

• Hitori desu (ひとりです) — Just one
• Futari desu (ふたりです) — Two people
• San-nin desu (さんにんです) — Three people

If you want to sit at the bar, say “Kauntaa, ii desu ka?” (Is the counter OK?). In a tiny bar with eight seats, the counter is the bar, so you’ll be seated there anyway.

The small dish you didn’t order

Shortly after you sit down, a small plate of food may appear in front of you — a few pickles, some simmered vegetables, a bite of tofu. This is the otoshi (お通し; called tsukidashi in the Kansai region), and it’s not a mistake. It works as a seat charge, and it will show up on your bill. Some bars list a flat chaaji (チャージ, cover charge) instead. Neither is a scam; they’re a normal part of how many Japanese bars make money. We explain how it works, and when it’s worth asking about, in our guide to the otoshi charge at Japanese bars.

If you want to know the charge before you sit down, ask: “Chaaji wa arimasu ka?” (Is there a cover charge?).

How to Order in a Japanese Bar: The Core Phrases

Here’s the core of how to order in a Japanese bar. Every order you make can be built from three pieces: get attention, name the drink, add “please.”

Getting the bartender’s attention

• Sumimasen (すみません) — Excuse me

In a busy izakaya, it’s completely normal to raise a hand and call out “Sumimasen!” across the room. Nobody will think you’re rude — if you don’t, you may wait all night. In a quiet cocktail bar, it’s different: catch the bartender’s eye, and say sumimasen at normal volume when they come over.

Some izakaya have a call button on the table. Press it and someone will come.

Naming what you want

• [Drink] o kudasai (〜をください) — [Drink], please
• [Drink] o onegaishimasu (〜をお願いします) — [Drink], please (a little softer)
• Kore o kudasai (これをください) — This one, please (while pointing at the menu)

Kudasai and onegaishimasu both work everywhere. In a casual izakaya, you’ll hear locals drop them entirely and just say the drink name — “Nama!” — but as a visitor, adding kudasai costs you nothing and always sounds right.

Ordering more than one

Japanese uses counters, and for drinks the easiest option is the general-purpose one:

• Hitotsu — one
• Futatsu — two
• Mittsu — three
• Yottsu — four

So “two draft beers, please” is “Nama biiru futatsu kudasai.” Holding up fingers at the same time removes any doubt.

The phrase everyone says first

• Toriaezu nama (とりあえず生) — Draft beer for now

This is the classic opening order at an izakaya: toriaezu means “for now,” and nama is short for nama biiru, draft beer. It signals that you’ll get a beer while you look at the menu properly. Say it at the start of the night and you’ll probably get a smile.

How to Order in a Japanese Bar by Drink Type

Knowing how to order in a Japanese bar is half the job — the other half is knowing what the words on the menu mean. Here are the ones you’ll see most.

Beer

• Nama biiru (生ビール) — Draft beer. Often shortened to nama
• Nama chuu (生中) — Medium draft, the default size in many izakaya
• Bin biiru (瓶ビール) — Bottled beer, usually a large bottle meant for sharing, poured into small glasses
• Kurafuto biiru (クラフトビール) — Craft beer

Highballs and chuhai

• Haibooru (ハイボール) — Highball: whisky with soda. Hugely popular in Japan and a safe order almost anywhere
• Chuuhai (チューハイ) — Shochu (or another spirit) with soda and flavoring, often lemon
• Remon sawaa (レモンサワー) — Lemon sour, a lemony chuhai-style drink. Many izakaya have their own house version

Whisky

Japanese bartenders take whisky seriously, and the serving style matters as much as the bottle:

• Sutoreeto (ストレート) — Neat
• Rokku (ロック) — On the rocks
• Mizuwari (水割り) — With water and ice
• Soda-wari (ソーダ割り) — With soda (in other words, a highball)
• Towaisu appu (トワイスアップ) — Whisky with an equal amount of room-temperature water, no ice

So “whisky on the rocks, please” becomes “Uisukii, rokku de onegaishimasu.” The de means “in the style of,” and you can attach it to any of the styles above. If you want to go deeper, our Tokyo whisky bar guide covers how to approach a serious whisky bar.

Sake and shochu

• Nihonshu (日本酒) — Sake. Sake on its own can mean any alcohol in Japanese, so nihonshu is clearer
• Atsukan (熱燗) — Hot sake
• Reishu (冷酒) — Chilled sake
• Shoochuu (焼酎) — Shochu, a distilled spirit made from barley, sweet potato, rice and other ingredients
• Oyu-wari (お湯割り) — Mixed with hot water, a common way to drink shochu in cold months
• Umeshu (梅酒) — Plum liqueur, sweet and easy to drink

Sake is often ordered by size: ichi-gou (一合) is a standard serving, and some bars also offer a smaller glass.

Non-alcoholic options

• Uuron-cha (ウーロン茶) — Oolong tea, the default soft drink at many izakaya
• Non-aru (ノンアル) — Non-alcoholic (e.g., non-aru biiru)
• Sofuto dorinku (ソフトドリンク) — Soft drinks
• Mizu o kudasai (水をください) — Water, please

Water is usually free. There’s no pressure to drink alcohol all night, and switching to oolong tea halfway through is completely normal.

Asking for Recommendations and Customizing Your Order

Once you’re past the first round, these phrases will get you a better drink than pointing at the menu ever will.

• Osusume wa nan desu ka? (おすすめは何ですか？) — What do you recommend?
• Omakase de (おまかせで) — I’ll leave it to you (bartender’s choice)
• Amakunai no (甘くないの) — Something not sweet
• Sukkiri shita no (すっきりしたの) — Something light and refreshing
• Tsuyome de (強めで) — Make it strong
• Usume de (薄めで) — Make it light
• Kore wa nan desu ka? (これは何ですか？) — What is this?

Omakase is particularly worth using at a cocktail bar. Give the bartender one direction — “sukkiri shita no, omakase de” — and let them work. It’s the kind of exchange that turns a drink into a conversation, even with limited Japanese.

If the menu is entirely in Japanese and nobody speaks English, “Eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka?” (Do you have an English menu?) is worth a try. Many places in tourist areas have one. If you’d rather start somewhere English is easy, see our guide on how to find English-friendly bars in Tokyo.

Toasting, Refills and Last Orders

Kanpai

When the first round arrives, wait until everyone has a glass, then raise it and say “Kanpai!” (乾杯, Cheers). Don’t start drinking before the toast if you’re in a group — that’s one of the few drinking rules people actually notice. For more of the unwritten rules, read our izakaya etiquette guide for foreigners.

Getting another round

• Okawari (おかわり) — Another one / refill
• Onaji no o kudasai (同じのをください) — The same again, please
• Moo ippai (もう一杯) — One more glass

“Same again” is the one you’ll use most. Point at your glass, say onaji no, and you’re done.

All-you-can-drink and last orders

Two terms that catch visitors off guard:

• Nomihoudai (飲み放題) — All-you-can-drink. Usually a fixed price for a set time, with a limited drink menu. Check the time limit and which drinks are included before you order
• Rasuto oodaa (ラストオーダー) — Last order. Staff will come around to ask if you want anything else before the kitchen or bar closes. If you’re done, “Daijoubu desu” (I’m fine, thanks) is a polite no

Daijoubu desu is also the phrase to use any time someone offers you another drink and you’d rather not. It’s softer than a flat “no.”

Paying the Bill

The last part of how to order in a Japanese bar is getting out gracefully. When you’re ready to leave, you have two options:

• Okaikei onegaishimasu (お会計お願いします) — The bill, please
• Chekku onegaishimasu (チェックお願いします) — Check, please (common at bars)

At most izakaya, you pay at the register by the door rather than at your table — take the bill with you when you stand up. At a small bar, you’ll usually pay the bartender directly.

A few more phrases for the moment of payment:

• Kaado tsukaemasu ka? (カード使えますか？) — Can I use a card?
• Betsubetsu de onegaishimasu (別々でお願いします) — Separate bills, please
• Gochisousama deshita (ごちそうさまでした) — Thank you for the food and drink

Small bars are often cash only, so carry some yen. And don’t tip: tipping isn’t part of Japanese bar culture, and leaving money on the counter can cause confusion. Gochisousama deshita on your way out is the real tip — it’s the phrase that tells staff you enjoyed yourself.

Common Mistakes When You Order in a Japanese Bar

• Waiting silently to be noticed. In an izakaya, staff expect you to call out. Sumimasen is your friend
• Asking for “sake” and getting something else. Say nihonshu if you mean Japanese sake
• Being surprised by the otoshi. It’s a normal seat charge, not a con. Ask “chaaji wa arimasu ka?” if you want to know upfront
• Tipping. Not expected, and not needed when you order in a Japanese bar
• Ordering in a hushed cocktail bar like it’s an izakaya. Match the room: loud and cheerful at an izakaya, quiet and unhurried at a counter bar
• Drinking under 20. The legal drinking age in Japan is 20, and some bars will ask for ID

For a broader picture of why these customs exist, see our explainer on Japanese drinking culture. The Japan National Tourism Organization also has practical trip-planning information for first-time visitors.

Japanese Bar Phrases Cheat Sheet

Screenshot this before you head out.

Situation	Japanese	Meaning
Group size	Hitori / Futari desu	One / Two people
Get attention	Sumimasen	Excuse me
First order	Toriaezu nama	Draft beer for now
Order anything	[Drink] o kudasai	[Drink], please
Point at menu	Kore o kudasai	This one, please
Two of them	Futatsu kudasai	Two, please
Whisky style	Rokku de / Mizuwari de	On the rocks / With water
Recommendation	Osusume wa nan desu ka?	What do you recommend?
Bartender’s choice	Omakase de	I’ll leave it to you
Same again	Onaji no o kudasai	The same again, please
Cheers	Kanpai!	Cheers!
Decline	Daijoubu desu	I’m fine, thanks
Cover charge?	Chaaji wa arimasu ka?	Is there a cover charge?
The bill	Okaikei onegaishimasu	The bill, please
Card?	Kaado tsukaemasu ka?	Can I use a card?
On the way out	Gochisousama deshita	Thank you (for the meal/drinks)

Skip the Guesswork: Order Like a Local With a Guide

These phrases will get you through almost any bar in Japan. But the best bars — the eight-seat counters up a narrow staircase, the places with no sign and no English menu — are the ones where a little help goes a long way. Knowing how to order in a Japanese bar gets you a drink; knowing which door to open gets you a night you’ll talk about for years.

If you’d like to practice your new Japanese with someone who knows those doors, join Tokyo After 10, our private nightlife tour. A local guide takes you to bars you wouldn’t find on your own, handles the tricky parts, and lets you try out toriaezu nama where it counts.

About the Author

Ted

Administrator

Ever since I started working, I’ve been hooked on Tokyo’s nightlife — from hostess clubs to the more risqué side of things, I’ve explored it all. Whenever I travel for business across Japan, I make it a point to dive into the local night scene. With years of firsthand experience and curiosity as my guide, I started this blog to share the real, unfiltered world of Japan’s adult nightlife with foreign travelers. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned visitor, I hope this site helps you discover the hidden side of Japan after dark.

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