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Restaurant Troubles

• How do I order food when there's no English menu?

  Point at pictures or plastic food displays if available, use your phone's camera translation feature on the printed menu, or show the staff a translation phrase asking for help.

• How do I know if a restaurant is cash-only or reservation-only?

  There's often no English signage — look for a card logo sticker near the entrance, check the restaurant's listing on a map app for payment info, or simply ask before you sit down.

• How do I find vegetarian, halal, or allergy-safe food in Japan?

  Dedicated vegetarian/halal restaurants exist mainly in large cities and are best found through specialized map apps rather than general search, since 'vegetarian' dishes in Japan often still contain fish stock (dashi) unless specified otherwise.

• Do I need to tip, and can I smoke in restaurants in Japan?

  Tipping is not expected and can even cause confusion — good service is already included in the price. Smoking is banned inside most restaurants by law, though some izakaya and bars have designated smoking areas or are smoking-permitted.