News Paid line-skipping services at restaurants gaining popularity

Services that let customers pay to skip queues at popular restaurants are gaining attention in Japan as more people look for better "taipa", short for "time performance". One such service is being used at Tokyo Ramen Yokocho, a ramen food hall near Tokyo Station. Through a mobile app called SuiSui, customers can scan QR codes on their smartphones to buy tickets that let them skip the line.

An official involved with Tokyo Ramen Yokocho said the service was useful for customers who needed to catch a shinkansen or had other plans immediately after eating. Tokyo Station serves as the main terminal for many bullet train routes. According to operator SuiSui Inc., around 100 restaurants have adopted the system since its launch in 2023, mainly well-known restaurants in large cities.

The service is offered to only a limited number of customers at a time, out of consideration for those already waiting in line. Fees also vary depending on expected waiting times. SuiSui chief executive Keiichiro Sato said the system could help visitors at tourist destinations make better use of their time.

Among other companies offering similar services, TableCheck Inc. provides a paid online restaurant reservation service. "(The service) makes it easier to plan trips for foreign tourists unfamiliar with Japan's culture of waiting in lines and using numbered tickets," a company official said, adding that multilingual support is also provided. Kooriya Peace, a popular shaved ice shop in Tokyo known for toppings using seasonal fruits, uses the TableCheck FastPass reservation system. "I used to feel sorry for customers coming from far away, including overseas, when they gave up and left without eating" due to long lines, said Yumi Asano, who runs the shop, adding the service also helps people who are busy taking care of children.

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