Are Japanese restaurants loud and rude?
- Thread starter w1ngzer0
- Start date
- 5 Feb 2005
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I think it depends on the restaurant. I remember I went to an Izakaya a couple of months ago, and it was just so noisy in there but yeah what do you expect in an izakaya near the largest Uni in Kobe.
I think you can have loud and rude restaurants every where in the world. Ow btw, restaurants in Osaka can be pretty loud because some of the Osaka people can be pretty loud... a well it aint that bad.
I think you can have loud and rude restaurants every where in the world. Ow btw, restaurants in Osaka can be pretty loud because some of the Osaka people can be pretty loud... a well it aint that bad.
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Generally, you can find lots of places offering you an energetic or loud service, "WELCOME, irashaimase, THANK YOU, arigatougozaimashita, TAKING AN ORDER OF BEER, nama hairimasu.
The sushi restaurant you went believes the loudness enhances the freshness of their sushi.
When you order an expensive champagne bottle at a host club, your ear will hurt much more.
It is rather hard to find loud passengers on a jam-packed train here, but you'll easily notice the train station's loudness.
"Next train bounds for Tokyo. And the train is approaching. Please stand behind the white line!". And you can also notice the English announcement, "NEXT STATION IS TOKYO. CHANGE TRAINS HERE FOR..." on the train, even though electric boards in the train silently shows it to you in Japanese/English.
I don't know which is better, loud or silent, but it was a bit scary when the tube I took suddenly got out-of-service and all I could hear was "mind the gap" in the station. It was ashamed that I could not understand the three word at first.
The sushi restaurant you went believes the loudness enhances the freshness of their sushi.
When you order an expensive champagne bottle at a host club, your ear will hurt much more.
It is rather hard to find loud passengers on a jam-packed train here, but you'll easily notice the train station's loudness.
"Next train bounds for Tokyo. And the train is approaching. Please stand behind the white line!". And you can also notice the English announcement, "NEXT STATION IS TOKYO. CHANGE TRAINS HERE FOR..." on the train, even though electric boards in the train silently shows it to you in Japanese/English.
I don't know which is better, loud or silent, but it was a bit scary when the tube I took suddenly got out-of-service and all I could hear was "mind the gap" in the station. It was ashamed that I could not understand the three word at first.
haha i had the same problem, but that isn't in japan, because in august (in my vacation) the second day i was landed in japan i went directly to a sushi bar but it wasn't noisy the problem was the bar itself was too small 
- 28 Jul 2005
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- 172
As pointed out above...it really does depend. Of course there are quite restaurants here. For example the fine restaurant on the 14th floor of the local hotel, Taima--a long standing fine French restaurant, and a good number of others.
You will find that the family restaurants such as Denny's, Royal Host, and Coco's among others, are fairly quiet too.
There is a certain romance, that a person has to spend some time in understanding, in those noisy restaurants, and once you have come to feel it, you start joining right in with the noise. I love those environments from time to time too !! It can make kind of cheap beer taste much better, somehow, too !! CHEERS !! MM
You will find that the family restaurants such as Denny's, Royal Host, and Coco's among others, are fairly quiet too.
There is a certain romance, that a person has to spend some time in understanding, in those noisy restaurants, and once you have come to feel it, you start joining right in with the noise. I love those environments from time to time too !! It can make kind of cheap beer taste much better, somehow, too !! CHEERS !! MM
- 30 Apr 2007
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- 84
In general, entertaining guests in the Japanese domicile is unspokenly discouraged (unless its a quiet affair) because of the density of the Japanese population, the thickness (or lack thereof) of the walls, the general belief that any and all disturbing activities should be limited so as not to inconvenience your neighbours, and so on. By entertaining I mean celebrating something, drinking, talking loudly and enjoying oneself, karaoke, etc.
Izakayas, karaoke dens and clubs are open very late in order to provide places for people to let loose, drink and make some noise. That being said, it really depends on who's around. The izakaya I frequented most during my time in Japan was absolutely churchmouse-quiet at times, and at other times the smoke was so thick in the air and the noise was so intense it was almost too much even for a seasoned Westerner. It's just a matter of who's celebrating and how much drinking is going on. In situations like this it's perfectly acceptable to be loud provided its an izakaya or a bar suited for these purposes.
As was pointed out, fine dining establishments are usually off-limits for this kind of thing. However you'll still get the occasional group of salarymen or businsess trippers who turn the bar or back-room area upside down before last train. This is also usually acceptable up to a certain point.
As an aside, one time after finishing a meal at the local yaki niku (Gyu Kaku! mmm..) my friend commented that the table beside us had been rather loud and intrusive, choosing to practice their English as loudly and drunkenly as possible. The location was generally a quiet-ish one, not a regular party destination. I noticed several looks of disapproval from other Japanese patrons. She made the comment jokingly but the server at the counter gave her some valuable coupons and extra candy as an apology.
Izakayas, karaoke dens and clubs are open very late in order to provide places for people to let loose, drink and make some noise. That being said, it really depends on who's around. The izakaya I frequented most during my time in Japan was absolutely churchmouse-quiet at times, and at other times the smoke was so thick in the air and the noise was so intense it was almost too much even for a seasoned Westerner. It's just a matter of who's celebrating and how much drinking is going on. In situations like this it's perfectly acceptable to be loud provided its an izakaya or a bar suited for these purposes.
As was pointed out, fine dining establishments are usually off-limits for this kind of thing. However you'll still get the occasional group of salarymen or businsess trippers who turn the bar or back-room area upside down before last train. This is also usually acceptable up to a certain point.
As an aside, one time after finishing a meal at the local yaki niku (Gyu Kaku! mmm..) my friend commented that the table beside us had been rather loud and intrusive, choosing to practice their English as loudly and drunkenly as possible. The location was generally a quiet-ish one, not a regular party destination. I noticed several looks of disapproval from other Japanese patrons. She made the comment jokingly but the server at the counter gave her some valuable coupons and extra candy as an apology.
kidtokyo
Tokyo 9/16/07
- 10 Jun 2002
- 53
- 0
I guess it depends on where you go.. last week when I was in Tokyo, I only went to small establishments, and there was not much noise. The people were either there by themselves or with 1 other person, and they were there to eat and nothing more. I can't speak for the nicer restaurants, though.
Han Chan
先輩
- 14 Mar 2006
- 444
- 16
I guess that sushi restaurants in Japan are mostly regarded as quite relaxed places where you can enjoy a lively atmosphere. I find it so funny to visit sushi restaurants in the west where the guests behave as if it was a zen ritual.
In a good sushi restaurant in Tokyo, you will be able to interact a lot with the chef and neighbours if you are sitting at the counter - (all passionate sushi lovers chose the counter!) If you want only to mind your own business you better chose to sit at a table.
In a good sushi restaurant in Tokyo, you will be able to interact a lot with the chef and neighbours if you are sitting at the counter - (all passionate sushi lovers chose the counter!) If you want only to mind your own business you better chose to sit at a table.
Half-n-Half
先輩
- 17 Jul 2007
- 920
- 70
Wait a second, are you talking about a sushi restaurant in Japan, or a local one in America you went to? Your banner says you reside in the states so I wasn't sure...
I have only one experience with a sushi restaurant in Japan. It was a very pleasant experience, one of those gigs where you got the moving belt with sushi plates on it. It wasn't loud at all, but we were there around noon on a weekday also. Speaking without any experience I guess it just depends on where you go and what time of day/day of the week.
I have only one experience with a sushi restaurant in Japan. It was a very pleasant experience, one of those gigs where you got the moving belt with sushi plates on it. It wasn't loud at all, but we were there around noon on a weekday also. Speaking without any experience I guess it just depends on where you go and what time of day/day of the week.
- 30 Apr 2007
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- 84
I'm compelled to point out a small difference here.
The place you went to.. I believe it's called marusushi, with maru meaning circle or round (indicating the orbit of the sushi around the patrons!) is usually more of a family eating place or 'quick and cheap' sushi restaurant. The quality is surely decent, but it's not the high-end of sushi. It's a volume or quantity based establishment. These places (in my humble experience) are different because the focus is not on the chef, in fact you dont see them at all.
A traditional sushi restaurant is, as was pointed out, set up such that the focus is on the chef behind the counter. The seats alongside the counter are by and large desired by those individuals who wish to converse with the chef and take part in the entire experience, watching him work and listening to his stories and anecdotes. There's almost a sense of showmanship or at least performance-oriented focus around the counter area at times. Of course if its a business party, drinking and carrying-on may also take place but generally this is the kind of place that's associated with 'quiet'. The marusushi establishments I've been to were (in the evenings) kind of like any other restaurant. Loud, lots of talking, crying children, a little chaotic, but delicious.
gaijinalways
puzzled gaijin
- 15 Jan 2006
- 681
- 21
Yes, kaiten suishi (conveyor belt sushi), these kinds of places may be loud, depends on the time and how crowded it is.
As to izakayas, they tend to be noisy, one reason I sometimes don't frequent them. But of course it depends on the time of day and day of the week (later on Friday, Saturday or the day before a holiday can be deafening), and the location. Some more local izakayas are sometimes pretty subdued.
