Karinoya Learning Room

Daily Life Lessons · Restaurants

Izakaya Culture

Goal of this lesson

Understand how to order and what otoshi is at an izakaya, and be able to use one safely on your own while following the ban on drinking under 20, the ban on drunk driving, and not forcing others to drink.

Explanation

An izakaya (居酒屋) is a restaurant where people enjoy alcoholic drinks and food. People who do not drink alcohol can also use it by ordering soft drinks or non-alcoholic drinks. At the start, a small dish called otoshi (お通し) is served, and some places charge for it. It is common to share dishes with everyone.

In Japan, drinking alcohol is prohibited by law for people under 20. Even though the age of adulthood became 18, the drinking age remains 20.

After drinking alcohol, you must not drive a car or motorcycle, or even ride a bicycle. Drunk driving is severely punished, and people who served alcohol to the driver or rode with the driver may also be punished.

Do not pressure people who cannot or do not want to drink, or make them chug a drink in one go (this is alcohol harassment, アルコール・ハラスメント). When you want to decline, it is fine to say, "I can't drink" (飲めません, nomemasen).

Read in Easy Japanese (yasashii nihongo)

居酒屋（いざかや）は、お酒と 料理の 店です。

・お酒を 飲まない 人も、ジュースなどを 頼めます。 ・最初に「お通し（おとおし）」という 小さい 料理が 出ます。お金が かかる 店も あります。 ・料理は みんなで 分けて 食べる ことが 多いです。

【きまり】 1. 20さい 未満（みまん）の 人は、お酒を 飲んでは いけません。 2. お酒を 飲んだら、車・バイク・自転車（じてんしゃ）を 運転（うんてん）しては いけません。 3. 飲めない 人に、お酒を むりに 飲ませては いけません。

飲めない ときは「飲めません」と 言って だいじょうぶです。

Check quiz

Q1

At what age can you drink alcohol in Japan?

  1. 18 or older
  2. 20 or older
  3. 16 or older
  4. There is no age limit
AnswerB. 20 or older

Drinking under 20 is prohibited by law. It remains 20 even though the age of adulthood became 18.

Q2

After drinking at an izakaya, can you ride home on a bicycle?

  1. Yes, if you ride slowly
  2. Yes, if you drank only a little
  3. No, you must not ride a bicycle either
  4. Bicycles don't count
AnswerC. No, you must not ride a bicycle either

After drinking alcohol, you must not ride a bicycle either.

Q3

Is it OK to make someone chug a drink?

  1. Yes, to liven things up
  2. Yes, if a senior colleague says so
  3. Yes, on a birthday
  4. No, you must not force them
AnswerD. No, you must not force them

Forcing people who cannot or do not want to drink is alcohol harassment (アルハラ). The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's drinking guidelines also say you should avoid pushing others to drink excessively.

Q4

What is otoshi?

  1. A small dish served first; some places charge for it
  2. A dessert served at the end
  3. A tip for the staff
  4. Free water
AnswerA. A small dish served first; some places charge for it

It is a small dish served when you sit down, and some places charge for it.

Q5

Can people who don't drink alcohol use an izakaya?

  1. They cannot enter
  2. Yes, by ordering soft drinks or similar
  3. They must have at least one alcoholic drink
  4. They are required to pay for alcohol
AnswerB. Yes, by ordering soft drinks or similar

They can use it by ordering soft drinks or non-alcoholic drinks.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What is nomihodai (飲み放題)?

A. It is a system where, for a set price and within a set time, you can order as many drinks as you like from a set menu. The time, which drinks are included and the last order (ラストオーダー) differ by place, so check before ordering.

Q. What if someone I'm drinking with came by car?

A. Do not offer that person alcohol. Serving alcohol to someone who will drive, or riding in a car driven by someone who has been drinking, may be punished. Decide in advance how everyone will get home.

Q. What if someone with me drinks too much and feels unwell?

A. Do not leave them alone, and tell the staff. In an emergency, such as when they do not respond when you call to them or their breathing seems wrong, do not hesitate to call 119 for an ambulance.

Practice: answer the questions on this page

This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.

Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-10-03

This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original