Foreign friendly, English speaking bars and restaurants in Japan can be difficult to find and there are some places who will “automatically” refuse any foreigners.
Even if you have lived in Japan and speak some Japanese, some bars and restaurants are reluctant to accept you and as soon as you pop your head in the door they will say sorry we are full, when there are visible empty seats.
Please understand that this can be for a number of reasons-see the list below-but generally you will only find this reaction with the smaller bars and restaurants.
The basic reason is simple: Smaller bars/restaurants are frequented by locals on a very regular basis and they come there to relax. Few of them will speak English and don’t want to be bothered by listening to or trying to speak English, also the staff will probably not speak English so for them communication will be problematic and often results in mistakes.
This does also depend on the region in Japan. You will find people are a lot more foreign friendly in Osaka (especially) and Tokyo. Fellow customers will happily strike up a conversation with you when you are seated next to them. Conversely, in conservative towns like Kyoto you will find it hard to speak to Japanese people and if you do, they will reply and may talk, but this is out of politeness and they would much rather not to be bothered.
For larger establishments there is less resistance to foreigners entering and generally you will be made to feel welcome.
Here is a list of reasons why bars and restaurants may refuse foreigners entry
1.
Foreigners often cancel their reservations more than Japanese
2.
Foreigners don’t have a Japanese phone number or a method of contact so if there is a question or problem regarding the reservation they will not be able to contact you. Many stores are landline phone reliant and do not use email or messaging services as a form of business communication; and for sure they will not pay to call an international number!
3.
Foreigners can book and cancel a reservation without calling, just being a no show.
4.
Foreigners don’t speak Japanese and this puts demand on the staff and creates mistakes for which the Japanese will feel responsible.
5.
In some of the more expensive areas, for example in Gion, Kyoto (a very traditional old school area), the bars and restaurants only accept guests on an invite basis; meaning you will have to be invited and go with someone who is a regular or known by the Master.
6.
Chefs in Japan spend a lot of time and effort in food preparation and food appearance, they like to share their design thinking and the quality of the foods with their guests. It is not possible to do this in English so it makes them feel they are not offering the full dinner experience and they feel that you, likewise, will not appreciate or enjoy the food to its fullest.
7.
A lot of the smaller restaurants have very limited seating (5-10 seats is not uncommon), and they like to keep seats open for their regulars
To find a list of foreign friendly, English speaking bars, restaurants, cafes and so on in Kyoto (then expanding across other cities in Japan!) visit:
https://japantouristfriends.com/
Making your stay more convenient and comfortable.
