Tokyo is home to a large number of Michelin starred restaurants but getting a table can be difficult if you haven’t made a reservation in advance.
Unfortunately most restaurants in Japan are not able to handle online booking so you will have to book your table by phone. We know how challenging making a phone reservation in Japanese can be, so we’ll guide you through everything you need to know to book a restaurant by phone without accident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDNq_oIKuqI
Reservation or booking in Japanese is 予約 and to book/to make a reservation is 予約をする. When you call a restaurant, you could start with:
すみません、予約をしたいんですが。
Excuse-me, I’d like to make a reservation.
The restaurant staff will follow-up by asking when and from what time you’d like to book. If your reservation is for an exact date such as November 25th, you would say:
11月25日の夜です。
For the evening of November 25th.
Or if your dinner plans are for the next day you could say:
明日の夜です。
Tomorrow’s evening.
明日のランチです。
Tomorrow’s lunch.
To give the time you wish to book, you can say:
6:30からで お願いしたいんですが。
I’d like to book from 6:30 if possible.
7時からお願いします。
From 7 pm please.
The clerk will also ask how many people will come with you. Remember that Japanese language uses various counters and that the counter for people is “人” with the exception of 1 person (ひとり) and 2 people (ふたり).
4人です。
For 4 people.
For more restaurants, the above phrases are enough to complete your reservation. However, depending on the restaurant you’re booking, you could give your seat preference (table, counter, private room), you could ask for a smoking or non-smoking section.
「掘りごたつ」の席 ありますか?
Do you have kotatsu seats?
個室でお願いしたいんですが。
I’d like to have a private room.
カウンター席でお願いします。
I’d like to have counter seats.
テーブル席でお願いします。
I’d like to have table seats.
禁煙席でお願いします。
I’d like the non-smoking section.
静かな席 お願いします。
I’d like a quiet seat please.
If they can’t accommodate your needs, you could say:
あ、そうですか。
Oh, I see.
残念です。
It’s a pity.
まあ、いいか。
Well, whatever.
Once the details of your reservation are decided, the clerk will ask for your name and your phone number. They will also make sure all information are correct and repeat the details.
If an information is wrong, you can correct them using the expression “じゃなくて”:
「土曜日」じゃなくて、「金曜日」です
Not Saturday, but Friday.
「7時」じゃなくて「8時」です。
Not at 7, but at 8.
Let’s see an example of a phone call to book a restaurant:
店員: お電話ありがとうございます。「なになにレストラン」です。
Clerk: This is NaniNani restaurant, thanks for your call.
あなた: あのー、予約したいんですが。
You: Well, I’d like to make a reservation.
店員: お日にちはいつでしょうか?(or いつよろしいでしょうか?)
Clerk: When would you like to book?
あなた: 11月25日の 土曜日なんですが。
You: On Saturday, November 25 if possible.
店員: お時間は何時からですか?(or 何時からでしょうか?)
Clerk: From what time?
あなた: 6:30からで お願いしたいんですが。
You: I’d like from 6:30 pm.
店員: 何名様ですか?
Clerk: For how many people?
あなた: 4人なんですけど。
You: For 4 people.
店員: はい、少々 お待ちください。… … お待たせいたしました。
Clerk: Sure, please wait a bit. … … I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.
大丈夫ですよ。それでは、お名前とお電話番号をお願いします。
It’s fine. Please then let me know your name and phone number.
あなた: ジョン・スミス、080-1234-2578です。
You: John Smith, 080-1234-2578.
店員 : 復唱いたします。080-1234-2578ですね?
Clerk: Let me confirm. It’s 080-1234-2578, right?
あなた: はい。あ、個室 お願いしたいんですが。
You: Yes. Oh, and I’d like a private room…
店員: 申し訳ございません。その日は 個室が全部埋まっておりまして・・・。 テーブル席でもよろしいでしょうか?
Clerk: I’m really sorry. On that day, all our private rooms are occupied. Are you fine with seats at a table?
あなた: あー、そうですか。じゃ、それでいいです。
You: Oh, I see. It’s fine, yes.
店員 : 恐れ入ります。では、11月25日土曜日6:30から、4名様でお待ちしております。
Clerk: Thank you very much. So, we’ll wait for 4 people, on Saturday, November 25, from 6:30.
あなた:よろしく お願いします。
You: Thanks.
Useful expressions:
Some restaurants may ask if you already have chosen a course. If you prefer to pick the menu on the day, you can say:
そちらに行ってから決めます。
Or you can precise:
飲み放題で お願いします。
All-you-can-drink please.
3,000円の コースで お願いします。
The 3000 yen course please.
If you have found the restaurant reference online, on website like Gurunavi or Hot Pepper, you may have a discount coupon. The clerk might ask:
クーポンお持ちですか?
Do you have a coupon?
You can answer:
ぐるなび / Hot Pepperのクーポンを持ってます。
I have a Gurunavi / Hop Pepper coupon.
Vocabulary:
日にち: date
名様: polite way to counter people
少々お待ちください: polite way to ask “please wait a moment”
回復する: to repeat; often used in this contexte to confirm information that were given
個室: private room
禁煙: non-smoking
喫煙: smoking
全部埋まる: be all taken
恐れ入ります: very polite way to say thank you
If you’ve decided at the end of the day to not reserve a spot at the restaurant, walking in would still be an option for some restaurants. However, knowing how to ask for what’s on the menu and place orders at a Japanese restaurant can definitely be helpful!