You may be surprised to learn that drinking is actually a big part of both social and business culture in Japan!
Japanese people are generally more reserved, and tend to hold their true feelings back. Therefore, when alcohol or ‘liquid courage’ is involved, they may feel more comfortable to open up and be more expressive!
In a culture with such strong hierarchies, drinking together can help break this down and allows all peers to be on the same playing field.
In addition to this, we all know that Japanese working culture can be quite intense. Ending the day with a nice cold drink is sometimes just the thing to take the edge off.
Like everything, however, moderation is key to make sure that indulging in alcohol indulgence remains a fun, social activity rather than a crutch!
If you’re heading to Japan for business or pleasure, it’s essential to understand a bit about Japanese drinking culture and etiquette!
Here’s what you need to know:
General rules and etiquette for drinking in Japan
- You must be 20 years old or older to drink in Japan.
- It is legal to drink in most public places. (Note: It was recently announced that drinking in public in Shibuya and Kabukicho, Shinjuku is banned between the hours of 6pm to 5am)
- When drinking in a group, it can be considered unmannerly to pour your own drink. Instead, let someone else fill your glass, and you may pour for others.
- Do not begin drinking until everyone else also has a drink in hand.
- When everyone is ready, clink your glasses together while saying kanpai! (cheers in Japanese) and let the festivities begin!
Japanese business drinking culture
Drinking with coworkers after a day’s work is almost part of the job in some companies!
Although not mandatory, if a supervisor invites their staff out for a drink, it can be seen as rude not to attend.
For workers who have their eyes on promotion, it’s in their best interest to attend in order to build stronger connections with higher ups and coworkers alike.
It is common to see the suited white-collar Japanese salarymen drinking late into the night. After a long night of drinking, you can often see them sprawled on the ground, asleep outside of the train station waiting for the first train to bring them home. There is even an instagram account called @shibuyameltdown which is dedicated to the spectacle!
Where do Japanese people go to drink?
Alcohol is pretty readily available almost everywhere (and at any time) in Japan. You can buy alcoholic drinks at most restaurants, convenience stores and even vending machines!
A nomikai, or ‘drinking party’ is usually held in an izakaya, which is a Japanese style bar.
For reference, izakaya are often compared to a western tapas bar. They serve alcoholic beverages along with various side dishes at an affordable price.
They are the perfect, casual location for friends or coworkers to gather and have a drink together as most izakaya offer a menu called nomihoudai which translates as ‘all you can drink’. For a set price you can have bottomless drinks for a certain amount of time!
Karaoke bars are also a popular drinking spot that also offer nomihoudai. They are a good destination to head to after having spent time drinking in an izakaya, as they often stay open until the early hours of the morning.
By then, patrons can leave the karaoke bar and get the first train back home!
What do Japanese people drink?
Like many places across the world, beer is a staple in Japanese bars. Popular Japanese beer brands include Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo beer.
If beer is not your thing and you prefer something a little sweeter, you ought to try a highball or chuhai cocktail! A classic whiskey highball consists of ice, whiskey, soda and lemon. A chuhai cocktail is a combination of shochu and highball. Some establishments may refer to them as ‘sours’.
Instead of whiskey, chuhai cocktails are made of shochu liquor. Shochu is a Japanese spirit which is typically distilled from various grains and vegetables such as barley, buckwheat and sweet potato.
There are many flavours of chuhai to choose from including fruity, milky or even green tea flavours!
Sake is of course another staple on a drinks menu in Japan. Sake is made from fermented rice and is actually the national beverage of Japan.
In the Japanese language, sake can be used to refer to any alcohol in general, so you may hear the word nihonshu (meaning ‘Japanese liquor’) being used when talking about sake in particular.
How to drink sake?
Sake is quite unique to Japan as unlike other liquors such as vodka or gin, it can be served chilled, room temperature or warm.
Sake is usually served in a porcelain jug (called tokkuri) with two small porcelain cups (called ochoko).
Do not drink directly from the tokkuri, but rather pour it into the small cups! When pouring, you should use both hands. If you are drinking with others, it is tradition to pour their drink for them and vice versa.
Although it may look like a shot glass, it is customary to sip on sake rather than drink it all in one! Sake goes well with the little appetizers served in izakaya. Sushi or sashimi are also a perfect accompaniment!
Depending on the bar, you may be served sake in a sake box or as its known in Japanese, a masu. It is a small wooden box used as a vessel for drinking sake and is usually reserved for special occasions. However, some casual restaurants like to serve sake this way.
It can be served in the box alone or in a small glass which sits in the masu. Some restaurants like to display hospitality and generosity by pouring sake for the customer until it overflows into the wooden box. This is known as mokkiri zake.
To drink this, you can first bend down to sip directly from the glass in order to remove some of the sake. This will make it easier for you to pick up the glass.
When you have made space in your glass, you can pour the remaining liquor from the box into the glass.
Otherwise, you can drink directly from the box (but not from the corners). Sometimes the box may be plastic rather than wooden —in order to avoid lipstick stains!
Ready to hit the bars!
Now you’re ready to go drinking in Japan!
If you a like a drink, you’ll be in good company in Japan – particularly if you’re going on a business trip. Just remember the essential Japanese drinking etiquette rules, such as not pouring your own drink, and not drinking until everybody is ready.
If you’re heading to Japan, you should learn some basic Japanese phrases before you go! Our recommended online Japanese course is JapanesePod101. It’s modern and relevant. They even have some lessons set in an izakaya!
JapanesePod101 is our top recommendation to learn Japanese online. We love the fun, current audio lessons and interactive online tools. Sign up for your free lifetime account and see for yourself!
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Hannah is a half Irish/half Japanese girl living in Ireland. Her love for Japan and the Japanese language led her to studying languages and translation in university where she specialised in Japanese. She spent a year studying abroad at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. In her free time, Hannah enjoys using her sewing machine to upcycle clothes and create new pieces!