Today I Learned
Otoshi in Japan: What It Is and Can You Refuse It?
Understand Japan's otoshi appetizer charge, what to ask before sitting down, how to explain allergies, and how to check an unexpected izakaya bill.
Otoshi (お通し) is a small appetizer that can arrive at an izakaya without a separate order and appear on your bill. It can function as a table charge. Do not assume it is free, always costs ¥500, or can always be declined. Ask what the venue charges and includes before taking a seat.
If you have a food allergy or dietary restriction, explain it before any dish is served. Whether you can eat the appetizer and whether the venue charges a fee are separate questions to clarify.
What is otoshi, and how much does it cost?
Japan’s National Consumer Affairs Center describes otoshi as a small dish sometimes served before ordering, with a charge that can be understood as a table charge. Its visitor guidance recommends asking staff about an unclear amount or a separate charge added alongside otoshi.
The price and policy need checking at the venue. Torikizoku’s official policy, for example, says it does not collect otoshi, seating or late-night charges. That is a useful alternative if you want to avoid this kind of fee; it does not establish the policy at another restaurant.
Before ordering, read the menu or entrance notice and check:
- The amount including tax. Look for お通し (otoshi), 席料 (sekiryō, seating charge) or チャージ (chāji, charge).
- Who is charged. Ask whether it is per person and whether children or non-drinkers in your party are included.
- What it includes. If both otoshi and a cover appear, ask whether they refer to the same fee or two separate charges.
For a simple budgeting example, if a venue quotes ¥500 including tax per person and confirms it applies to all four people, that part of the bill is ¥2,000, before your food, drinks and any other agreed charges. This is an illustration, not a current restaurant price quote.
Can you refuse otoshi?
Ask before sitting down whether you can skip it and whether the fee would still apply. Declining a dish and having a charge removed are different requests. Get a clear answer instead of relying on leaving the dish untouched.
If the policy does not suit you, choose another venue before ordering. If you only discover the charge later, ask for an explanation. A printed bill is not a reason to stop asking about an unfamiliar item, and this guide does not determine whether a disputed charge is legally payable.
Useful English and Japanese questions
You can show these questions to staff. Use a direct question rather than just saying ii desu, which can be unclear without context.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Is there an otoshi or seating charge? | お通し代や席料はありますか？ |
| How much is it per person, including tax? | 一人いくらですか？ 税込みですか？ |
| Is the otoshi included in the seating charge? | お通し代は席料に含まれていますか？ |
| Can I skip the otoshi? Would a charge still apply? | お通しなしにできますか？ その場合も料金はかかりますか？ |
| Does this charge also apply to children? | 子どもにもこの料金はかかりますか？ |
| Could you explain this charge? | この料金について説明していただけますか？ |
What if you have a food allergy?
Tell staff the specific food you are allergic to before ordering or accepting the dish, and ask them to check with the kitchen. For example: 卵アレルギーがあります。お通しの原材料を確認していただけますか？ means “I have an egg allergy. Could you check the ingredients in the otoshi?” Replace egg with your own allergen.
The Consumer Affairs Agency provides an English food allergy communication sheet to help identify allergens, and guidance on eating out with food allergies, including unintended allergen contact during preparation. A translated question or menu description is not a guarantee that a dish is safe for you. Ask about preparation as well as ingredients; if the answer is unclear, do not guess from how the dish looks.
If requesting a different dish or no dish, separately confirm what happens to the charge. Do not assume an allergy request automatically changes the price.
If the bill is unclear
Ask staff to identify the unfamiliar line, show where the fee was explained and check the number of people charged. If both an otoshi fee and another charge appear, ask what each covers before paying. This follows the National Consumer Affairs Center’s visitor guidance; it does not mean that every additional fee is an error or that every disputed fee must be accepted.
For bars, cover charges may need a different budget from an izakaya meal. Our Golden Gai cover-charge guide explains posted bar prices, drink costs and how to calculate a night out. Use the Golden Gai bar guide to explore venues, then confirm the chosen bar’s current terms.
What was checked
This is a researched guide, not a report of an on-site visit. The official sources below were checked on September 24, 2026. The National Consumer Affairs Center report was published in January 2020; it is used for its explanation and advice, not as evidence of current prices. Individual menus, admission policies, ingredients and allergy accommodations still need confirmation with the venue.