From stand-up noodle shops and pizzerias to exclusive kaiseki restaurants and sushi bars, restaurants in Tokyo number at least 80,000 -- which gives you some idea of how fond the Japanese are of eating out. In a city where apartments are so small and cramped that entertaining at home is almost unheard of, restaurants serve as places for socializing, meeting friends, and wooing business associates -- as well as great excuses for drinking a lot of beer, sake, and whiskey.
Notes on Dining
Note that a 5% consumption tax will be added to restaurant bills. In addition, many first-class restaurants, as well as hotel restaurants, will add a 10% to 15% service charge. Unless otherwise stated, the prices given do not include the extra tax and service charge.
Finally, keep in mind that the last order is taken at least 30 minutes before the restaurant's actual closing time, sometimes even an hour before closing at the more exclusive restaurants.
