todonavi - JAPAN CULTURAL and TOURISM information website

Written by D. Carnegie

Translated by A. Osorio

12.2.2021 (Re:4.2.2022)

 

Otoshi is an appetizer that is served in almost all izakayas and accompanies the first drink, even if you haven’t ordered it, they bring it to you. For tourists this practice is a bit confusing, for that reason we present it here.

 

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　1. What is the Otoshi?

　2. Origin and Purposes of Otoshi

　3. Can the Otoshi be rejected?

 

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1. What is the Otoshi?

 

When you go to an izakaya in Japan, you will be greeted with a small plate of food which is called otoshi or tsukidashi.

The Otoshi or we could also call it an appetizer, is a simple meal that tries to calm the hunger of the customers until the ordered food arrives, and is provided to each person.

Otoshi generally has an additional charge and is added to the total meal bill. As it is common in Japan, it is not often explained to customers beforehand.

 

 

2. Origin and Purposes of Otoshi

 

In Japanese, “otoshi suru” means, “to guide a customer to his seat“, they say that this theory is how the otoshi got its name.

In Japan, when you go to a Japanese bar or izakaya, the first thing that is served is the drink. When customers order food, there is a period of waiting time until it arrives. As customers have nothing to eat while drinking, the otoshi serves as an appetizer while the food arrives.

In other words, otoshi is considered a gesture of the restaurant towards its customers.

While in Kyushu and Kanto, it is called “otoshi”, in Kansai it is called “tsukidashi”.

 

 

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3. Can the Otoshi be rejected?

 

Depending on the izakaya maybe it can be. In some places, if you let the staff know in advance that you don’t want the otoshi, they will remove the additional charge from the account. However, in the case where the cost of the otoshi includes in the charge for sitting or entitlement to a sekiryo chair, it cannot be refused.

In any case, you can ask and check with the staff. The additional cost of otoshi in an izakaya ranges from 300 to 500 yen for the general public.

 

 

Now that you know about otoshi, you should no longer worry when you go to an izakaya for the first time.

 

 

 

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Written by D. Carnegie

Translated by A. Osorio

 

 

The information in this article was current at the time of coverage and writing.

 

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