First-Time Sushi Guide | Essential Etiquette and How to Eat Sushi in Japan

A sushi restaurant where a chef prepares each piece in front of you is one of the food experiences worth trying in Tokyo. 🍣

However, when booking counter sushi or omakase for the first time, you may wonder:

“Can I eat sushi with my hands?”

“Where should I put the soy sauce?”

“Is it okay to take photos?”

“Are there any special rules I need to know?”

There is no need to feel overly nervous.

What matters is not memorising every small rule perfectly, but showing consideration for the food, the chef and the other guests around you.

This article explains the basic eating style and etiquette that first-time visitors to authentic sushi restaurants should know.

Related Article: Where to Eat Sushi in Tokyo Beyond the Chains | 6 Authentic Edomae & Omakase Sushi Restaurants

1. You Can Eat Sushi with Your Hands or Chopsticks

Nigiri sushi can be eaten either with your hands or with chopsticks. 🥢

There is no rule saying that you must eat sushi with your hands at a high-end sushi restaurant.

Choose whichever method feels easiest for you.

Historically, sushi was commonly eaten by hand, and even today, eating sushi with your hands at a sushi counter is completely natural.

Using chopsticks is also not considered rude.

If Eating with Your Hands

Hold the sushi gently using your thumb, middle finger and index finger, then bring it directly to your mouth.

If you grip it too firmly, the rice may fall apart, so handle it as gently as possible.

If Eating with Chopsticks

Lightly hold the sushi from the side so that the topping and rice are less likely to separate.

Rather than worrying too much about technique, choose the method that allows you to eat the sushi naturally without breaking it apart.

2. Do Not Use Too Much Soy Sauce

When using soy sauce with sushi, it is generally natural to apply a small amount to the fish side. 🍶

If you dip the rice directly into soy sauce, it may absorb too much and overpower the original flavour of the sushi.

It can also make the rice more likely to fall apart.

At authentic omakase restaurants, however, the chef may already season each piece with nikiri soy sauce, salt or another seasoning before serving it.

In that case, it is best to eat the sushi as it is without adding extra soy sauce.

If you are unsure, try the sushi exactly as it is served first.

3. Do Not Mix a Large Amount of Wasabi into Soy Sauce

At sushi counters, an appropriate amount of wasabi may already be placed between the fish and the rice.

For that reason, there is no need to mix a large amount of wasabi into your soy sauce from the beginning.

If you do not like wasabi, let the restaurant know when booking or before the meal starts, and they may be able to adjust the amount.

If you prefer more wasabi, you can also ask the chef or staff.

4. Gari Is Not a Topping for Sushi

The thin slices of ginger served with sushi are called gari. 🌿

Gari is not a sushi topping. It is mainly eaten to refresh your palate.

Eating a small amount between different types of fish can clear the flavours in your mouth and make it easier to enjoy the next piece.

There is no need to place gari on every piece of sushi.

5. Eat Nigiri Soon After It Is Served

At sushi counters, the chef may consider not only the fish, but also the temperature of the rice and the timing of service.

Once a piece of sushi is served, it is best not to leave it sitting for too long.

Rather than spending too much time taking several photos, prioritise enjoying the sushi first.

This is especially true with omakase, where the chef watches the pace of the meal and serves the next piece accordingly.

6. Check the Restaurant’s Rules Before Taking Photos

Many people want to keep photos of their meal. 📷

However, rules regarding photography and video differ from one sushi restaurant to another.

Some restaurants allow photos of the food, while others may have rules such as:

  • No video recording
  • No photography inside the restaurant
  • No photos that include other guests
  • Permission required before photographing the chef

If you want to take photos, it is safest to check the reservation page in advance or ask a member of staff at the beginning.

At counter seats in particular, be considerate and avoid photographing the chef or other guests without permission.

7. Avoid Strong Perfume and Fragrances

One surprisingly important point when visiting a high-end sushi restaurant is consideration for fragrance. 🌸

Some sushi restaurants clearly ask guests to avoid strong perfumes, colognes and similar fragrances.

With sushi, subtle aromas from the fish, nori, vinegared rice and dashi are all part of the meal.

Strong perfume can affect not only your own experience but also the dining experience of guests sitting nearby.

Especially when visiting an omakase restaurant or high-end sushi counter, it is safer to avoid wearing strong perfume.

8. Arrive with Plenty of Time Before Your Reservation

Some high-end sushi restaurants use a simultaneous starting time, where several guests begin their meal together. ⏰

If you arrive late, it may not simply mean that your meal starts later. You may miss some dishes.

For this reason, allow enough time for travel rather than arriving exactly at the reservation time.

Especially when visiting somewhere for the first time, check in advance:

  • The station exit
  • The location of the building
  • The floor where the restaurant is located
  • Travel time by taxi

Booking a high-end sushi restaurant on the same day as a long journey can also be risky because of transport delays or fatigue.

It can be a good idea to book a special sushi dinner from the following day onwards rather than on arrival day.

9. Always Check the Cancellation Policy

Many sushi restaurants centred around counter seating have only a small number of seats and prepare ingredients according to the number of reservations.

For that reason, strict rules may apply to last-minute cancellations and no-shows.

Depending on the restaurant, cancelling after a certain deadline may result in a charge of around 50–100% of the course price.

When making a reservation, always check:

  • Cancellation deadline
  • Cancellation fee
  • How to change a reservation
  • What happens if you arrive late

If your plans change, do not simply fail to appear. Contact the restaurant or reservation service as early as possible.

10. Chopstick Actions to Avoid

There are certain ways of using chopsticks that are best avoided not only at sushi restaurants, but during meals in general. 🚫

The following two are particularly worth remembering.

Do Not Stand Chopsticks Upright in Rice

Avoid placing chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice.

Do Not Pass Food from Chopsticks to Chopsticks

Avoid passing food directly from your chopsticks to another person’s chopsticks.

It is also better not to point at people with chopsticks or stab food with them.

There is no need to memorise every possible chopstick rule.

It is enough to think of chopsticks as a normal utensil for bringing food to your mouth.

11. Mention Foods You Cannot Eat or Allergies in Advance

With omakase, the course is created using the fish and seasonal ingredients available that day.

For this reason, it may be difficult for the restaurant to make major changes once the meal has already started.

If you have allergies or ingredients you cannot eat, it is important to mention them when making the reservation.

In particular, check in advance if you cannot eat:

  • Raw fish
  • Shellfish
  • Crustaceans
  • Fish roe
  • Wasabi
  • Dishes containing alcohol

If there are many ingredients you cannot eat, some restaurants may find it difficult to accommodate you within an omakase course.

12. Check Age Requirements When Visiting with Children

If you want to enjoy authentic sushi as a family, check the restaurant’s rules for children in advance. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Depending on the restaurant, rules may include:

  • A minimum age requirement
  • Only children who can eat the same course as adults may dine
  • Age restrictions for counter seating
  • Younger children allowed only in private rooms

Travelling with children does not automatically mean that you cannot visit an authentic sushi restaurant.

Some restaurants offer Kids Plans or private rooms, so families can feel more comfortable by checking these options when choosing a restaurant.

13. What Should You Do When Paying?

When the meal is finished, the payment process differs depending on the restaurant.

If the staff gives you instructions, simply follow them.

If you are unsure, it is perfectly fine to tell the staff that you would like to pay.

At some high-end sushi restaurants, the course may already have been paid for when making the reservation, or credit card details may have been registered in advance.

Even in those cases, drinks or additional dishes ordered on the day may need to be paid for at the restaurant.

Accepted payment methods also differ depending on the restaurant.

More restaurants now accept credit cards, but some may accept only cash, or may limit the card brands they accept. For this reason, it is safer to check payment methods on the official website or reservation page before visiting.

In Japan, there is generally no custom of tipping at restaurants.

Even if you are very satisfied with the service, simply paying the amount on the bill is enough.

If you would like to express your appreciation, saying “thank you” when you finish your meal is more than sufficient.

There is no need to leave extra cash on the table or counter as a tip.

You Do Not Need to Overthink High-End Sushi Etiquette

When visiting a high-end sushi restaurant for the first time, some people may worry that eating the “wrong” way will be considered rude. 💡

However, perfect etiquette is not the most important thing.

If you keep the following points in mind, there is no need to feel overly nervous:

  • Arrive on time
  • Check the restaurant’s rules in advance
  • Avoid strong fragrances
  • Be considerate when taking photos
  • Eat sushi reasonably soon after it is served
  • Mention allergies in advance
  • Ask the staff if you are unsure about anything

Rather than worrying too much about detailed rules, it is more important to relax and enjoy the sushi being prepared in front of you.

Conclusion | Knowing the Etiquette Makes Counter Sushi Even More Enjoyable

Sushi prepared one piece at a time in front of you is more than simply a meal.

The way the fish is cut.

The temperature of the rice.

The amount of wasabi.

The seasoning with soy sauce or salt.

And the timing at which each piece is served.

All of these elements come together to create a single piece of sushi. ✨

There is no need to worry too much about whether you should eat sushi with your hands or with chopsticks.

Arrive on time, respect the restaurant’s rules and enjoy the food at its best moment.

That alone is enough.

Knowing just a little about sushi etiquette can make your first experience at a small counter feel less intimidating and help you appreciate the chef’s craftsmanship and the food more deeply.

If you book a sushi restaurant in Tokyo, try to enjoy not only the meal itself, but also the quiet time that unfolds at the counter.

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