How to Eat Sushi in Japan: A Beginner's Guide
Contents
- 1. 1. How to eat sushi: the quick comparison
- 2. 2. How to eat sushi: what the words mean
- 3. 3. How to eat sushi with hands or chopsticks
- 4. 4. How to eat sushi: ginger, tea and order
- 5. 5. How to eat sushi at a conveyor-belt restaurant
- 6. 6. How to eat sushi: reservations and restaurant etiquette
- 7. Creators’ videos about eating sushi
- 8. 7. How to eat sushi FAQ
You can eat sushi with your fingers or chopsticks. If you use soy sauce on nigiri, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) advises dipping the topping side rather than soaking the rice, which can absorb too much sauce and fall apart. Treat pickled ginger as a palate cleanser, check any instructions from the restaurant, and remember that sushi is not necessarily raw: its ingredients may be cooked or raw.
The details below are based on official guidance checked on 4 November 2026. Sushi menus, prices, reservation conditions and service styles vary by restaurant, so there is no single nationwide price or set of rules to assume. When you are unsure about an ingredient or how a dish is served, ask the staff at that venue.
1. How to eat sushi: the quick comparison
Use this table as a starting point, not as a rulebook for every restaurant. The advice on soy sauce comes from two different sources: JNTO explains how to avoid soaking the rice, while Kura Sushi demonstrates a method for its own chain. Follow any dish-specific or restaurant-specific instructions you are given.
| Situation | Practical guidance | Price, timing or booking | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigiri and soy sauce | JNTO advises touching the topping side to the soy sauce rather than dipping the rice, which can absorb too much sauce and break apart. | There is no national menu price for nigiri; check the restaurant’s menu. | JNTO sushi guide |
| Hands or chopsticks | Both are acceptable ways to eat sushi. Choose whichever lets you handle the piece comfortably. | No special equipment needs to be brought; check what the restaurant provides. | JNTO and Hyogo sushi association |
| Pickled ginger | Use it as a palate cleanser between bites if you wish, rather than treating it as a sushi topping. | Eat it when useful to you; it is not a required step. | JNTO sushi guide |
| Conveyor-belt sushi | Do not return a plate to the belt after taking it. Follow the restaurant’s own ordering instructions. | Prices and ordering systems depend on the restaurant. | JNTO sushi guide |
| Kura Sushi’s soy sauce | Kura Sushi suggests adding one or two drops directly to sushi and adding wasabi according to preference. | This is the chain’s example; check the branch’s menu and setup. | Kura Sushi first-visit guide |
These comparisons are useful because they separate general guidance from an individual chain’s instructions. For example, JNTO’s advice concerns dipping the topping side, while Kura Sushi describes putting a small amount of soy sauce directly onto sushi at its restaurants. Neither method should be assumed to override what a chef or restaurant says about a particular dish.
There is also no single national price, opening schedule or reservation rule established by these sources. Before you go, check the chosen restaurant’s current menu and visit information, especially if you are planning around a particular budget, time or dietary need. If the online information does not answer your question, contact the restaurant directly.
2. How to eat sushi: what the words mean
Sushi does not mean raw fish alone. JNTO describes it as vinegared rice paired with ingredients such as seafood, egg or vegetables, and explains that those ingredients may be cooked as well as raw. If a menu item is unfamiliar, do not infer its ingredients or preparation from the word “sushi”; ask the restaurant what that particular item contains.
Two useful terms from the Hyogo sushi association are shari, meaning the vinegared rice, and neta, meaning the main sushi ingredient or topping. Knowing which is which can make the soy-sauce advice easier to understand: JNTO recommends applying sauce to the topping side rather than letting the rice soak it up. These terms are helpful vocabulary, but guests do not need to use them to order or enjoy a meal.
The association also records several restaurant terms: agari for tea, gyoku for cooked egg and murasaki for soy sauce. They are examples of restaurant vocabulary, not words a visitor is expected to know. If you hear an unfamiliar term or cannot identify something on a menu, asking staff for an explanation is more reliable than guessing. See the Hyogo sushi association’s explanation of sushi customs.
3. How to eat sushi with hands or chopsticks
JNTO says it is acceptable to eat sushi by hand, and the Hyogo sushi association also describes eating it with chopsticks. Choose the method that feels comfortable and lets you handle the piece without difficulty. There is no need to treat one method as more correct than the other when both are accepted in the guidance.
If you decide to use soy sauce, JNTO advises touching the topping side to it. The reason is practical: vinegared rice can absorb too much sauce and become more likely to fall apart. Use the restaurant’s sauce and serving setup as provided, and avoid soaking the rice in a pool of sauce.
Kura Sushi offers a separate example in its first-visit guide: add one or two drops of soy sauce directly to the sushi, and add wasabi according to your preference. That is guidance from this named chain, not a universal instruction for every sushi counter or restaurant. If the dish is served with specific directions, follow those directions or ask staff before adding anything.
A separate question is what to do when you are uncertain about how a particular item is served. You can ask rather than assume that every piece should be handled or seasoned in the same way. This is especially useful when the restaurant gives instructions for a course or a specific dish. The available official guidance supports the general choice of hands or chopsticks and the soy-sauce advice above.
The existing creator videos offer additional perspectives, but they are individual demonstrations rather than official rules. ML Series’ sushi etiquette overview and SAMUKICHI -Japan food studio-’s sushi tips can be watched alongside the restaurant guidance. For general points, use the official sources and follow the instructions where you are eating.
4. How to eat sushi: ginger, tea and order
JNTO describes gari, or pickled ginger served with sushi, as a palate cleanser rather than a topping. The Hyogo sushi association also gives ginger or tea as examples of ways to refresh your palate after a stronger flavour. You can eat ginger between bites when it is useful to you; the guidance does not make it a required step after every piece.
The association says the order in which you enjoy the food is a matter of what tastes good to you. It gives moving from lighter to stronger flavours as one possible sequence, not a fixed rule for every diner or restaurant. If you are eating a course, the restaurant may have its own sequence or instructions, so follow those rather than trying to impose a general order.
Kura Sushi’s first-visit guide describes a setup with chopsticks and powdered green tea. It suggests putting roughly one teaspoon of powdered tea into the cup. That amount and setup are specific to the chain’s guidance; other venues may serve tea differently, so check the table or ask staff if you are unsure. The Kura Sushi guide is useful for understanding that restaurant’s example, not for assuming every restaurant has the same equipment.
5. How to eat sushi at a conveyor-belt restaurant
At a conveyor-belt restaurant, JNTO’s central instruction is straightforward: do not put a plate back on the belt after taking it. If you are deciding what to order, check the particular restaurant’s menu, prices and ordering instructions.
Kura Sushi publishes a first-visit guide explaining details of its own table setup, including its soy-sauce method and powdered green tea. This gives visitors a concrete example of guidance from one chain, but it should not be treated as a description of every conveyor-belt restaurant. Other venues may explain their menus, utensils and ordering process differently.
If ingredients or preparation matter to you, ask before ordering. Sushi can include seafood, egg or vegetables, and its ingredients may be raw or cooked; the name of a dish alone may not tell you enough about its contents. For allergies or food restrictions, contact the restaurant before the visit where possible, then confirm your needs with the venue rather than relying on assumptions.
6. How to eat sushi: reservations and restaurant etiquette
JNTO’s general dining guidance asks guests to arrive on time for reservations and to cancel early if they cannot attend. It also explains that an oshibori is for wiping your hands before a meal; after using it, fold it and put it to the side or on its tray. You can read the wider advice in JNTO’s guide to Japanese customs and etiquette.
JNTO advises avoiding strong fragrances at sushi restaurants and notes that some restaurants have their own rules about perfume. Its general etiquette guide also says tipping is not normally customary in Japan. These are useful general points, but a venue may set additional conditions, so check its reservation and payment information before you go.
If you have an allergy or cannot eat a particular ingredient, contact the restaurant before visiting and ask whether it can accommodate your needs. For a specific course or counter, confirm what is included, the price and timing with the establishment; these conditions cannot be inferred from general sushi etiquette. The restaurant is the appropriate source for current details about its own menu and service.
A SUSHI JAPAN guide also gives venue-specific instructions for a course served in sequence. It asks guests to tell the restaurant before visiting about ingredients they cannot eat and about allergies, and describes additional sushi being ordered after the course has been served. It says that sushi served one piece at a time is already seasoned, asks guests to wait until the finishing work is complete, and says not to touch the knives, fresh fish or toppings. It also advises using an appropriate amount of soy sauce and wasabi. These are details attributed to that guide and should not be generalized to all sushi restaurants. The SUSHI JAPAN guide PDF was identified in official search results, but direct access returned a 404 when checked, so its current availability could not be confirmed.
The same SUSHI JAPAN guide says photography and video are welcome at its venue. That permission is venue-specific, not a general guarantee that photography is allowed at every sushi counter. Check the restaurant’s current instructions before taking pictures, especially where staff or other diners may be included.
Creators’ videos about eating sushi
These videos provide individual demonstrations and viewpoints, rather than a substitute for a restaurant’s instructions. They may help you see how different people approach sushi, but the official guidance above is the better basis for general points such as eating by hand or chopsticks, using ginger and avoiding returning a conveyor-belt plate. If a video’s approach differs from the instructions at the restaurant, follow the restaurant.
- Munchies: a video on eating sushi
- Business Insider: chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s approach
- Nobu Restaurants: a video with chef Nobu Matsuhisa
- @smine27: an individual sushi-counter meal in Kyoto
- NowThis Impact: a sushi etiquette video
The videos show individual people and situations, so they do not establish universal restaurant rules. Use them as optional viewing, then check the instructions and menu at the restaurant you choose. This is particularly important when the restaurant has a course, a particular seasoning method or restrictions on photography.
7. How to eat sushi FAQ
Is it acceptable to eat sushi with your hands?
Yes. JNTO says eating sushi by hand is acceptable, and the Hyogo sushi association also describes eating it with chopsticks. Choose the method you can use comfortably and follow any instructions for a particular dish.
Is all sushi made with raw fish?
No. JNTO describes sushi as vinegared rice combined with ingredients such as seafood, egg or vegetables, and says the ingredients can be cooked or raw. Ask staff about a specific item if you need to know what it contains or how it is prepared.
Should I put soy sauce on the rice?
JNTO advises touching the topping side to the soy sauce because rice can absorb too much sauce and fall apart. Kura Sushi gives a different, chain-specific example of adding one or two drops directly to the sushi. Follow the restaurant’s guidance for the dish in front of you rather than treating either example as a universal method.
Is pickled ginger a topping?
JNTO describes gari as a palate cleanser, not a sushi topping. The Hyogo sushi association also gives ginger or tea as examples of ways to refresh your palate after a strong flavour. You can use it between bites if you wish; it is not described as a required part of every bite.
Is there a correct order for eating sushi?
The Hyogo sushi association says the order that matters is the one you enjoy. It offers moving from lighter to stronger flavours as one example, rather than a compulsory sequence. If a restaurant is serving a course or gives instructions, follow that venue’s sequence.
What should I do with a plate taken from a conveyor belt?
JNTO says not to return a plate to the belt after taking it. Ask staff if you are unsure how the venue’s system works.
What if I have an allergy or cannot eat an ingredient?
Contact the restaurant before your visit and explain what you cannot eat, then confirm with the venue what it can accommodate. The SUSHI JAPAN guide specifically asks guests to communicate allergies and ingredients they cannot eat before visiting, but that instruction describes its own service rather than a guarantee from every restaurant. Check the chosen restaurant’s current menu and conditions directly.
Do I need to tip at a sushi restaurant?
JNTO’s general etiquette guide says tipping is not normally customary in Japan. Check the payment conditions for the restaurant you have chosen, since venue-specific arrangements may differ. If you are unsure about a charge or payment method, ask the restaurant before settling the bill.
