Japan Sushi Guide: Types, Ordering and Restaurant Tips

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

Sushi is made with rice seasoned with vinegar, paired with ingredients that may include seafood, egg, or vegetables. It is not limited to raw fish: some sushi uses cooked ingredients, and its forms range from hand-shaped nigiri to rolls and pressed sushi. Sashimi is different: it is served without sushi rice. (JNTO’s sushi guide, checked 4 November 2026.)

A useful way to plan is to choose a dining experience that fits your group, then check the specific restaurant’s current menu, prices, availability, and booking conditions. A chain restaurant may have an ordering screen and a defined check-in process, while omakase means leaving the selection to the chef; neither format has one price or procedure that applies everywhere. If you have dietary needs, ask the restaurant about the actual ingredients and preparation rather than relying on a dish name alone.

1. Sushi types and useful words

Two words help when reading a sushi menu: shari means the seasoned rice, and neta means the ingredient paired with it. The rice and topping are considered together, but sushi can be formed and presented in several ways. The table below summarizes the types described by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO); the ingredients and preparation of a particular order still need to be checked with the restaurant.

These descriptions are useful for recognizing a form, not for identifying every ingredient in a serving. For example, knowing that a dish is maki tells you it is rolled, but not which filling, seasoning, or other ingredients the restaurant uses. Ask about the particular item when an ingredient matters to you.

JNTO also gives plum-and-shiso rolls as an example of vegetable-oriented sushi and notes that sushi can include egg, vegetables, and cooked ingredients. That does not establish a complete recipe or confirm that a dish is suitable for a particular allergy or dietary requirement. Explain your exact needs to the restaurant and ask about both ingredients and preparation.

Sushi and sashimi are also easy to confuse when you are browsing a menu. The practical distinction is the rice: JNTO describes sushi as using rice seasoned with vinegar, while sashimi is served without that rice. If you are avoiding a particular ingredient or looking for a cooked option, ask about the specific item rather than assuming that all dishes in one category are prepared alike.

2. Choosing a restaurant, experience, and budget

There is no confirmed nationwide sushi price in the supplied official information. JNTO says prices vary by restaurant format, so a price mentioned for one restaurant or example should not be treated as a current national rate. Check the specific venue’s menu and ask what the total includes before you commit to a booking.

The following comparison separates three experiences covered by the official sources. It is not a ranking: each requires a different kind of check, and the sources do not provide a current price that can be compared across them.

For omakase, contact the restaurant before booking if anyone in your party has an allergy, avoids a particular ingredient, or needs another accommodation. Because the chef chooses the selection, you should not assume that the menu can be adjusted in a particular way; ask the restaurant directly. Also ask whether the quoted amount is a total for the party or applies to each person, and what it covers.

For a chain restaurant, do not assume that every branch or chain follows the same ordering process. Kura Sushi’s first-visit instructions describe one operator’s system, while another restaurant may use a different one or may have different payment arrangements. The Kura Sushi guide is useful for understanding that example, but the selected location is the place to confirm current details.

JNTO recommends checking reservations when planning to visit popular sushi restaurants. The recommendation does not mean that every restaurant requires a reservation, or that a particular date is available. Check the venue’s own booking information and ask about availability, cancellation terms, and any conditions that apply to your party.

If you are comparing places in Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, use destination guides to make a shortlist, then confirm details with the restaurant itself. A city list is not a current quote or a guarantee of availability. For broader context on the variety of food experiences in Tokyo, GO TOKYO’s culinary-culture guide is an official starting point, but it does not replace a restaurant’s current menu or booking information.

3. A Kura Sushi ordering example

Kura Sushi’s first-visit guide describes how to use that chain’s system. The steps below are based on its instructions, not a universal guide to conveyor-belt restaurants. Check the chosen location’s current reservation options and follow the instructions displayed there when you arrive.

1. Check the location and reservation options. Kura Sushi describes timed reservations made by smartphone and web reservations that do not require the app. Confirm what is available for the particular location and date you want.
2. Check in at the restaurant. The guide describes using an automatic guidance machine on arrival and entering a reservation number when applicable. Follow the machine’s prompts for your visit.
3. Take the seat slip. The check-in process provides a guidance slip showing a seat number. Go to the seat indicated on that slip.
4. Open the ordering page. Kura Sushi describes ordering through the table’s touch panel or by reading the code at the seat with a smartphone. Use the option and instructions provided at the restaurant.
5. Collect orders and pay as directed. The chain says ordered items arrive on an order lane. Its guide describes using the guidance slip at self-checkout; follow the shop’s directions for completing payment.

The guide also describes items provided at the table: chopsticks, soy sauce, and powdered green tea. For the tea, it suggests putting about a teaspoon of powder into a cup and pressing the cup against the hot-water dispenser. Equipment and instructions are specific to the restaurant, so follow what is provided at the location rather than treating these details as instructions for every sushi shop.

Kura Sushi’s guide lists card, electronic-money, and Pay payment methods. That list is not a guarantee that a particular location accepts every method now or under every circumstance. Verify the accepted options for the restaurant you plan to visit, especially if you need to rely on a particular way to pay.

This example can make a first visit easier to picture: reserve if that suits your plans, check in, follow the seat slip, order using the available system, and use the restaurant’s payment instructions. It is still worth allowing for differences between locations or changes to the operator’s guidance. If a screen or machine is unclear, ask the staff rather than guessing.

4. Eating sushi and dining etiquette

Follow the restaurant’s own instructions, particularly if you are dining at a counter or have been given a specific way to enjoy an item. JNTO’s general Japanese food-etiquette guide includes not resting your elbows on the table and moving food from a shared dish to an individual plate. These are general dining points, not a complete set of rules for every sushi restaurant.

Kura Sushi recommends putting one or two drops of soy sauce directly on a piece of sushi and adding wasabi to taste. This is that chain’s suggestion, not a universal rule for every restaurant or chef. If staff give you a different instruction for a particular dish, follow the restaurant’s guidance.

When a group is sharing dishes, check what each person can eat before ordering and ask staff about ingredients where needed. A topping name may not describe the seasoning or preparation, and the available official information does not establish a standard allergy policy for all restaurants. It also cannot confirm the day’s fish supply or the complete ingredients of every item.

It is reasonable to ask a restaurant about the details that affect your order, but do not assume that one restaurant’s answer applies to another. A cooked topping does not by itself tell you what else is in the dish, just as a vegetable-oriented example does not establish that every ingredient is suitable for every dietary requirement. If an answer is important to your health or comfort, ask the restaurant directly before ordering.

5. Dietary needs and sushi-making classes

Sushi can include seafood, egg, vegetables, and cooked ingredients, but those broad categories do not confirm the full contents of a specific dish. Tell the restaurant about an allergy, vegetarian requirement, or other restriction before ordering. Ask about the rice seasoning, filling, topping, and preparation details that matter to your needs, rather than relying on a general label such as “vegetable.”

The available official information does not confirm how any individual restaurant handles a particular allergy or whether it can change a dish. Contact the venue in advance when you need a clear answer, and explain the restriction precisely. If the restaurant cannot confirm that an item is suitable, do not treat its name or appearance as proof that it is safe for you.

JNTO describes an English-language sushi-making class example at Kitchen Kujo Tokyo near Ueno. The article says the class covers nigiri as well as rolls and ikura sushi, making it a useful starting point for someone interested in learning about more than one form of sushi. Read the JNTO class article and contact the provider to confirm current sessions and details.

The article is not a guarantee of present-day dates, prices, availability, ingredients, or booking conditions. Ask the provider what the session you are considering includes, whether it can accommodate your dietary needs, and how to book. A class also differs from a restaurant meal: check its actual content rather than assuming every session follows the same format.

For broader meal planning, the official GO TOKYO culinary-culture guide provides context about Tokyo’s varied food culture. It does not establish the ingredients or accommodation policy of a particular sushi venue. For that, use the restaurant or class provider’s own current information.

6. Frequently asked questions

Is sushi always raw fish?
No. JNTO describes sushi with seafood, egg, and vegetables, and notes that cooked ingredients are also used. Ask the restaurant about the specific dish, because a general category does not identify every ingredient or how it is prepared.

What is the difference between sushi and sashimi?
JNTO describes sushi as using rice seasoned with vinegar, while sashimi is served without rice. Sashimi is therefore a separate dish, not simply another name for sushi. Check the specific menu item if you need to know its ingredients or preparation.

What does omakase mean?
Omakase means entrusting the selection to the chef. It does not identify one fixed nationwide menu or price, since restaurant formats and prices vary. Before booking, ask the restaurant about the selection, total price, inclusions, and any requirements.

Do I need to reserve a sushi restaurant in Japan?
JNTO recommends checking reservations when planning to visit popular sushi restaurants. The available dates and whether a booking is required depend on the venue. Check the restaurant’s own booking information and confirm any conditions that apply to your party.

How much does sushi cost in Japan?
The official information used here does not establish one nationwide price; it says prices vary by restaurant format. Check the specific restaurant’s current menu or ask it for the expected total. If a price is quoted, confirm what it covers rather than assuming that it includes the same items or conditions as another restaurant’s price.

Can I find sushi without raw fish or with vegetables?
JNTO describes cooked ingredients, egg, and vegetables as possibilities, and gives plum-and-shiso rolls as a vegetable-oriented example. Those descriptions do not guarantee a particular restaurant offers them or that a dish meets a dietary requirement. Ask about the item’s complete ingredients and preparation.

Does every conveyor-belt sushi restaurant use the Kura Sushi system?
No such general rule is established by the Kura Sushi guide. Its timed booking, check-in slip, ordering options, order lane, and self-checkout steps describe that chain’s system. Check the instructions for the specific restaurant you plan to visit.

Can I join an English-language sushi-making class near Ueno?
JNTO describes an English-language class example at Kitchen Kujo Tokyo near Ueno, covering nigiri, rolls, and ikura sushi. The article does not confirm current dates, prices, or availability. Contact the provider to check the session and ask about booking and dietary needs.

Video introductions

These videos offer creator perspectives on sushi and dining rather than replacing a restaurant’s current menu, booking details, or advice about ingredients. They can be useful as informal introductions, but the practical details in this guide are based on the linked official sources. Check the restaurant or class provider directly when you need current or location-specific information.

• PiQtour Japan: sushi for beginners introduces sushi dining in Japan.
• The Sushi Man: sushi beginner introduction presents a creator’s introduction to sushi.
• PiQtour Japan: sushi chain comparison compares chain restaurants from the creator’s perspective.
• Japan Guide: sushi history and cost introduces sushi and dining in Japan.
• Business Insider: sushi dining presents one chef’s perspective on eating sushi.
• Munchies: eating sushi offers a creator’s perspective.
• Zafley: sushi-related video is another creator’s sushi-related post.