Country menu guides
What is otoshi in Japan?
Otoshi (お通し) is a small starter that most izakaya bring to your table without being asked and charge per person, typically a few hundred yen. It works as a table or seating charge, so it's normal practice rather than a mistake on the bill. In the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto) it's called tsukidashi (突き出し).
- On the menu
- お通し / 突き出しotōshi / tsukidashi
- Meaning
- A compulsory small starter served at izakaya and charged per person — in effect a table charge.
- Typical amount
- Typically a few hundred yen per person (often around ¥300–600); more at upmarket places.
- Is it a tip?
- No
What arrives, and why you pay for it
Soon after you order drinks, a tiny dish arrives: pickles, simmered vegetables, marinated fish or potato salad. It's the kitchen's choice and changes daily.
The otoshi is less about the food than about the seat: it works like a cover charge for an evening of drinks and small plates.
How it shows up on the menu and the bill
On the bill (お会計) look for お通し, お通し代 or 突き出し, multiplied by the number of people. Some places call it チャージ or 席料 (seat charge) instead. The menu may mention it in small print or on a sign by the entrance, often only in Japanese.
Can you refuse it?
Sometimes. Because it acts as a table charge, many izakaya won't remove it. Some will if you ask as soon as you sit down, before the dish arrives (otōshi wa kekkō desu — "no otoshi, thank you"). Bars and restaurants that aren't izakaya often have no otoshi at all.
If you have a food allergy, ask what the otoshi contains or ask for something else. It often contains dashi, soy or sesame.
What to do
- Ask the price when you sit down: otōshi wa ikura desu ka?
- Treat it as the price of the table, not as a tip. Tipping isn't customary in Japan.
- Check the bill for the right number of people, then pay at the register.
On an izakaya menu you can't read, MenuGuide translates the dishes from a photo, with prices converted to your currency. See how to read a menu in Japan for the rest of the bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is otoshi mandatory in Japan?
At most izakaya, yes, in practice. The otoshi is served to everyone and charged per person as a kind of table charge, and many places won't remove it. Some will if you decline it as soon as you sit down. Restaurants that are not izakaya, such as ramen or sushi shops, usually don't serve an otoshi at all.
Why was I charged for food I didn't order in Japan?
It was almost certainly the otoshi, the small starter izakaya bring automatically and charge per person. It's a standard practice that works like a cover charge, typically a few hundred yen each. It appears on the bill as お通し or 突き出し. If the amount seems high, you can politely ask the staff to explain it.
Is otoshi a tip?
No. Otoshi is a charge for the seat and the small dish, and it goes to the restaurant. Japan has no tipping custom, so you don't need to add anything on top. Upscale and hotel restaurants may charge a separate service charge, usually printed on the menu, which is also not a tip in the usual sense.
Is otoshi the same as tsukidashi?
Yes. Otoshi (お通し) is the usual word in Tokyo and eastern Japan, and tsukidashi (突き出し) is used in the Kansai region around Osaka and Kyoto. Both mean the small starter that arrives unordered and is charged per person. Some bars use チャージ (charge) or 席料 (seat charge) for a similar per-person fee without food.
