The Japanese love to drink, the nightlife is quite lively, and most of the older guys who leave work go straight to an izakaya to have a beer and sake. Perhaps you want to enjoy drinks in Japan and a good social gathering. In this article, we will talk about tips and rules for those who will drink in Japan.
Drinking is part of Japanese culture, and there are even gatherings with this purpose called nomikai (meeting to drink) and bonenkai (year-end gathering). There are no mandatory rules when it comes to drinking, but there are things you can do to improve your interaction with the Japanese and make a good impression.
Going to an izakaya after work when invited by colleagues is almost mandatory. Socializing is important for having a good life in Japan, even if you don’t drink alcoholic beverages, accept the invitation to go out together after work.
Table of Contents
Rules for Drinking in Japan
You must be at least 20 years old to drink alcoholic beverages. – This is the law established by Japan. Each country has its minimum age; in Brazil, it is 18, in the USA, it is 21. Avoid problems by obeying the rules, because things there are serious.
When going home. – Be careful not to miss the train; check the last train time that you usually take. Otherwise, you will need to pay for a taxi, which is quite expensive, or stay at a capsule hotel.
Betsu-betsu. – Name used for splitting the bill when drinking in a group. Everyone needs to keep track of how much they spent and pay the correct individual amount to avoid problems. Sometimes, someone in the group may offer to pay the entire bill.
Don’t drive. – If you have a car, there are drivers who can take your car home for you. If you decide to drive drunk, be prepared to pay a fine of 20 thousand reais and lose your license for up to 5 years.
Don’t go talking to strangers. – It is not common to interact with people who are already in a group of friends or who want privacy. Avoid talking to strangers or getting involved in other people’s conversations. This doesn’t mean you can’t greet bartenders and others; just use discernment.
Tips for Drinking with Friends in Japan
If you are drinking in a group, the first thing they usually order is a beer. Things like wine and sake are left for later; there are no rules related to this, but it is what generally happens.
The custom is for someone to always pour the drink into your glass. You can do the same by filling your friend’s beer glass; he will probably do the same with yours. Some try to show humility by refusing you to pour the drink into their glass; insist a little more.
Remember to start drinking only when everyone is ready, so you can drink together. Before starting to drink, the group of friends usually shouts kanpai, and sometimes you may hear an otsukaresama desu if they are work colleagues.
When making the kanpai toast, make sure your glass is lower than the glass of someone who is superior to you, like your boss. We wrote a detailed article talking about the meaning of kanpai, you can read it by clicking here. In some places, your friends may play games to see who drinks more; a popular game is called Takendo Takendo Nyoki Ki.
Other Tips for Drinking in Japan
There are restaurants and bars that offer nomihoudai where you pay a fee and can drink as much as you want for a time that varies from 1 to 3 hours. Other places like karaoke also usually offer this option. Pub does not always mean bars in Japan. Be careful not to confuse a bar with a hostess or clubs where women sing Enka.
The leading beer brands in Japan are Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo. There is also happoshu, a type of beer with low malt content. Sake usually has an alcohol content of 10 to 20%. There is an alternative to wine and beer called chuhai, which usually has seasonal and fruit flavors. It typically has an alcohol content of 5 to 8%.
I hope you enjoyed these little tips about drinking in Japan. We would be happy if you share the article and leave your experiences and tips in the comments. We recommend that you continue reading the following articles:
Leave a Reply