⚡ 30-Second Answer: Izakaya pillar = comprehensive guide to Japan's casual drinking culture, ¥3,500-7,000/person (2hr all-you-can-drink course). Chain izakaya (Torikizoku/Watami/Shogun-shogun) = 100% card + tourist menus, owner-run = cash + atmosphere. Otōshi (mandatory ¥300-800 appetizer) auto-charged (often non-refusable), check before final billing. All-you-can-drink is worth it if you'll have 10+ drinks in 2 hours.
Quick Reference
Value
Per person
¥3,500-7,000
2hr nomihōdai
¥3,500-5,500
Otōshi
¥300-800 auto
Chain
Card OK
Owner-run
Often cash
Last verified
June 2026
📖4 min read
SponsoredThis article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission when you sign up through them, but our recommendations and editorial stance are not influenced by the partnerships.
Contents📖 ~5 min read
Izakaya payment fully covered in one page. Izakaya is the most confusing dining genre for tourists, due to otoshi (table charge appetizer), warikan (split-the-bill), no tipping. Chain izakaya (Torikizoku, Watami) are 100% card; alleyway / legacy izakaya are 50-70% cash, especially Tokyo Shimbashi / Akabane / Osaka / Fukuoka backstreets. This guide explains "otoshi is not refusable", "warikan is normal", "no tipping" — the customs tourists need to know.
TL;DR — izakaya payment playbook
Per person: ¥3,000-7,000 (drinks + 4-6 dishes + otoshi)
Otoshi (tsukidashi): ¥300-500/person, most shops cannot refuse it (treated as seat charge)
Chain izakaya: card 100%, Suica OK
Alleyway / legacy: cash 50-70%, especially Shimbashi / Akabane / Osaka / Fukuoka back streets
No tipping, warikan (split bill) normal, declare in advance for groups
Payment: table checkout or entrance register, card OK
Price: ¥2,500-4,500/person
Best for: first day in Japan, English menus, photos
Type B: Mid-tier / regional chains
Local + regional sake-focused.
Payment: 90% card-friendly, some cash too
Price: ¥3,500-6,000/person
Best for: intermediate, high quality
Type C: Alleyway small izakaya
Shimbashi under-track / Yurakucho yokocho / Shinjuku Golden Gai / Osaka Hozenji Yokocho.
Payment: cash 60-80%, otoshi ¥500-800 standard
Price: ¥4,000-8,000/person
Best for: authentic Japan, English rarely spoken
Type D: High-end kappo / ozashiki izakaya
Counter kappo / Kyoto kaiseki.
Payment: card 60-70%, confirm at reservation
Price: ¥10,000-30,000/person
2. What is "otoshi"?
What the otoshi is
The small dish that arrives the moment you sit down. The "I didn't order this but it came" experience that tourists get confused by. A ¥300-500/person seat-charge equivalent, most shops do not refuse to bring it (recent shops are increasingly allowing cancellation).
Avoiding the otoshi charge
Major chains generally no otoshi or cheap (¥0-200)
Some shops let you say "Otoshi wa iranai desu ka?" (Don't need the otoshi?) to skip