The Best Way to Find Great Restaurants in Japan? Book by Phone in Japanese

You found a great local restaurant in Japan—but there’s one problem.

They only take reservations by phone.

Don't worry. You don't need perfect Japanese. With just a few simple phrases, you can try making the reservation yourself!

1. Start the Reservation

予約お願いします。

Yoyaku onegaishimasu.

“A reservation, please.”

If you're calling on the same day:

今日、予約できますか？

Kyou, yoyaku dekimasu ka?“

Can I make a reservation for today?”

予約 (yoyaku) = reservation

2. How Many People?

The restaurant will probably ask:

何名様ですか？

Nanmei-sama desu ka?

“How many people?”

You can answer:

• 一人です。 — Hitori desu. — One person

• 二人です。 — Futari desu. — Two people

• 三人です。 — Sannin desu. — Three people

• 四人です。 — Yonin desu. — Four people

  
  

Be careful: 1 and 2 people are hitori and futari, not ichinin and ninin.

3. What Time?

You may hear:

何時がよろしいですか？

Nanji ga yoroshii desu ka?

“What time would you like?”

Here are some useful times:

• 1時 — Ichiji — 1:00

• 2時 — Niji — 2:00

• 3時 — Sanji — 3:00

• 4時 — Yoji — 4:00

• 5時 — Goji — 5:00

• 6時 — Rokuji — 6:00

• 7時 — Shichiji — 7:00

• 
  

For example:

7時でお願いします。

Shichiji de onegaishimasu.

“7:00, please.”

If that time isn't available:

何時なら空いていますか？

Nanji nara aiteimasu ka?

“What time is available?”

4. Give Your Name

The restaurant may ask:

お名前をお願いします。

Onamae o onegaishimasu.

“May I have your name?”

Just answer:

Johnです。

John desu.

“I'm John.”

5. When You Arrive at the Restaurant

You've made the reservation. Now there's just one more phrase you'll need when you arrive:

予約したJohnです。

Yoyaku shita John desu.

“I'm John. I have a reservation.”

That's it! The staff will understand that you're the person who made the reservation.

A Complete Example

YOU	RESTAURANT
予約お願いします。 Yoyaku onegaishimasu.	何名様ですか？ Nanmei-sama desu ka?
二人です。 Futari desu.	何時がよろしいですか？ Nanji ga yoroshii desu ka?
7時でお願いします。 Shichiji de onegaishimasu.	お名前をお願いします。 Onamae o onegaishimasu.
Johnです。 John desu.

One Last Tip

Phone calls can be harder than speaking Japanese face-to-face because you can't use gestures or facial expressions.

If you don't understand something, remember these two phrases:

もう一度お願いします。

Mou ichido onegaishimasu.

“One more time, please.”

ゆっくりお願いします。

Yukkuri onegaishimasu.

“Slowly, please.”

You don't need perfect Japanese. Even a few simple phrases can help you access smaller local restaurants and have experiences that many tourists miss.

Sometimes, a little Japanese can take you much further than you think.

Want to Practice Before Your Trip?

In my Survival Japanese Lesson, we practice real situations you'll actually experience in Japan—restaurants, shopping, reservations, asking questions, and communicating with locals.

The goal isn't fluency.

It's learning enough Japanese to speak, connect, and travel with confidence.