How to Avoid Bad Restaurants in Japan: Tips for Finding Great Food

When traveling in Japan, one of the highlights is, without a doubt, the food. Beyond experiencing the rich history and breathtaking sights, a big part of immersing yourself in Japan is exploring its culinary scene. However, a bad dining experience can really put a damper on your trip. Relying on Google Maps reviews alone might not always be reliable; even high-rated places can sometimes be disappointing. After multiple trips to Japan, I've gathered a few tips and tricks to help you avoid subpar restaurants and find the real gems.

Tips to Avoid Disappointing Restaurants

1. Avoid Restaurants Focusing on Takeout

It's not that takeout-focused places are necessarily bad, but in my experience, most high-quality restaurants don't prioritize takeout. If a restaurant is truly great and reasonably priced, their dine-in service alone tends to keep them busy. Many traditional places don't have the time or need to cater to takeout. A good indicator is if you see logos like "Foodpanda," "DiDiFood," or "Uber Eats" on the exterior, as these services are often linked to places that emphasize takeout.

2. Be Wary of Restaurants Overly Active on Google Maps

Some restaurants spend more time managing their Google Maps profile than actually focusing on the food. If a place is constantly updating its posts or responding to reviews, it could be a sign that they're catering primarily to tourists rather than concentrating on the quality of their dishes. You might find a high-rated spot on Google Maps only to discover it's more of a tourist trap. While I use Google Maps for restaurant hunting myself, I focus less on the reviews and more on things like the menu, photos of the dishes, and the ambiance shown in the images. The official restaurant website is also a good source, especially in historical cities like Kyoto and Osaka, where older establishments often have deep-rooted histories that can indicate a higher level of authenticity.

3. Avoid Restaurants in Busy Tourist Areas

Popular tourist districts like Kyoto's Kawaramachi and Gion are filled with eateries, but not all of them are worth visiting. While there are definitely some great, longstanding establishments, many newer ones are overpriced and mediocre, often catering to the heavy tourist traffic. If you have time, I recommend exploring the quieter side streets—this is often where you'll find the real culinary treasures.

4. Be Cautious with New-Looking Restaurants

A restaurant with a brand-new, flashy exterior, and young staff may not always be the best bet. If you enter a place and sense that the vibe is off, it's best to order just one or two small dishes to test the waters. This little tip has saved me many times—if the food doesn't impress, you can easily move on to another spot without wasting too much time or money.

How to Find a Great Restaurant

Now, how do you find the good places? From my experience, if you follow the tips above, you're already halfway there. Japan has no shortage of fantastic restaurants, so it's more about avoiding the bad ones than struggling to find the good. In historical cities like Kyoto or Osaka, many older restaurants also display subtle cultural elements, like a traditional fire protection charm (a talisman used to protect the building from fires). You'll often see these at the entrances of old establishments, which can be a good sign of their longstanding presence and reputation.

Additionally, restaurants located in department stores are often quite decent. While they may be a bit pricier and are typically chain stores, they tend to have consistent quality and are popular with locals.

Aside from Google Maps, I highly recommend using Tabelog (食べログ), a popular restaurant review and reservation site used by locals. The rating system on Tabelog is much stricter compared to Google Maps. A restaurant rated 3.5 or higher is considered excellent, as it's rare for Japanese users to give a score higher than 4. If you're looking for guaranteed good options, check out the Tabelog Hyakumeiten list, which features the top 100 restaurants across various categories. For example, you can find the Top 100 Spanish Restaurants or the Top 100 Western Restaurants in Japan, and most of the featured restaurants are excellent choices.

When traveling in Japan, it's worth bookmarking Tabelog Hyakumeiten to quickly find great dining options, especially if you're unsure of where to go.