← Guides · By Ray Lei · Published 2026-11-14

What do 税込, 税抜, 時価 and お通し mean on a Japanese menu?

Q: What is the difference between 税込 and 税抜 on a Japanese menu?

税込 (zeikomi) means the displayed price includes Japan's consumption tax. The price you see is the price you pay. 税抜 (zeibuki, also written as 税抜き) means the displayed price does not include tax — you need to add Japan's consumption tax rate (currently 10% for restaurant meals, 8% for takeout) to get the final price. If a restaurant shows prices as 税抜, a 1,000 yen menu item will cost 1,100 yen including tax. Many restaurants switched to 税込 display after a legal change in Japan, but 税抜 displays still appear, especially on older menus and at chain restaurants.

Q: What does 時価 mean on a Japanese menu?

時価 (jika) means market price — the price of this item varies depending on the market price that day. It is used for seasonal fish, shellfish, and seafood where the wholesale cost fluctuates. Items marked 時価 do not have a fixed price on the menu. If you want to order a 時価 item, ask the server how much it is today: 本日の時価はいくらですか? (Honjitsu no jika wa ikura desu ka? — How much is the market price today?). Do not order a 時価 item without asking the price unless you are comfortable with an unknown cost.

Q: What is お通し and can I refuse it?

お通し (otoshi) is a small appetizer dish served automatically when you sit down at a Japanese izakaya. It is charged to your bill as a cover charge — typically a small amount per person. お通し is not a service charge in the Western sense; it is a traditional practice considered part of the dining hospitality (the food is given, not just a fee charged). You cannot generally refuse お通し at an izakaya — it is considered part of the sitting arrangement. However, it is not universal to all Japanese restaurants; it is primarily an izakaya custom.

Q: What is Japan's consumption tax rate at restaurants?

Japan's consumption tax (消費税, shohizei) is 10% for restaurant meals eaten on the premises. Takeout (持ち帰り, mochikaeri) is taxed at 8%. This distinction has led to some interesting edge cases — eating at a standing counter at a convenience store vs. taking food away applies a different tax rate. For dining in at a restaurant, calculate 10% on top of any 税抜 price to get the final total.

Q: What does サービス料 mean on a Japanese bill?

サービス料 (saabisu-ryou) means service charge. Unlike many Western countries, tipping is not customary in Japan — in fact, offering a tip can be considered rude or awkward. Some higher-end restaurants and hotel dining rooms add a service charge (typically 10-15%) to the bill automatically. This is disclosed on the menu, usually at the bottom. At most casual restaurants, izakaya, ramen shops, and family restaurants (ファミレス), there is no service charge. If you see サービス料 on a menu or bill, it is a fixed service charge, not a tip.

税込 (zeikomi) = tax included. 税抜 (zeibuki) = pre-tax price, add 10%. 時価 (jika) = market price — ask the server before ordering. お通し (otoshi) = mandatory small appetizer at izakaya, charged automatically. These four terms account for most price surprises at Japanese restaurants.

Japanese restaurants are transparent about pricing by convention, but the terminology differs from other countries in ways that can catch visitors off guard. The two most common sources of bill surprise are pre-tax pricing (seeing 税抜 and not realizing 10% will be added) and お通し (a charged appetizer that arrives automatically at izakaya without being ordered).

Understanding these terms lets you read Japanese menus accurately and avoid unexpected additions to your bill. The table below covers the key price terms you are likely to encounter.

Japanese restaurant price terms

Japanese	Romanization	Meaning	Notes
税込	Zeikomi	Tax included (what you see is what you pay)	The displayed price includes consumption tax; most common since 2021
税抜	Zeibuki / Zeibuki	Pre-tax price (add 10% for restaurant meals)	Also written 税抜き; still seen on some menus and at chain restaurants; takeout is 8% tax
消費税	Shōhizei	Consumption tax	Japan's VAT; 10% for dine-in, 8% for takeout
時価	Jika	Market price (varies daily)	Used for seasonal fish and seafood; always ask the price before ordering
お通し	Otoshi	Mandatory small appetizer at izakaya	Charged automatically per person; a traditional izakaya custom; cannot usually be refused
サービス料	Saabisu-ryou	Service charge	Added at some fine dining and hotel restaurants; not customary at casual places; tipping is not expected in Japan
テーブルチャージ	Teeburu chaaji	Table charge	Charged at some bars, music venues, and high-end restaurants for use of the table; declared on the menu
飲み放題	Nomihodai	All-you-can-drink	Time-limited unlimited drink option at izakaya; often 90 or 120 minutes; set price per person
食べ放題	Tabehodai	All-you-can-eat	Time-limited unlimited food option; common at yakiniku, shabu-shabu, and sushi conveyor restaurants
持ち帰り	Mochikaeri	Takeout / to go	Takeout orders are taxed at 8% instead of 10% (the reduced rate for food eaten off-premises)

お通し (otoshi) explained

お通し is one of the most discussed aspects of izakaya dining for visitors to Japan, because it is an automatic charge that is not explicitly ordered. Here is what to know:

What it is: A small dish of food — often pickles, edamame, a small salad, or a seasonal small plate — that arrives at the table when you sit down at an izakaya. It is not ordered by the customer.
What it costs: A per-person charge, typically a small amount. The amount is printed on the menu or posted somewhere in the restaurant.
Can you refuse it? Generally no. お通し is considered part of the izakaya hospitality model — the small appetizer is part of sitting down at that establishment. Some izakaya, particularly in tourist-focused areas, have made it optional in recent years, but at a traditional izakaya it is expected.
Why does it exist? The practice traditionally served two purposes: it gives patrons something to eat while deciding what to order and while waiting for the first round of orders, and it provides the restaurant a minimum revenue contribution per seated guest. It is not analogous to a service charge.
At what types of restaurants does it appear? Almost exclusively at izakaya (Japanese gastropubs). It is not common at ramen shops, sushi restaurants, family restaurants, or most specialty restaurants. If you see the word お通し on a menu, you are likely at an izakaya.

時価 (jika) and what to do about it

時価 (jika, market price) appears next to items — usually seasonal fish and shellfish — whose wholesale cost fluctuates too much to print a fixed price. The item might be listed as:

時価 alone (no number)
時価 (時価による) — price varies
Sometimes a price range or yesterday's price as a rough guide

If you want to order a 時価 item, ask the server: 本日の時価はいくらですか? (Honjitsu no jika wa ikura desu ka? — How much is the market price today?). The server will tell you the day's price. Do not order it without asking if cost is a concern.

Practical notes

Most menus now use 税込 display. Since 2021, Japanese law requires consumer-facing price displays to show the tax-inclusive price (税込). Most menus comply. If a menu uses 税抜, it should note this clearly — look for the small print near the prices.
Tipping is not part of Japanese restaurant culture. Do not leave money on the table or in the bill tray as a tip. If you accidentally do, the staff may chase you down to return it. サービス料 at fine dining restaurants is a fixed service charge, not a tip.
飲み放題 (nomihodai) has time limits. When you order an all-you-can-drink plan, you are agreeing to a time window (usually 90 or 120 minutes). The server will warn you when the time is approaching its end. You cannot extend nomihodai once the period ends.
Last order (ラストオーダー, L.O.) matters. Japanese restaurants announce a last order time, usually 30 minutes before closing. If you see L.O. on a sign or if the server mentions it, that is your deadline to place any additional food or drink orders.
To scan a Japanese restaurant menu and understand what each term means, ChefBear can translate Japanese menus and explain pricing terms.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 税込 and 税抜 on a Japanese menu?

税込 means the displayed price includes Japan's consumption tax. 税抜 means the price does not include tax — add 10% (for restaurant meals) or 8% (for takeout) to get the final price. Most Japanese menus now use 税込 display, but 税抜 still appears on some menus and at chain restaurants.

What does 時価 mean on a Japanese menu?

時価 means market price — the price varies daily with the wholesale market, typically for seasonal fish and seafood. Always ask the server for today's price before ordering a 時価 item: 本日の時価はいくらですか? (How much is the market price today?)

What is お通し and can I refuse it?

お通し is a mandatory small appetizer charged automatically at izakaya. It arrives when you sit down and is a per-person charge. It is part of the izakaya dining model and generally cannot be refused at a traditional izakaya. The amount is printed on the menu.

What is Japan's consumption tax rate at restaurants?

Japan's consumption tax (消費税) is 10% for restaurant meals eaten on premises and 8% for takeout. If a menu uses 税抜 pricing, multiply the displayed price by 1.10 for dine-in to get the amount you will pay.

What does サービス料 mean on a Japanese bill?

サービス料 means service charge. It is added at some fine dining and hotel restaurants. At most casual restaurants and izakaya, there is no service charge and tipping is not expected or customary in Japan.