Sukeroku

I have lived most of my life in Japan and speak native-level Japanese, but I have a foreign appearance. I visited this restaurant with my partner and we ordered generously — only to be deeply disappointed. The food was largely bland and significantly overpriced for what was offered. Most dishes wer...e excessively salty, including the miso soup. We were served a single tiny cup of tea — roughly 50ml — of what was essentially diluted green tea, barely distinguishable from hot water. Given how parched the salty food had left us, I asked for a refill twice, which is an entirely normal and expected practice in Japan, especially considering how small these tea cups are. When I politely asked for a third refill, the owner refused me outright and indignantly informed me that since I had already been given two refills, I would not be receiving a third. Then I overheard him making remarks to his staff in Japanese about "annoying foreigners" — apparently unaware that I understood every word. I did what any polite person in Japan would do. I bowed, apologized, and quietly said I understood. My partner and I then paid a considerable amount of money and left. The moment I stepped outside, I was struck by a wave of disbelief — both at how I had been treated, and at the fact that I had simply accepted it out of ingrained social reflex. This was without question the most unpleasant and humiliating dining experience I have ever had in all my years living in Japan. The feelings it left me with are genuinely difficult to put into words.

Visited May 2026

Food was good but it wasn't delicious. We didn't feel satisfied with our food. Service was very slow. The restaurant was clean and comfortable.

Visited November 2017