How to Drink Alone at an Izakaya
Walking into an izakaya alone is not difficult. The counter seat was designed for exactly this purpose. A guide to entering, ordering, and making an evening of it.
Eisuke Kameta
March 14, 2026
The counter seat at an izakaya is, structurally speaking, a solo seat. It faces the bar, not another person. It is sized for one. It is positioned so that the bartender is available but not intrusive.
Walking in alone is not unusual. It is the original use case.
Choosing the Right Place
Look through the window before entering. If there are already solo drinkers at the counter, you have found the right kind of place. If the front of house is empty and the room is full of large tables of office workers, come back another time.
A few indicators of a solo-friendly izakaya: chalkboard specials written in handwriting, a sake list that changes seasonally, a proprietor of advanced age, a counter that runs the full length of the room.
Entering
“Hitori desu” — one person. Say this at the door. You will be shown to the counter.
Remove your coat before sitting. Place your bag on the hook under the counter if there is one, or at your feet if there isn’t. Don’t put it on the stool next to you.
The First Drink
Order before you eat. The drink arrives, you settle in, the menu follows. A bottle of beer is quick to order and buys time to read the menu. But if you’re in a place with a serious sake list, “osusume no nihonshu wo onegaishimasu” — recommend me a sake — is a better opening move.
The Food
Order one or two things to start. Sashimi, if the place is coastal or the fish looks fresh. Yakitori, one or two skewers. A small plate of pickles. See how the kitchen handles these before ordering more.
The rhythm of an izakaya meal is: drink, eat a little, drink, eat a little more. Not the other way around.
Conversation
The proprietor will speak if you seem willing. If you don’t, he won’t. Asking about the sake or the fish of the day is the natural opening. “Kore wa nani desu ka” — what is this — works for anything on the menu or behind the counter.
Finishing
When you’re done, catch the eye of the staff and say “okaikei onegaishimasu” — the bill, please. Pay at the counter. Say “gochisosama” as you leave.
Two hours is a natural duration. One drink and a small plate is also a complete visit, if that’s what the evening calls for.