Visiting Japan for the first time in the end of june!
I’m okay at using chopsticks, but I have really bad tendonitis and using chopsticks fucks my hands up. Do japanese people have an alternative for people who struggle with this? I can still use a fork so should I bring my own or do they have them at restaurants? Is it better to eat with your hands? I really don’t know and I’m a bit embarresed about it…
9 comments
Most all restaurants will have forks and such but you can just bring your own travel set if you’d like on the off chance that a smaller one doesn’t have any but most will.
From what I’ve seen in Japan so far, every restaurant will give chopsticks as the default for most meals (unless it’s more soupish, like ramen) but nearly all of them will also have forks, spoons, and knives if you just ask. That said, smaller local places and convenience stores might not always have them, so it probably wouldn’t hurt to travel around with a fork or something just in case.
I’ve noticed that the thinner chopsticks (usually in the form of disposable waribashi, which you’ll get at convenience stores or restaurants) are a strain on my hand. More permanent hashi that are slightly thicker in diameter hurt my hand less. Maybe give that a try, if you want to use chopsticks. If not ask for western utensils.
From my own observations, and conversations with a handful of. Japanese people, they would use chopsticks and deal with the pain in silence. Not saying you should do this. Bring a fork and play the foriegneer card. No one will say anything or even look twice.
Just ask for a fork. Most restaurants will have one, but I’d keep a set in your bag just in case.
**So-called manners are not worth hurting yourself!** Not to mention these are people you will never meet again.
If you look non-east asian they will fully “understand” and assume you don’t know how to use chopsticks. If you do look asian, by Japanese standards service staff are not really supposed to show negative emotion so any judgment will be silent only 🙂
No problems but you will get the stern firm judgmental iconic Japanese look of disgust 😀 don’t eat with your hands
Just say “sumimasen” and ask for a fork. I’ve been to tiny restaurants in the middle of nowhere that still had forks.
Definitely buy or bring a fork. A lot of smaller places did not have forks.
my question gets deleted by mods, but somehow this is a question that can’t be googled?