5 Simple Reasons to Avoid To-Go Drinks in Japan

Dealing with to-go drinks in Japan takes some getting used to, especially when you realize there aren’t many trash cans on the street. You’ll quickly notice how easy it is to buy a delicious iced matcha latte from all the local cafés. But don’t fall into the trap of grabbing a paper or plastic cup to sip while you explore.

The Reality of To-Go Drinks in Japan

Before we dive into why this is an issue, let me just say that I love Japanese cafés. We’ve spent countless hours enjoying local coffee shops across Japan, but we always finish our drinks in, or near, the store.

When I talk about to-go drinks in Japan, I’m specifically referring to takeout paper cups, plastic cups, and open soda cans. These drinks can easily spill when shaken, bumped, or squeezed in a crowd.

On the other hand, plastic bottles or reusable bottles with tight, secure screw-on caps are totally fine to carry in your hand or backpack. You can seal a screw-top bottle completely without worrying about messy spills.

Enjoying an espresso at my favorite Fuji view café.

If you’re used to always getting a drink to go when you’re back home, Japan will give you a quick reality check. I’ve been living and traveling throughout Japan since 1998, and I can tell you that local customs surrounding takeout beverages catch most tourists off guard.

The practice of walking while consuming food or beverages is known as tabearuki. While it might seem harmless, carrying open to-go drinks in Japan is widely viewed as poor manners and a public nuisance.

Here are the 5 major reasons why you should finish your drink and ditch the paper or plastic cup before moving on.

1. You Can’t Take Open Drinks Into Stores

Most retail stores, boutique shops, and department stores in Japan strictly prohibit outside food and beverages. Japanese business owners take immense pride in keeping their shops spotlessly clean.

If you walk into a shop holding a cup or open can, the staff will most likely ask you to leave. This actually happened to us while we were with one of our groups in the Higashiyama District in Kyoto.

Sign telling customers that eating and drinking aren’t allowed.

A guest on one of our tours bought an iced green tea and popped into a local pottery shop. The moment she stepped inside, the shopkeeper jumped right up, crossed his arms to make an “X,” and blurted out, “No, no!”

He pointed straight at his no food or drink sign and motioned for her to wait outside. Naturally, she was pretty rattled by the whole confrontation because it felt so harsh in the moment.

When we talked about it afterward, we realized he just didn’t speak enough English to explain the rule politely. He wasn’t trying to be mean. He was just protecting his shop.

It’s also important to remember that local shopkeepers are constantly repeating these same basic rules to hundreds of tourists every single day.

Even if you politely apologize and put your cup away, the next group off the plane from overseas won’t know the etiquette. The shopkeeper finds himself stuck playing hall monitor on repeat, which naturally leads to frustration.

If a staff member seems a bit abrupt with you when you walk in holding an open cup, don’t take it personally. They’re probably just exhausted from dealing with the exact same situation all day long.

2. There Aren’t Many Places to Throw Away Your Cup

Finding a trash can on the streets of Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, or just about anywhere in Japan is nearly impossible. Public trash bins were removed across the country following the 1995 Tokyo subway attacks for public safety reasons.

The bins you see next to vending machines are meant for aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic PET bottles only. Although the round opening is very inviting, they aren’t for to-go coffee or tea cups.

Recycle bin next to a vending machine.

If you buy a to-go drink in Japan, be ready to carry that sticky, empty cup for hours. And I can tell you from experience, carrying an empty cup around all day gets old very fast.

Sign on trash can asking customers to not throw cups away in the bin.

You may be asking yourself, what do Japanese people do? Well, they simply carry their trash home with them. One suggestion we make to our guests on our small group tours is to keep a small plastic bag with you for any trash you may accumulate during the day.

3. It’s Easy to Spill on Public Transportation

Public transit in Japan is world-famous for being clean, quiet, and efficient. Local trains and subways packed with daily commuters aren’t designed for open beverages.

While it’s completely acceptable to eat an ekiben or drink a coffee on long-distance trains and on the Shinkansen bullet trains, local commuter lines are a different story.

Commuter trains aren’t designed for people to eat or drink, and they get packed during morning and evening rush hours. People are squeezed together shoulder-to-shoulder, so spilling your drink is very likely.

Transit Type	Are open drinks ALLOWED?	Recommended Etiquette
Local Subways & Commuter Trains	No	Don’t consume open drinks. Plastic PET bottles or reusable bottles that screw shut are okay.
Shinkansen (Bullet Train)	Yes	All forms of drinks are totally fine.
City Buses	No	Avoid drinking open beverages while in motion; stick to sealable bottles if needed.

It’s also best to not consume to-go drinks on commuter trains and subways because these trains may stop suddenly, making spills even more likely. However, plastic PET bottles or reusable bottles that screw shut are okay.

4. You Might Bump Into Someone and Spill

City sidewalks in tourist hubs like Dotonbori in Osaka or the Higashiyama District of Kyoto get packed. Navigating these dense pedestrian areas while holding an open to-go drink is an absolute nightmare.

Sign telling people not to eat or drink while walking.

The coastal city of Kamakura recently passed official public guidelines asking tourists to stop walking while consuming items on crowded streets. Spilling your drink onto someone in a packed crowd is considered a major social faux pas in any culture.

If you really need a drink, take a seat, or just stand right outside the store where you bought it. Finish your drink, toss the cup in their trash bin, and then get back to sightseeing.

5. You Can’t Take Outside Food and Drink Into Restaurants

It’s standard etiquette across Japan that outside food and drinks are strictly banned inside dining establishments. This rule applies to open coffee cups, but it also includes sealed bottles with screw-on caps.

A close Japanese friend of ours owns a Mexican restaurant in Nagoya, and she gave us a great insider perspective on why this rule is taken so seriously.

If you bring an outside drink into her dining room and set it on your table, other diners will naturally assume she sells it. When those customers try to order the exact same drink, it puts her in the very awkward position of having to explain that they don’t serve it. In a service culture built on avoiding confusion and public discomfort, that is a major faux pas.

Plastic cup left at Sensoji Temple next to a sign asking visitors to take trash with them.

If you walk into a restaurant carrying an outside drink, the staff may ask you to put it away or leave it outside. If you have a screw-top water bottle, tuck it inside your backpack before sitting down. If you have a cup or can, you’ll have to gulp it down on the curb before stepping inside.

What Should You Do Instead?

You don’t have to give up your morning espresso or afternoon iced tea. You just need to adjust your routine to match Japanese etiquette. Here is how you can enjoy to-go drinks in Japan without running into trouble.

Drink Near the Point of Purchase

When you buy a coffee from a café or a coffee stand, the rule of thumb is to consume it right where you bought it. Most vendors will have some seats, a small bench off to the side, or a standing area.

Sit or step off to the side, enjoy your drink, and then hand the empty cup back to the staff at the shop you purchased the drink from. They will happily take the trash off your hands and toss it into their bin.

Carry a Small Plastic Bag for Trash

Because public garbage cans are virtually non-existent on city streets, Becki and I always pack a couple of small plastic bags in our backpack. If you forget, you can stop at a convenience store and pick one up for less than 10 cents.

If you find yourself with an empty container and no bin in sight, drop it inside your plastic bag and tie it tight to prevent any leftover liquid from leaking into your backpack. Then you can safely carry it with you until you get back to your hotel room or find an appropriate trash bin.

Mindful Travel Means a Better Vacation

Traveling throughout Japan is one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have, but the key to being an invisible tourist is respecting how the local culture operates. Following the norms around to-go drinks in Japan comes down to respect, cleanliness, and public consideration.