Kaiten sushi, or conveyor belt sushi, is a style of dining where you can choose your favorite sushi plates as they pass by on a conveyor belt. It’s not only fun but also an affordable way to enjoy sushi!
Kaiten Sushi (Kaitenzushi): How to Enjoy Conveyor Belt Sushi in Japan
Japan is home to many kaiten sushi chain restaurants, offering an easy way to enjoy a wide variety of sushi toppings. Often referred to as Japanese fast food, this dining style is popular not only within Japan but also internationally. Depending on the restaurant, customers may sit at tables or counters. In recent years, to prioritize hygiene, more establishments have shifted to systems where customers use tablets to place individual orders, with plates delivered directly to their seat.
Menu
Each restaurant offers a wide variety of sushi made with seasonal seafood. From staples like tuna and salmon to shrimp, squid, salmon roe, sea urchin, and sushi rolls, there’s a diverse selection to enjoy.。
Many restaurants also feature limited-time special menus and promotions that highlight ingredients from specific regions, keeping the experience fresh and exciting. In addition to fish-based sushi, options like meat or vegetable sushi are available. Beyond sushi, you can find a variety of side dishes such as sashimi, miso soup, noodles, French fries, and desserts. Many establishments also provide a wide range of beverages, including beer and sake, to enhance your dining experience.
How to Eat Kaiten Sushi & How to Pay
In some kaiten sushi restaurants, instead of sushi plates randomly circulating on the conveyor belt, customers order using a tablet device. Simply place your order and wait for your selection to be delivered directly to your table or counter.
Recently, more restaurants have introduced tablet devices with multilingual support, making it easier for international customers to order. In some establishments, you can specify whether you want your sushi with or without wasabi directly on the tablet. If that option isn’t available, you can usually find individually wrapped packets of wasabi circulating on the conveyor belt.When your order arrives, the tablet screen or a sound notification will alert you, and in some cases, a mechanism will deliver the plate directly in front of you. Sushi prices are generally affordable, with most plates costing around 100 yen, and even premium options rarely exceeding a few hundred yen. The price of a plate is usually determined by its color.Once you’ve finished your meal, you can either call a staff member or navigate to the payment menu on the tablet. After confirming your total, proceed to the register to settle the bill.
Kaiten Sushi Etiquette & Tips
If sushi plates are circulating randomly on the conveyor belt, simply pick the ones you like. However, once you take a plate, you should not place it back on the belt. Soy sauce and wasabi are either available at your table or may come around on the conveyor belt in small packages.In many modern kaiten sushi restaurants, soy sauce dishes are no longer provided. In such cases, you can pour soy sauce directly onto the sushi. Alternatively, you can repurpose one of your empty plates for soy sauce and wasabi. Additionally, many restaurants offer gari, sweet pickled ginger.Gari enhances the flavor of sushi. It’s best to enjoy gari in small amounts between bites to cleanse your palate.
For green tea, it’s common to make it yourself. Add some powdered tea to a cup and pour hot water from the dispenser located at your table or counter. Be careful, as the water is extremely hot, and you could burn yourself.
Popular Kaiten Sushi Restaurant Chains
Sushiro：With over 640 locations, Sushiro is one of the largest and most prominent kaiten sushi chains in Japan. In recent years, it has expanded internationally, particularly into East Asia.
http://sushiro.jp/en/
Hama Sushi：Known not only for its variety of sushi toppings but also for its wide range of soy sauces, Hama Sushi offers customers a diverse way to enjoy their sushi.
https://en.hama-sushi.co.jp/
Kura Sushi / Mutenkura：Kura Sushi prides itself on offering “additive-free” sushi, avoiding artificial seasonings and preservatives. They also have a fun game where you can win prizes every time you eat five plates.
https://www.kurasushi.co.jp/en/
Revolving Sushi Bar Kurasushi
Kappa Sushi：Kappa Sushi focuses on high-quality sushi rice, using brand-name rice from Yamagata Prefecture, known for its excellent rice production.
https://www.kappasushi.jp/
Differences from Other Types of Sushi Restaurants
Sushi restaurants where sushi is prepared by chefs right in front of customers, without the use of conveyor belts or sushi lanes like in kaiten sushi, are often seen as more traditional and upscale.
These types of sushi restaurants are commonly referred to as “non-conveyor belt sushi restaurants” to distinguish them from the more casual kaiten sushi chains.
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Writer
Mitsuki
I am from Shizuoka, with Mount Fuji in the background. I lived in Korea for four years and in China for 11 years. I majored in literature for my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I love strolling around in a city, listening to pop music, taking a ride in trains and cars, and visiting observatories in high-rise buildings. I have a sweet tooth.
