Why payment for courses are required for a reservation?

Kobe Steak Ishida Ginza Honten is dedicated to providing only the highest level of quality food and service. In order to ensure this, it is absolutely necessary for Kobe Steak Ishida Ginza Honten to buy and keep fresh ingredients for each customer before their arrival at the restaurant. It is only possible to provide each customer with the highest quality ingredients and hospitality, because it is possible for ingredients to be purchased and prepared for each customer before their arrival at the restaurant.

Preventing loss of food from cancellations

There have regretfully been an increasing number of customers that make reservations but do not show up for their reservation, which results in financial losses for the restaurant. Many customers promise to show up for their reservation, and while the restaurant does believe customers, there are unavoidable things that do occur, such as changes to flight plans, sickness, and sudden changes to plans which happen. In these cases, unfortunately there are also customers that do not contact the restaurant and do not show up for their reservation (or customers that contact the restaurant to cancel, but the restaurant has already purchased and prepared their course, which all the same, results in a financial loss for the restaurant). We believe “customers that are willing to pay for their course beforehand= customers that really want to eat at the restaurant” and customers that “have courtesy” are customers that we can confidently look forward to their arrival and the chance to display the chef’s cooking ability. We provide a 100% refund for cancellations made 3 days before the date of the reservation. However, please note that for cancellations of reservations made on the day of the reservation, the day before the reservation, or 2 days before the reservation, customers are unfortunately ineligible for a refund because ingredients have already been purchased for them. Please contact us at least 3 days before the reservation if you would like to cancel your reservation.

Understanding Japanese restaurant rules

There are many Japanese restaurants that have counter seating where other customers are seating next to each other. For this type of seating, there are some things concerning Japanese etiquette that we would like customers to be aware of.

Smoking is prohibited in the restaurant.

Please refrain from making or receiving phone calls inside the restaurant.

It is considered etiquette to not speak on your phone in the restaurant, as it may disturb other guests. Phone calls may be made or taken outside the restaurant or in the waiting room. Please also refrain from using tablets or other electronic devices at the counter.

Please refrain from wearing too much perfume or cologne

Please refrain from wearing too much perfume or cologne as it will affect the dining experience for yourself as well as other guests.

Please be on time！

Please bear in mind that there are other guests waiting for their reservations after you. Please arrive a few minutes early for your reservation. Please note that your reservation will be cancelled if you are more than 15 minutes late and that it cannot be changed to another time or date once cancelled. Please contact us via email as soon as possible regarding any potential delays on the day of the reservation.

We believe that customers that really want to eat at the restaurant will be willing to pay for their course beforehand and have courtesy to obey the rules. The restaurant will do all it can to make sure that they have a great experience. For large groups that have difficulty paying beforehand with a credit card, please contact us using the inquiry form. We can suggest the easiest and most suitable way for the invoice to be paid (the invoice separated and billed separately etc.). Thank you for your understanding. Nothing would make us happier for you to enjoy the very best hospitality and cuisine.
My Concierge Japan
On behalf of Kobe Steak Ishida Ginza Honten