F O O D

How to Order at a Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurant

Touch-screen ordering, plate pricing, and etiquette at Sushiro, Kura Sushi, and Hamazushi.

Quick Answer

Order via the touchscreen tablet at your table — most have an English option. You can also grab plates directly from the conveyor belt.
Plate prices: ¥115-¥180 per plate at the big three chains (Sushiro, Kura Sushi, Hamazushi). Premium plates go up to ¥500. A filling meal is typically ¥1,000-¥2,000.
Soy sauce, wasabi, gari (pickled ginger), and green tea are free and self-serve at every table.
When finished, press the call button. Staff count your plates (or the system auto-counts) and give you a receipt. Pay at the register near the exit.
No tipping. Return plates neatly. Don’t take plates off the belt and put them back — once you touch it, it’s yours.

The Big Three Chains

Conveyor belt sushi (回転寿司, kaitenzushi) is one of the most affordable and fun dining experiences in Japan. Three major chains dominate the market:

Sushiro

Japan’s largest kaitenzushi chain with 600+ locations. Known for high-quality toppings and seasonal menus. Plates start from ¥120. The touch-panel ordering system delivers plates via a dedicated express lane above the main belt. English menu available on tablets.

Kura Sushi

Famous for the “Bikkura Pon” game — every 5 plates you deposit into the table slot, you get a free play at a capsule toy game on screen. Flat-rate pricing at ¥115 per plate for standard items. Plates are covered with plastic lids to keep them fresh. Excellent English tablet support.

Hamazushi

Known for its wide variety of soy sauce options (up to 5-6 types at each table) and generous side menu including ramen, udon, and desserts. Standard plates from ¥121. Slightly quieter atmosphere — a good choice if you want a less hectic experience.

How to Get Seated

Most kaitenzushi chains use a check-in kiosk at the entrance:

Select your language (English is available).
Choose party size and seating preference (counter or table/booth).
A numbered ticket prints out with your queue number.
Wait in the lobby area until your number is called on the display or announced.

During peak hours (12:00-13:00 lunch, 17:30-19:30 dinner), waits of 20-40 minutes are common at popular locations. Some chains let you reserve a time slot via their smartphone app (Sushiro and Kura Sushi both offer this).

Ordering from the Touchscreen

Every seat has a tablet mounted at the table. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Select Language

Look for a flag icon or “English” button, usually in the top corner of the screen. Tap it to switch. Most chains support English, Chinese, and Korean.

Step 2: Browse Categories

Menus are organized by category:

Nigiri (握り) — fish on rice
Gunkan (軍艦) — rice wrapped in seaweed with toppings
Maki / Rolls (巻き物) — rolled sushi
Side dishes (サイドメニュー) — fries, edamame, chicken, ramen, udon
Desserts (デザート) — cake, ice cream, parfait
Drinks (ドリンク) — soft drinks, beer, sake

Step 3: Tap and Order

Select an item, choose the quantity, and confirm. Ordered items arrive at your table within 1-3 minutes via a dedicated express lane (a small platform or train that stops at your seat). An alert sound plays when your order arrives.

Step 4: Keep Ordering

There’s no limit to how many rounds you can order. The system tracks everything automatically.

Grabbing from the Belt

In addition to tablet ordering, you can take plates directly from the rotating conveyor belt. At Kura Sushi, plates are covered with plastic lids — lift the lid to take the plate. At Sushiro and Hamazushi, plates sit open on the belt.

Important: Once you take a plate from the belt, it’s yours. Don’t put it back.

The belt mostly carries popular items like salmon, tuna, shrimp, and tamago. For specific or premium items, use the tablet.

Understanding Plate Pricing

Prices are indicated by plate color or pattern. The system varies slightly by chain:

Price Tier	Typical Items	Price Range
Standard	Salmon, tuna, shrimp, tamago	¥115-¥180
Mid-range	Chutoro (medium fatty tuna), eel, scallop	¥180-¥330
Premium	Otoro (fatty tuna), uni (sea urchin), ikura	¥330-¥500

A typical filling meal runs ¥1,000-¥2,000 per person (8-15 plates plus a side dish or drink).

What’s Free at the Table

Every table is stocked with:

Soy sauce (醤油, shoyu) — in a bottle or dispenser. Hamazushi offers multiple varieties.
Wasabi (わさび) — usually in small packets or a tube. Most kaitenzushi sushi comes without wasabi by default; add your own.
Gari (ガリ) — pickled ginger. Use it as a palate cleanser between different fish, not as a topping on sushi.
Green tea powder (粉末緑茶) — add hot water from the tap at your table. Free and unlimited.
Chopsticks — disposable, in a dispenser at the table.

Etiquette Tips

Eat each piece in one bite if possible. Don’t split nigiri into fish and rice.
Dip the fish side (not the rice) into soy sauce to prevent it from falling apart.
Don’t hoard plates. Take what you’ll eat; don’t stockpile plates from the belt.
Deposit finished plates into the table slot (Kura Sushi) or stack them neatly. At Kura Sushi, every 5 plates triggers the Bikkura Pon game.
Kids are welcome. Kaitenzushi is family-friendly. High chairs are available.
No tipping — as with all restaurants in Japan.

Paying the Bill

When you’re done:

Press the “Check” (お会計) button on the tablet.
Staff come to your table to count plates or confirm the order total.
You receive a receipt slip.
Take the slip to the register near the exit to pay.

Payment methods: All three chains accept cash, credit cards (Visa, Mastercard), and most accept IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) and QR payments (PayPay). Check the payment stickers at the register.

See our payment methods guide for more details on paying in Japan.

Troubleshooting

The tablet is only in Japanese

Look carefully for a flag icon or language button — it’s sometimes small and in the corner. If you can’t find it, ask staff: “Eigo no menu arimasu ka?” (英語のメニューありますか？) — “Is there an English menu?”

I ordered the wrong item

If the item hasn’t arrived yet, you may be able to cancel from the “Order History” (注文履歴) screen on the tablet. If it has already arrived, you’ll need to accept it.

I can’t figure out the check-in kiosk

Staff are always stationed near the entrance and can operate the kiosk for you. Just say your party size — “futari” (二人, two people), “sannin” (三人, three people), etc.

The sushi on the belt looks old

When in doubt, order from the tablet instead. Belt items rotate and are periodically removed, but tablet orders are made fresh.

I have allergies

Major allergens are listed on the tablet menu. Look for the allergen information button (アレルギー情報). Staff can also check for specific ingredients if you ask.

Don’t overlook the non-sushi options — they’re often surprisingly good:

Ramen — small-portion ramen bowls, ¥300-¥400
Karaage (唐揚げ) — fried chicken, ¥200-¥300
French fries (ポテト) — ¥200-¥300
Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し) — steamed egg custard, ¥200
Cake and parfait — ¥200-¥400
Beer (ビール) — ¥500-¥600 for a draft

For a more traditional sushi experience, see our sushi etiquette guide.