バーマナー
BAR ETIQUETTEThese venues are small, often standing-adjacent bars, not casino floors — a little consideration goes a long way. None of this is official rule enforcement; it's the kind of thing that makes a table (and a bar) fun to be at.
1. At the Table
- Act and bet in turn — announce or act clearly so the dealer and other players can follow the hand.
- Keep your cards visible and above the table once dealt; don't take them below the rail.
- Place a bet or raise in one motion, in a single stack — pushing chips forward in stages ("string betting") is frowned on everywhere.
- Don't discuss a hand that's still in progress, even if you've already folded — commenting on live cards (yours or anyone else's) can unfairly help or hurt a player still in the hand.
- Win or lose gracefully. Needling other players ("angle shooting") or berating someone for how they played a hand isn't welcome.
2. Chips
- Keep your stack reasonably stacked and countable — it helps everyone (including you) see bet sizes at a glance.
- Don't splash chips directly into the pot — slide or place a bet in front of you so it can be counted before it's pushed in.
3. Phones and Distractions
Most venues ask you to keep phones off the table and step away from your seat to make a call — both to keep the game moving and because a phone at the table raises obvious questions about outside help. House policy varies; when in doubt, ask staff.
4. Tipping
Tipping isn't a customary part of dining or drinking culture in Japan, and that carries over here — staff aren't expecting it, and you won't be looked at strangely for not leaving one. If a venue does welcome tips for a dealer or staff member, that will be a house-specific note, not a general expectation.
5. Alcohol
These are bars first — drink at your own pace, and keep in mind that a table of people trying to concentrate on their own hands isn't the venue for a loud night out. Staff may ask a visibly intoxicated guest to sit out a hand or two.
6. New to the Table?
Most venues are genuinely welcoming to beginners — say so when you sit down, and most dealers and regulars are happy to walk you through a hand or explain an action you're unsure about. See Basic Rules for the fundamentals, or just ask at the table.