Hello, I’m Kodak.
You open a Japanese izakaya menu and see this large, attractive phrase:
Ni-jikan nomihōdai
Two-hour all-you-can-drink
飲み放題 (nomihōdai) means “all-you-can-drink”, but each restaurant sets conditions such as the eligible drink list, time limit, last-order time, food requirement, and whether everyone in the group must join.
飲み放題 (nomihōdai) is a fixed-price plan that lets you order drinks from a specified menu during a specified period.
It does not automatically mean every drink is included or that orders continue until the exact end of your table time.
Nomihoudai is common at izakayas, karaoke venues, beer gardens, yakiniku restaurants, banquet courses, and party venues in Tokyo and throughout Japan.
In this article, you will learn the meaning, pronunciation, grammar, common rules, menu vocabulary, and useful phrases you need before choosing an all-you-can-drink plan.
What Does Nomihoudai Mean?
飲み放題 (nomihōdai) means that customers may order drinks from an eligible list without paying separately for each glass, usually for a fixed price and limited time.
⇒ all-you-can-drink
⇒ unlimited drinks within the plan’s rules
⇒ free-flow drinks for a fixed period
⇒ a fixed-price drink package
このコースには飲み放題が付いています。
Kono kōsu ni wa nomihōdai ga tsuite imasu.
This course includes all-you-can-drink.
二時間の飲み放題をお願いします。
Ni-jikan no nomihōdai o onegai shimasu.
We would like the two-hour all-you-can-drink plan.
The plan may include beer, highballs, sours, shochu, sake, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, or only some of these, depending on the restaurant.
How to Write and Pronounce Nomihoudai
Hiragana: のみほうだい
Short menu spelling: 飲放題
Romaji: nomihōdai / nomihoudai
Common search spelling: nomihoudai or nomihodai
The Japanese pronunciation has a long vowel in ほう (hō).
の・み・ほ・う・だ・い
Pronunciation:
no-mi-hō-dai
Nomihoudai shows the long ō more clearly without using a special symbol. Nomihōdai is the most precise Hepburn-style form. Nomihodai is a simplified search spelling.
The Parts and Core Image of 飲み放題
The expression consists of two parts.
the continuative stem of 飲む (nomu), “to drink”
放題 (hōdai)
as much as one wants; freely; without a quantity restriction
飲み + 放題
⇒ drink as much as you like
⇒ all-you-can-drink
You can use it with many verb stems.
食べ放題 — all-you-can-eat
読み放題 — unlimited reading
見放題 — unlimited viewing
使い放題 — unlimited use
言いたい放題 — saying whatever one wants
“The individual price is removed, so you may keep ordering within the plan’s boundaries.”
Does Nomihoudai Really Mean Unlimited?
In everyday English, all-you-can-drink can sound completely unlimited.
In a Japanese restaurant, however, the freedom is usually limited by clearly defined conditions.
but limited by:
・time
・the plan’s drink menu
・last-order rules
・one-glass-at-a-time rules
・group participation rules
・food-order requirements
・the restaurant’s responsible-service policy
You may repeatedly order drinks that are included, but only while ordering is open and while following the restaurant’s rules.
How Nomihoudai Usually Works in Japan
① Choose a nomihoudai plan or course.
↓
② Confirm the price, time, and eligible drinks.
↓
③ Everyone required by the plan joins.
↓
④ Order one drink at a time.
↓
⑤ Exchange the empty glass when ordering the next drink if required.
↓
⑥ Make the final order before the last-order deadline.
↓
⑦ Finish the drinks already served and leave by the table’s end time.
Tokyo’s official tourism guide describes izakaya all-you-can-drink deals as a fixed-price system for unlimited drinks during a set period, commonly around one to two hours.
Treat the menu and staff explanation at that specific establishment as the final rules.
Understanding the Time Limit
Common menu phrases include:
60-minute all-you-can-drink
90分飲み放題
90-minute all-you-can-drink
100分飲み放題
100-minute all-you-can-drink
2時間飲み放題
two-hour all-you-can-drink
時間無制限
no fixed time limit, subject to the restaurant’s conditions and hours
The stated duration may refer to:
・the period from the first drink order
・the period from the reserved start time
・the period until last order
・the course duration, with drink orders ending earlier
Ask 飲み放題の時間はいつから始まりますか？—“When does the all-you-can-drink time begin?”
What Does Last Order Mean?
ラストオーダー (rasuto ōdā), often written L.O., is the final time when you may place a new order.
Two-hour plan; last order 30 minutes before the end
100分制・L.O. 80分
100-minute plan; last order at 80 minutes
Therefore, a “two-hour nomihoudai” may allow new drink orders for only the first 90 minutes.
ラストオーダーは何時ですか？
Rasuto ōdā wa nanji desu ka?
What time is the last order?
終了の何分前がラストオーダーですか？
Shūryō no nan-pun mae ga rasuto ōdā desu ka?
How many minutes before the end is last order?
Which Drinks Are Included?
Never assume that the entire regular drink menu is part of nomihoudai.
・draft or bottled beer
・highballs
・sours and chūhai
・shochu
・selected sake
・house wine
・basic cocktails
・soft drinks
Sometimes excluded or placed in a premium plan:
・premium beer
・craft beer
・premium sake or shochu
・bottled wine
・champagne
・special cocktails
・large-format bottles
生ビール付き confirms that draft beer is included.
Kono nomihōdai ni nama-bīru wa haitte imasu ka?
Is draft beer included in this all-you-can-drink plan?
日本酒はどれが対象ですか？
Nihonshu wa dore ga taishō desu ka?
Which sake is included?
このマークの飲み物だけですか？
Kono māku no nomimono dake desu ka?
Are only the drinks with this mark included?
Standard vs Premium Nomihoudai
Some restaurants offer two or more levels.
basic beer-style drinks, highballs, sours, cocktails, and soft drinks
Premium drinking plan
may add draft beer, more sake, premium shochu, wine, or specialty drinks
Soft-drink plan
non-alcoholic drinks only
Some venues allow alcoholic, premium, and soft-drink plans to be mixed. Others require the whole group to choose the same plan. Confirm before ordering.
Does Everyone in the Group Have to Order Nomihoudai?
Many plans require グループ全員 (gurūpu zen’in)—everyone in the group—to participate.
Everyone in the group must order the plan.
二名様以上からご利用いただけます。
Available for groups of two or more.
同一グループ同一プラン
The same plan is required for the entire group.
This helps prevent one person from ordering unlimited drinks and sharing them with people who did not pay.
Some restaurants allow mixed plans, while others require a single plan for everyone.
Hitori wa o-sake o nomimasen. Sofuto dorinku nomihōdai ni dekimasu ka?
One person does not drink alcohol. Can they choose the soft-drink plan?
全員が同じプランを注文する必要がありますか？
Zen’in ga onaji puran o chūmon suru hitsuyō ga arimasu ka?
Does everyone need to order the same plan?
What Is the Glass-Exchange Rule?
グラス交換制 (gurasu kōkan-sei) means you normally order the next drink when returning or finishing your current glass.
one new drink in exchange for the previous glass
空いたグラスと交換でお願いします。
Please exchange your empty glass when ordering the next drink.
The rule reduces waste, prevents customers from building up many unfinished drinks, and helps staff manage glassware.
Do not assume that “unlimited” allows stockpiling drinks on the table.
Do You Have to Order Food?
Some standalone nomihoudai plans require each person to order a minimum number of food items.
Please order at least two food items per person.
別途お通し代がかかります。
A separate otoshi charge applies.
コース料理をご注文の方限定です。
Available only to customers ordering the food course.
Food, otoshi, seating charges, premium-drink upgrades, tax treatment, and late-night charges may be separate. Read the conditions beneath the advertised price.
Standalone Nomihoudai vs a Course with Nomihoudai
A drink package ordered separately from food. Minimum food orders or a separate charge may apply.
飲み放題付きコース (nomihōdai-tsuki kōsu)
A set food course with an all-you-can-drink plan included.
食べ飲み放題 (tabe-nomi-hōdai)
Both all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink, within the listed rules.
A standalone plan offers more freedom with food but may have extra ordering conditions.
How to Order Nomihoudai in Japanese
Nomihōdai wa arimasu ka?
Do you have an all-you-can-drink plan?
飲み放題をお願いします。
Nomihōdai o onegai shimasu.
We would like the all-you-can-drink plan.
二時間の飲み放題を四人分お願いします。
Ni-jikan no nomihōdai o yo-nin-bun onegai shimasu.
We would like the two-hour plan for four people.
飲み放題付きのコースはありますか？
Nomihōdai-tsuki no kōsu wa arimasu ka?
Do you have a course that includes all-you-can-drink?
単品飲み放題は利用できますか？
Tanpin nomihōdai wa riyō dekimasu ka?
Can we order a standalone all-you-can-drink plan?
Questions to Ask Before Ordering
Nan-pun-sei desu ka?
How many minutes is the plan?
ラストオーダーはいつですか？
Rasuto ōdā wa itsu desu ka?
When is last order?
飲み放題の時間はいつから始まりますか？
Nomihōdai no jikan wa itsu kara hajimarimasu ka?
When does the all-you-can-drink period begin?
どの飲み物が対象ですか？
Dono nomimono ga taishō desu ka?
Which drinks are included?
料理を注文する必要がありますか？
Ryōri o chūmon suru hitsuyō ga arimasu ka?
Do we need to order food?
別料金はありますか？
Betsu ryōkin wa arimasu ka?
Are there any additional charges?
途中参加でも同じ時間に終了しますか？
Tochū sanka demo onaji jikan ni shūryō shimasu ka?
If someone joins late, will their plan still end at the same time?
Useful Menu Words for Nomihoudai
対象ドリンク — eligible drinks
対象外 — not included
時間制 — timed system
制限時間 — time limit
ラストオーダー / L.O. — last order
延長 — extension
延長不可 — no extension
グラス交換制 — glass-exchange system
お一人様 — per person
全員注文 — everyone must order
二名様より — available from two people
生ビール付き — draft beer included
別料金 — additional charge
要予約 — reservation required
当日可 — available on the day
税込 — tax included
税別 — tax not included
How to Find Nomihoudai in Tokyo
Nomihoudai is widely available in Tokyo, particularly at izakayas, karaoke venues, yakiniku restaurants, beer gardens, and group-dining venues.
Useful English and Japanese search phrases include:
all you can drink Tokyo
飲み放題 東京
飲み放題 新宿
飲み放題 渋谷
飲み放題 上野
単品飲み放題 東京
英語メニュー 飲み放題
飲み放題 当日予約なし
ノンアルコール 飲み放題 東京
Major dining and nightlife districts such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Yurakucho, and areas around Tokyo Station have many izakayas and group-dining options.
Instead of relying on an old list, check the current official menu and recent reservation conditions for the date you plan to visit.
Example: Reading a Nomihoudai Advertisement
30分前ラストオーダー
お一人様料理2品以上注文
グラス交換制
生ビールは＋500円
別途お通し代
This means:
・The table or plan lasts two hours.
・New orders end 30 minutes before the finish.
・Each person must order at least two food items.
・You exchange the current glass for the next drink.
・Draft beer requires an additional ¥500 upgrade.
・An otoshi charge is added separately.
Example Conversation at an Izakaya
Nomihōdai wa arimasu ka?
Do you have an all-you-can-drink plan?
Staff: はい、90分と120分のプランがあります。
Hai, kyūjuppun to hyakunijuppun no puran ga arimasu.
Yes. We have 90-minute and 120-minute plans.
Traveler: 120分のプランは、生ビールも入っていますか？
Hyakunijuppun no puran wa, nama-bīru mo haitte imasu ka?
Does the 120-minute plan include draft beer?
Staff: 生ビールはプレミアムプランに入っています。
Nama-bīru wa puremiamu puran ni haitte imasu.
Draft beer is included in the premium plan.
Traveler: ラストオーダーは何分前ですか？
Rasuto ōdā wa nan-pun mae desu ka?
How many minutes before the end is last order?
Staff: 30分前です。
Sanjūppun mae desu.
Thirty minutes before the end.
Example: One Person Does Not Drink Alcohol
Yo-nin no uchi, hitori wa o-sake o nomimasen.
One of the four of us does not drink alcohol.
Traveler: その人だけソフトドリンク飲み放題にできますか？
Sono hito dake sofuto dorinku nomihōdai ni dekimasu ka?
Can that person alone choose the soft-drink plan?
Staff: はい、できます。終了時間は全員同じです。
Hai, dekimasu. Shūryō jikan wa zen’in onaji desu.
Yes. Everyone’s plan will end at the same time.
Nomihoudai vs Tabehoudai
all-you-can-drink
食べ放題 (tabehōdai)
all-you-can-eat
食べ飲み放題 (tabe-nomi-hōdai)
all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink
The same warning applies to both systems: “all-you-can” means within the listed menu, time, and ordering rules.
Nomihoudai vs Drink Bar
A broad all-you-can-drink system. Drinks may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic and are often ordered from staff.
ドリンクバー
A self-service beverage station, usually offering soft drinks, tea, and coffee at family restaurants or cafés.
A drink bar is also a type of unlimited-drink service, but Japanese speakers normally use 飲み放題 for izakaya alcohol packages and ドリンクバー for self-service soft drinks.
Nomihoudai vs Happy Hour
Pay one fixed price for repeated eligible drink orders during a defined period.
Happy hour
Individual drinks are discounted during a certain time, but you normally pay for each drink.
Nomihoudai vs “Free Drinks”
The English phrase free drinks can be misleading.
Nomihoudai drinks are not free in the sense of costing nothing. They are included in the fixed plan price.
・all-you-can-drink
・unlimited drinks
・free-flow drinks
・drinks included for a set period
Avoid misunderstanding:
“free drinks” may sound as though the restaurant charges nothing.
Can People Under 20 Use Nomihoudai?
In Japan, people under 20 are legally prohibited from drinking alcohol. The adult age became 18 in 2022, but the drinking age remains 20.
Drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by law.
Restaurants may ask for identification. People under 20 should use a soft-drink plan when available.
Drivers and Nomihoudai
Do not drink alcohol if you will drive, ride a motorcycle, or operate another vehicle.
Some restaurants explicitly direct drivers to a soft-drink plan.
Kuruma o unten suru node, sofuto dorinku nomihōdai ni shimasu.
I am driving, so I will choose the soft-drink plan.
Nomihoudai Does Not Mean You Must Drink a Lot
The plan gives you an option—not an obligation.
・drink quickly
・match another person’s pace
・“get your money’s worth” by overdrinking
・accept a drink you do not want
・participate in chugging or drinking games
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare advises people to understand alcohol-related risks and make drinking decisions appropriate to their own condition. Eating while drinking, alternating with water, and stopping when you feel unwell are sensible precautions.
Choose nomihoudai because it makes the evening convenient—not because you feel pressured to consume as much as possible.
Useful Phrases for Drinking at Your Own Pace
Yukkuri nomimasu.
I’ll drink slowly.
次は水をお願いします。
Tsugi wa mizu o onegai shimasu.
Water next, please.
もうお酒は結構です。
Mō o-sake wa kekkō desu.
No more alcohol for me, thank you.
ノンアルコールをお願いします。
Non-arukōru o onegai shimasu.
A non-alcoholic drink, please.
気分が悪いので、飲むのをやめます。
Kibun ga warui node, nomu no o yamemasu.
I feel unwell, so I’m going to stop drinking.
The History of the Word 飲み放題
The dictionary meaning of 飲み放題 is “to drink as much as one wants” or “drinking without restriction.”
A dictionary record cited by the Nihon Kokugo Daijiten includes an example of the word from an 1857 kabuki work.
飲む — to drink
↓
飲み — verb stem
＋
放題 — as much as one wants
↓
飲み放題 — drinking without a quantity limit
↓
modern fixed-price restaurant all-you-can-drink plans
The current commercial system is one modern use of the older phrase.
Nomihoudai in Anime, Dramas, and Japanese Media
Because nomihoudai is a real restaurant system, it often appears in scenes involving work parties, student gatherings, reunions, or celebrations.
It’s all-you-can-drink today!
飲み放題だからって、飲みすぎるなよ。
Just because it’s all-you-can-drink, don’t overdo it.
ラストオーダー、何にする？
What do you want for the last order?
この店、飲み放題に日本酒も入ってるよ。
This place includes sake in the all-you-can-drink plan.
Common Traveler Mistakes
Mistake 1: Assuming Every Drink Is Included
Check the special nomihoudai menu and any premium upgrades.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the Last-Order Time
A two-hour table period may stop accepting new drink orders after 90 minutes.
Mistake 3: Assuming Only One Person Can Join
Many plans require everyone at the table to order a qualifying plan.
Mistake 4: Forgetting Food or Cover Charges
The advertised drink-plan price may not include required food, otoshi, or seating charges.
Mistake 5: Ordering Multiple Unfinished Drinks
Many plans use a glass-exchange system and may not allow several simultaneous drinks.
Mistake 6: Arriving Late Without Checking the End Time
A late participant may still share the original group’s finish time.
Mistake 7: Treating Nomihoudai as a Drinking Challenge
The system is designed for convenience and predictable pricing, not dangerous consumption.
Natural Example Sentences with Nomihoudai
この居酒屋には飲み放題があります。
Kono izakaya ni wa nomihōdai ga arimasu.
This izakaya has an all-you-can-drink plan.
飲み放題は一人二千円です。
Nomihōdai wa hitori ni-sen-en desu.
The all-you-can-drink plan is ¥2,000 per person.
このコースは二時間の飲み放題付きです。
Kono kōsu wa ni-jikan no nomihōdai-tsuki desu.
This course includes two hours of all-you-can-drink.
飲み放題のラストオーダーは九時半です。
Nomihōdai no rasuto ōdā wa kuji-han desu.
Last order for the all-you-can-drink plan is 9:30.
生ビールは飲み放題に含まれていません。
Nama-bīru wa nomihōdai ni fukumarete imasen.
Draft beer is not included in the all-you-can-drink plan.
次の飲み物はグラス交換で注文してください。
Tsugi no nomimono wa gurasu kōkan de chūmon shite kudasai.
Please exchange your glass when ordering the next drink.
全員が飲み放題を注文する必要があります。
Zen’in ga nomihōdai o chūmon suru hitsuyō ga arimasu.
Everyone must order the all-you-can-drink plan.
一人だけソフトドリンク飲み放題にできますか？
Hitori dake sofuto dorinku nomihōdai ni dekimasu ka?
Can just one person choose the soft-drink plan?
単品飲み放題には料理二品の注文が必要です。
Tanpin nomihōdai ni wa ryōri ni-hin no chūmon ga hitsuyō desu.
The standalone drink plan requires an order of two food items.
飲み放題だからといって、無理に飲む必要はありません。
Nomihōdai da kara to itte, muri ni nomu hitsuyō wa arimasen.
You do not need to force yourself to drink just because it is all-you-can-drink.
FAQ About Nomihoudai
What does nomihoudai mean?
Nomihoudai (飲み放題) means “all-you-can-drink.” Customers pay a fixed amount and may repeatedly order eligible drinks during a defined period.
How long does nomihoudai last?
It depends on the restaurant. One- to two-hour plans are common, but shorter, longer, and unlimited-time plans also exist. Last order may be 20–30 minutes before the stated finish.
Does nomihoudai include every drink?
No. Only drinks on the plan’s eligible menu are included. Draft beer, premium sake, wine bottles, or specialty drinks may require an upgrade or separate payment.
Does everyone at the table need to order it?
Many plans require the whole group to participate. Some allow non-drinkers to choose a separate soft-drink plan.
Can one person order nomihoudai?
Some restaurants allow it, while others require at least two people or a full group. Look for phrases such as 二名様より or ask the staff.
What is glass exchange?
グラス交換制 means you order a new drink when returning or finishing the current glass. It usually prevents ordering several drinks at once.
Do I need to order food?
Some standalone plans require one or two food items per person. A food-course plan already includes specified dishes.
Are otoshi and seating charges included?
Not always. Check whether the menu says 別途お通し代, 別途チャージ, or another additional fee.
Can people under 20 use alcoholic nomihoudai?
No. Drinking alcohol under age 20 is prohibited in Japan. A soft-drink plan may be available.
What is the difference between nomihoudai and tabehoudai?
Nomihoudai is all-you-can-drink. Tabehoudai is all-you-can-eat. Tabe-nomi-houdai includes both.
Is nomihoudai worth it?
It depends on the price, included drinks, required food, additional charges, and how much you would comfortably drink. Compare the full conditions with individual drink prices rather than focusing only on the headline amount.
How do I ask for nomihoudai?
Say 飲み放題をお願いします, meaning “We would like the all-you-can-drink plan.”
How do I find nomihoudai in Tokyo?
Search for 飲み放題 東京, the neighborhood name plus 飲み放題, or 単品飲み放題. Confirm current prices and conditions on the restaurant’s official page.
Summary: Nomihoudai Meaning and Rules
飲み放題 means “all-you-can-drink.”
● Structure
飲み = drinking
放題 = as much as one wants
● Core rule
Repeated orders are included only from the eligible menu and only during the allowed ordering period.
● Time
Plans commonly have a fixed duration, and last order may be earlier than the final table time.
● Common conditions
Group participation, glass exchange, minimum food orders, premium upgrades, and separate cover charges may apply.
● Useful question
どの飲み物が対象ですか？
Which drinks are included?
● Safety
Under-20 drinking is prohibited. Drivers must not drink alcohol. All-you-can-drink is never an obligation to overdrink.
Nomihoudai means unlimited eligible orders—not unlimited time, unlimited menu choices, or unlimited drinking without rules.
Check the conditions, drink at your own pace, and enjoy the experience safely!
References
- Kotobank: 飲み放題 — dictionary meaning and an early recorded example from 1857.
- Kotobank: 放題 — explanation of 放題 as a suffix indicating an action is left unrestricted or performed as much as one wishes.
- GO TOKYO: Izakaya—Japan’s unique take on the pub — official Tokyo tourism guidance describing fixed-price all-you-can-drink plans, usually lasting one to two hours.
- GO TOKYO: Tokyo Beer Garden Guide — official guidance noting that many all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink packages are limited to around two hours.
- GO TOKYO: Food & Drink in Tokyo — official overview of Tokyo dining and nightlife districts and restaurant customs.
- Monte Rosa official nomihoudai information — an example of real plan conditions including two-hour duration, last order, food requirements, optional drinks, and separate charges.
- BBQ DAYS Ryogoku official pricing and rules — an example of group participation, mixed plan types, last order, and simultaneous finish times.
- Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau: Prevention of drinking under age 20 — official explanation that drinking alcohol under 20 is prohibited in Japan.
- National Tax Agency newsletter, April 1, 2026 — confirms that the adult age is 18 but the legal alcohol age remains 20.
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Guidelines on alcohol consumption with consideration for health — official responsible-drinking guidance.