JAPAN IN
ONE MINUTE 
~ What Is “Nomihodai” & “Tabehodai“? A Guide to Japan’s Drinking Culture ~
Hey Issy, my friend said this “Nomikai” is going to be “Nomihodai”.
What does that mean?
“Nomihodai” is a common type of course offered at an Izakaya.
It means “All-you-can-drink”.
For a fixed price, you can drink alcohol and other beverages as much as you like for a set time,
often 90 or 120 minutes.
That’s nice!
We can enjoy our “Nomikai” without worrying too much about our budget.
There’s also a popular course called “Tabehodai” at an Izakaya and restaurants,
where you can order as much food as you like.
But in the case of “Nomihodai”, as I mentioned in Part 1,
you still need to be careful not to drink too much.
I see. Actually, in Sweden, alcohol caused serious social problems in the past,
so now it can only be bought at state owned stores called Systembolaget.
We can drink alcohol in restaurants too, but it’s not as cheap as in Japan.
So when Swedes come to Japan,
they might feel like they’re in heaven because they can buy cheap and tasty alcohol at an Izakaya or even convenience stores, but they still need to be careful not to drink too much and bother other people.
In Japanese “Nomikai” culture, after the first round at an Izakaya, people often go to a “second party” (nijikai), and sometimes even a “third party” (sanjikai).
The first party is usually dinner, but after that, groups might move to karaoke, bars,
or snack bars for a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere. You’ll still be drinking a lot there, too.
Wow, that’s a lot of drinking in one night!
Even if a business “Nomikai” goes late into the night, you’re expected to be at work the next morning as usual. That’s one reason I’m not a big fan of “Nomikai” in a business setting.
Then before the “Nomikai” starts,
I’ll set a limit on how much alcohol I drink and enjoy the “Nomikai” with my friends while drinking water too!
Summary
In Japan, Izakaya often offer “Nomihodai” (All-you-can-drink) and “Tabehodai” (All-you-can-eat) courses, making group drinking parties called “Nomikai” both affordable and lively. But be careful not to drink too much.
