Terms of Service | Drink in Japan

Last updated: April 2026

1. Introduction and Acceptance

Welcome to Drink in Japan (drinkinjapan.jp), an online platform that helps visitors and residents discover drinking venues across Japan, including bars, izakaya, craft breweries, sake breweries, whisky distilleries, and other establishments where alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are served. By accessing or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, please stop using the website immediately.

These terms form a binding agreement between you and the operators of Drink in Japan. If you are using the website on behalf of a business or organization, you confirm that you have the authority to accept these terms on its behalf.

2. Legal Drinking Age Notice

The legal drinking age in Japan is 20 years old. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 20 to consume alcoholic beverages in Japan, regardless of the legal drinking age in your home country.

Drink in Japan provides information about venues that serve alcoholic beverages. By using our platform to find drinking establishments, you represent that you are of legal drinking age in Japan (20 years or older) or that you are accessing the website solely for informational purposes without the intent to consume alcohol illegally. We do not sell, serve, or distribute alcoholic beverages. All alcohol service and age verification is the responsibility of the individual venue operators.

3. Description of Service

Drink in Japan is a venue discovery and information platform focused on drinking culture in Japan. We provide curated listings and editorial content covering:

Bars, cocktail lounges, and standing bars (tachinomi)
Izakaya and traditional Japanese drinking establishments
Craft beer bars and microbreweries
Sake breweries and tasting rooms
Whisky distilleries and bars specializing in Japanese whisky
Wine bars and natural wine shops with tasting options
Non-alcoholic and low-alcohol focused venues

Drink in Japan is strictly an informational resource. We do not take reservations, process orders, sell beverages, or act as an agent for any venue listed on our platform. Any interactions or transactions between you and a venue are solely between you and that establishment.

4. Use of the Website

You agree to use Drink in Japan only for lawful purposes related to discovering drinking venues and beverage culture in Japan. The following activities are strictly prohibited:

Using the website in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations, including alcohol-related laws
Attempting to gain unauthorized access to the website, its infrastructure, or connected systems
Posting or transmitting content that is defamatory, threatening, or violates the rights of others
Using automated tools, scrapers, or bots to extract venue data or other content from the website without written authorization
Disrupting or interfering with the security, integrity, or performance of the website
Using information from our platform to engage in any activity that promotes underage drinking or irresponsible alcohol consumption

5. Content Accuracy and Venue Information

Drink in Japan endeavors to provide reliable, up-to-date information about drinking venues throughout Japan. However, the hospitality industry is dynamic and details change frequently. You acknowledge and accept the following:

Operating hours and closures: Bars and izakaya may change their opening hours, take irregular days off, or close temporarily without updating public listings. Late-night venues are especially prone to schedule changes. Always confirm hours directly with a venue before visiting, particularly on holidays.
Drink menus and pricing: Beverage selections, cocktail menus, and prices listed on our platform reflect information available at the time of publication. Seasonal menus, limited-edition drinks, and price adjustments occur frequently. Cover charges (otoshi/tsukidashi) and table charges may apply at some venues and may not always be reflected in our listings.
Drink availability: Specific beverages, sake labels, craft beer taps, and whisky bottles mentioned in our content may sell out, be discontinued, or rotate seasonally. Availability of featured drinks is never guaranteed.
Venue atmosphere and policies: Descriptions of venue atmosphere, dress codes, reservation requirements, and smoking policies are based on information gathered at the time of writing and may have since changed. Some venues may have entry restrictions or language requirements not reflected in our content.

6. Responsible Drinking

Drink in Japan encourages all users to drink responsibly. While we provide information about drinking venues, we do not endorse excessive alcohol consumption. Please be aware of the following:

Know your limits and drink in moderation
Never drink and drive — Japan enforces strict drink-driving laws with a zero-tolerance blood alcohol limit
Be respectful of venue staff and other patrons
Familiarize yourself with local transportation options for getting home safely
If you are pregnant, taking medication, or have health conditions, consult a medical professional

7. Intellectual Property

All original content on Drink in Japan, including articles, venue reviews, photographs, illustrations, logos, and the design and layout of the website, is owned by Drink in Japan or its content licensors. This content is protected by Japanese and international intellectual property laws.

You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, or commercially use any content from the website without our express written permission. Personal, non-commercial use such as saving venue details for your own trip planning is permitted. Sharing links to our content is welcome.

8. User Conduct and Contributions

Drink in Japan may offer features that let you bookmark venues, submit reviews, rate establishments, or contribute other content. When participating, you agree to:

Provide honest, fair reviews based on your genuine experience at a venue
Not post content that is defamatory, discriminatory, or deliberately misleading
Not upload copyrighted material belonging to others without proper authorization
Grant Drink in Japan a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your submitted content in connection with our service

We reserve the right to remove user-generated content at our discretion without prior notice, especially content that violates these terms or is deemed inappropriate.

9. Third-Party Links and External Services

Our website may link to external sites operated by venues, booking platforms, map services, transportation providers, and other third parties. These links are provided for your convenience to help you plan visits to drinking venues in Japan.

Drink in Japan does not control and is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of any linked third-party website. Your use of those sites is subject to their own terms and conditions. We do not endorse any third-party products, services, or venues simply by linking to them.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Japanese Consumer Contract Act (Shohisha Keiyaku Ho), Drink in Japan and its operators shall not be held liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or related to:

Your use of or inability to access the website or its content
Reliance on venue information, including hours, prices, drink availability, or venue policies that may have changed since publication
Experiences at drinking venues discovered through our platform
Health effects related to alcohol consumption at venues found through our service
Actions or content of any third-party website linked from our platform
Any unauthorized access to or alteration of your personal data

Nothing in these terms shall exclude or limit liability that cannot be excluded or limited under Japanese law, including liability for willful misconduct or gross negligence.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Service are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of Japan. Any dispute arising from or relating to these terms or your use of Drink in Japan shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court as the court of first instance. Should any provision of these terms be found invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, including the Japanese Consumer Contract Act, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Service periodically to reflect changes in our service, applicable laws, or operational needs. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date shown above. We recommend reviewing these terms from time to time. Continued use of Drink in Japan after any modifications constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

13. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or feedback about these Terms of Service or the Drink in Japan platform, please contact us at info@drinkinjapan.jp. We will make every effort to respond promptly.