Why Japanese Don’t Give 5 Star Reviews to Restaurants
Updated: Sep 13
With so much wonderful food in Japan, why don't Japanese give 5 star reviews to restaurants on Google? Why exactly does this happen?
A 3.7 Score on Google is Good in Japan
Japan is home to some of the world’s most delicious food. Tokyo is at the center of this deliciousness, with everything from Michelin star sushi restaurants to hole in the wall noodle shops.
Amidst this delicious backdrop, visitors to Japan are understandably surprised at how low Google restaurant reviews are. In most countries, quality restaurants are ones with Google review scores of 4.3 or more. This is not the case in Japan.
In Japan, the Google review sweet spot is actually from about 3.8 - 4.1. Furthermore, a restaurant that has a score of 4.5+ is likely a touristy one. This in itself isn’t a bad thing. Such a tourist-friendly place might serve amazing food.
But the point is - don't dismiss a restaurant on Google if the score if below 4. You could be missing out on something great.
But why is it like this? Why do Japanese give restaurants low review scores in the first place? Why is it that Japanese don't give 5 star reviews?
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Humble Pie
Humility is a valued trait in Japan; to the point that Japanese don't go out of their way to praise each other. This is extended to the world of food and restaurant reviews.
A Japanese person on Google might write something along the lines of 'I've been eating at this restaurant for 10 years and love it"...only to give them a 3 star review.
That's just the way it is in Japan. Even if locals love a meal, they may be reluctant to give the restaurant a glowing review.
Branching off this, some restaurants in Japan may have amazing food but mediocre service. In the West, restaurants like this have a lower chance of survival.
But in Asia, such places tend to thrive. As long as the food is good, service is secondary. But the those bad reviews in Google remain.
Summing It Up
In summary, if you're visiting Japan for the first time, don't overlook restaurants that have a lower Google review score than you're used to. Tokyo has over 150,000 restaurants. If you limited yourself to the ones with a score of 4.5 or above, you'd truly be missing out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good Google review score for a restaurant in Japan?
Somewhere between 3.8 and 4.1. That's very different from most countries, where 4.3+ signals quality. In Japan, a score of 4.5 or higher often means the restaurant is tourist-oriented rather than exceptional — it's not necessarily worse, just a different kind of place.
Why do Japanese people give low Google reviews even to restaurants they love?
Humility runs deep in Japanese culture, and it extends to how people rate things publicly. It's common to see a glowing written review paired with a 3-star rating — the food and loyalty are real, but praising something too openly feels excessive.
Does a low review score mean bad food in Japan?
Not necessarily. Reviews in Japan often weigh things like service speed and atmosphere alongside food quality, and a restaurant with mediocre service but excellent food can still survive and thrive — something that's less common in the West. A 3.9 might be one of the best meals of your trip.
