Dining Guide / What to Wear
What to Wear to a Business Dinner
For a business dinner, dress as you would for an important day at work, or one step up. Small details — creases, scuffed shoes, strong scents — stand out across a dinner table.
Key Points
- A suit or a jacket-based outfit is the usual baseline. If you're the host, don't dress more casually than your guests.
- Match the restaurant and the people you're meeting. While your guests keep their jackets on, it's safest to keep yours on too.
- You'll sit close to people for a long time, so creased shirts, stains and worn-out shoes are easy to notice. Check everything the day before.
- In Japan, some restaurants seat you in a tatami room where you take your shoes off. Wear socks without holes and shoes that slip on and off easily (see “What to Wear to a Tatami Room”).
- Keep perfume, cologne and hair products light so they don't compete with the food.
- Check your coat and any large bag if the restaurant offers to, rather than bringing them to the table.
Do
- Check your suit, shirt and shoes the day before
- Ask a colleague what the other side usually wears
- Keep fragrance light
- Let staff take your coat
Avoid
- A visibly creased shirt
- Strong perfume or cologne
- Dressing more casually than your guests
- Piling bags at the table
Handy Tip
When unsure, wear the jacket and read the room. If your host takes theirs off and invites you to do the same, follow their lead.
Customs That Vary
Expectations vary by industry, company and season. Many Japanese offices drop jackets and ties in summer (“Cool Biz”), and in some industries abroad business casual is the norm. Following the norms of your host's industry is usually safest.
Practice in a Lesson
Sources
- Debrett's, “Addressing the Dress Code” — Asking the host when unsure, and what smart casual and lounge suits usually mean.
- Rikunabi (Recruit), “Basic Business Manners: Clothing” (in Japanese) — Japanese business expectations for neat, clean clothing, polished shoes and socks.
- Japan National Tourism Organization, “Japanese Customs and Etiquette” — Taking off shoes at some restaurants, and avoiding strong fragrances at sushi restaurants.