Japanese Table Setting Ideas

Get inspiration from our table setting ideas! This page introduces a variety of table settings, from traditional Japanese (Ichiju-Sansai) to more modern styles.

Tap the image to see the items used in the set. All the ideas can be recreated for your own dining room at home!

The Most Standard Japanese Table Setting

"Ichiju-Sansai Style"

Ichiju-Sansai" is the basis of Japanese cuisine. It is a set menu that combines "rice," the staple food of the Japanese, with "soup", "main dish" and two side dishes.
It is a well-balanced meal that provides the body with the three nutrients it needs: energy, body-building, and body-conditioning.

Table Setting #22 Reasonable Starter set for Authentic Japanese Dinner

Rice

Provide carbohydrates as a source of energy. The Rice Bowl is placed closest to the person, on the left.

Miso Soup

It provides water along with miso, which is highly effective in maintaining health. The Soup Bowl is placed closest to the person, on the right.

Main Dish and Two Side Dishes

The main dish provides protein, and the side dishes provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
As for placement, the main and side dishes placed furthest from the person. The most standard arrangement is to place the side dishes on the left and in the center and the main dish on the right, but it doesn't have to be that strict.
The main dish can be placed in the main plates or serving bowls. Side dishes can be placed in small kobachi bowls, side plates, or sauce plates.

Chopsticks and Tray

Place the chopsticks in front of you with the handle facing your dominant hand. The tips of the chopsticks should be placed on the chopstick rest.
The tray & placemat is not necessary, but a tray makes things look better and makes serving and cleaning up easier.

To view the items used in this table setting, click here.

Table Setting Ideas

Authentic Japanese Dinner

These are table setting ideas based on the traditional Japanese dining styles.
Combining different sizes of tableware can create a festive atmosphere on the table, while similar sizes of tableware can be combined to create a calm and modern feel.
Bento boxes and bamboo baskets can be combined with a variety of sauce plates and small Kobachi bowls to make your dining presentation more special.

Table Setting #25 Gorgeous Sake and Kutani Bowl with Leg

Table Setting #24 Grilled mackerel with salt set meal

Table Setting #23 grated yam and soba noodles

Table Setting #156 Harvest Elegance: An Autumnal Affair with a Japanese Flair

Table Setting #155 Donabe Delights: A Table for Oden and Sake Cheers

Table setting #153 The Elegance of Vivid Florals with Kutani Ware

Table Setting #154 Chrysanthemum Charm: Celebrating Choyo-no-Sekku

Table Setting #151 Sometsuke: The Refined World of Blue and White

Table setting #149 Summer Celadon with Black

Table Setting #147 A Home Celebration with Festive Arita Ware

Table Setting #144 Bizen Ware in the Summer

Table setting #142 A Magical Tanabata Dinner Date Under the Starlit Sky

Table Setting #141 Celebrate Summer with a Japanese Festival Party!

Table Setting #140 Welcome the Summer Season with Chilled Somen Noodles

Table Setting #139 A Hearty Tonkatsu Lunch on Warm Celadon Ware

Table Setting #136 Bring Authenticity to the Table with a Soba Tray

Table Setting #137 Cool Summer Dining with Tableware from Kyoto

Table Setting #133 Beautifully Blue Across the Table

Table Setting #130 Hanami: Picnicing under the Cherry Blossoms

Table Setting #128 Beautfiul Tradition Enjoyed with Imari Nabeshima Ware

Table Setting #127 Tobe Ware meets Spring Yellow

Table Setting #122 An Onigiri Lunch with Comforting Kutani Ware

Table Setting #116 A Japanese Style Lunch in an Auspicious Spring Motif

Table Setting #107 New Year's Festivities

Table Setting #108 A Cozy New Year Celebration

Table Setting #109 Lacquerware for a Special Occasion

Table Setting #97 Using Lacquerware Bento Boxes at Home

Table Setting #106 Lacquerware for Children

Table Setting #105 Teishoku Style Meal for One

Table Setting #103 Merriment at the Table with Unique Hasami Ware

Table Setting #100 A Festive Japanese Meal in a Jubako Bento Box

Table Setting #99 Lunch for Two in a Hanazume Jubako Bento Box

Table Setting#96 The Season of Shin Soba

Table Setting #87 Table for One with Hakuichi

Table Setting #91 A Meal for One, Zen Style

Table Setting #83 Teishoku Style Lunch for Two with Arita Porcelain Lab Japan Series for Autumn

Table Setting #80 Chanko Nabe Time with the Ginpo White Kannyu Banko Donabe Japanese Clay Pot

Table Setting #86 Enjoying the Splendor of Autumn with Gold

Table Setting #84 Jubako Bento Lunch with Arita Porcelain Lab Japan Series for Autumn

Table Setting #88 Oroshi Nabe with Blue Ginpo Kikka Banko Donabe Japanese Clay Pot

Table Setting #82 A Japanese Style Breakfast with Yamanaka Lacquerware and Tobe Ware

Table Setting #79 A Shabu-shabu dinner with the Black Banko Donabe Japanese Clay Pot

Table Setting #70 Hibino Modern Shokado Bento Box -Omotenashi in New Style

Table Setting #74 An Inivitation to the Arita Porcelain Lab Yazaemon Series

Table Setting #66 Treat Guests with a Set Meal of

Table Setting #43 Let's make a radiant setting with auspicious tablewares!

Table Setting #44 Authentic Table Setting for Donburi Rice Bowl Dishes

Table Setting #42 Relaxing Time With Freshly Prepared Oden And Japanese Sake

Table Setting #41 Japanese Lunch In Vivid Yellow & Green Color Of Kutani Ware

Table Setting #35 Warm Up On a Cold Day with GINPO's Hot Pot

Table Setting #37 A Unique Set Meal On a Yamanaka Lacquer Round Tray

Table Setting #38 Enjoy the Layered Style: Usuki Ware Plates with Inari Sushi

Table Setting #34 The Perfect Combination! Cold Udon Noodles and Tobe Ware Donburi

Table Setting #32 The Autumnal Fish Grilled Set Meal

Table Setting #31 A Casual Ramen Lunch With Tobe Ware

Table Setting #33 Why don't you try Japanese plate lunch?

Table Setting #29 Autumnal Colored Lunch Set

Table Setting #27 Simple and Modern Japanese Meal Set Style

Table Setting #21 Cold Soba Noodles to Beat the Summer Heat

Table Setting #16 Elegant Table Setting with a Beautiful Lacquer Box

Table Setting #7 Seasonal Side Dishes in a Bamboo Basket

Table Setting #5 A Cute Appetizer Set in Japanese Lacquer Box

Table Setting #4 Traditional Japanese Dinner with a Variety of Side Dishes

Table Setting #1 Sakura Party with Japanese Style Lunch!

Sushi Set

Eating sushi with family and friends is a very enjoyable moment. We have come up with a sushi set that will make such a time even more wonderful.
In addition to the essential items such as main plate, soy sauce plate, and chopsticks, we have also introduced a soup bowl and center plate that provide a more authentic sushi experience.

Table Setting #112 Sushi in the Springtime

Table Setting #95 Sushi on Echizen Lacquerware

Table Setting #85 The Best Menu Dinner with Luxurious Lacquerware

Table Setting #92 Sushi on Modern Kutani Ware

Table Setting #77 Sushi dinner in autumn colors from Hozan Kiln

Table Setting #55 Host a Spring Party- Authentic Sushi

Table Setting #56 Sushi Set with Japanese Art

Table Setting #26 Genuine Sushi Set with Ceramic Plate Like Wood

Table Setting #23 Authentic Sushi Set with Red Camellia Plate

Table Setting #25 Casual Sushi Set with Kuvio Wave Hasami Plate

Table Setting #24 Modern Sushi Set with Ash Graze Mino Plate

Tea and Matcha Time

You can create an exotic atmosphere by adding Japanese style tableware to your coffee table.
When enjoying matcha green tea, you can combine a tray to create a sophisticated space.

Table Setting #150 The Charm of a Japanese Tea Room at Your Table

Table Setting #146 Serene Sunshine: Japanese Teatime in Pastel Colors

Table Setting #131 Savor Spring with Delicious Japanese Tea and Sweets

Table Setting #118 Hot Tea at the Table with Colorful Nambu Ironware Cast Iron Teapots

Table Setting #123 The Delicate Beauty of Sakura Pink Teaware

Table Setting #117 Hinamatsuri Tea Party

Table Setting #110 Welcome the New Year with a Bowl of Matcha Tea

Table Setting #111 Welcome Spring to the Table with Celadon Plates

Table Setting #101 A Fun Afternoon with Japanese Sweets and Tea

Table setting #78 Dessert time with Japanese Sweets

Table Setting #81 Autumn Entertaining with Premium Japanese Tea

Table Setting #72 A Tea Tasting Party For Two With Usuki Ware

Table Setting #69 Create a festive mood for your tea party with Arita ware!

Table Setting #61 Early Summer Tea Ceremony with a Tokoname ware Teapot Set

Table Setting #63 Take a Break With Sencha Green Tea While Listening to The Sound of Rain

Table Setting #62 Chic Tea Party with Cat Teapot Set

Table Setting #52 A Brief Tea Break With Kyusu Made Of Tokoname Ware

Table Setting #49 Can't Wait For Spring! Tea Party With Spring Colors

Table Setting #50 Casual Spring Tea Ceremony

Table Setting #48 New Year's Greetings with Japanese Sweets!

Table Setting #47 Warm Japanese Sweets Time

Table Setting #19 Time to Recharge and Relax in Your Favorite Cups

Table Setting #18 It's Japanese Sweets Time!

Table Setting #15 Peaceful Time with Adorable Matcha Bowl

Table Setting #10 Cute and Modern Style Matcha Bowl

Table Setting #12 Blessing Beautiful Spring Day with Kutani Mugs

Sake Time

There is something special about the time spent savoring your favorite sake in a nice sake set.
You can create a more sophisticated atmosphere by combining sake cups with plates and small Kobachi bowls that are similar in taste.

Table Setting #143 Kutani Elegance: An Exquisite Table Decor for a Sophisticated Office Party

Table Setting #138 Captivating Contrasts: Glimmering Edo Kiriko Glassware on Black

Table Setting #135 A New Dining Experience: Tradition Reborn with Modern Sensibilities

Table Setting #134 Fun at Home: Izakaya Dining

Table Setting #129 Cool Impressions with Celadon

Table Setting #124 A Milestone Celebration in Modern Blue Tones

Table Setting #114 Cherry Blossom Celebration

Table setting #76 Autumn table setting in a jiffy with MERU Jade series

Table Setting #67 Sake Party with Summery Blue and White Porcelain

Table Setting #65 Elegant Style for Evening Drinking with

Table Setting #64 Evening Drinking Style for Early Summer

Table Setting #20 Luxury Kutani Sake Set

Table Setting #14 Modern Kutani Sake Set

Modern Eclectic Style

There is no rule that says Japanese tableware must be used for Japanese cuisine.
How about combining your local food culture with Japanese tableware to create your own little world at the dining table?
We are very much looking forward to seeing new dining styles being born around the world.

Table Setting #148 Savoring the Fruits of Summer with Charming Tobe Ware

Table Setting #145 Pastel Perfection with a Jubako Bento Box Luncheon

Table Setting #125 Lunch with Cat-loving Friends on Neco Hasami Cat Plates

Table Setting #121 Dress Your Table with Colorful Flowers

Table Setting #120 Brunch with Mino Ware

Table Setting #119 Lunch Party in Pretty Spring Colors

Table Setting #113 Cheerful Mimosa Flowers

Table Setting #89 Family Fun with the Ginpo Kikka Banko Donabe Japanese Clay Pot

Table Setting #73 Sake Celebration with Noble and Elegant Arita Porcelain Lab Japan Blue Collection

Table Setting #39 Fun Christmas Party Around a Clay Pot

Table Setting #30 A Fun Curry Lunch with Long Plate

Table Setting #17 Soup Lunch with Bright Turkish Blue Plates

Table Setting #13 Refreshing Summer Table Setting

Table Setting #2 Pretty Mother's Day Table Setting

Table Setting #9 Japanese Modern Celebration

Table Setting #8 Relaxing Brunch Table Setting

Table Setting #11 Invite Friends Over For a Lunch Party!

Are you ready to make your own table setting?
As a first step, it would be great to decide a theme.

Authentic and elegant

Stylish and modern

casual and everyday

natural and organic

For more guidance to create your own table setting, the article below may help you!

5 Important Tips for Beautiful Japanese Dinner Setting

Whether in a Japanese restaurant or a trip to Japan, you may have seen some stunning table settings that you just couldn't help but want to capture in...

Why People Choose MUSUBI KILN?

MUSUBI KILN introduces high quality, attractive, historical and traditional Japanese tableware, which is supported all over the world.

Brand Concept

1. High quality recognized by top chefs and specialists

At MUSUBI KILN, we proudly introduce only handcrafted traditional tableware carefully selected from all over Japan. Our selection is based on the importance of the unique texture of handmade products which last for a long time.

In addition, in the past tens of thousands of international shipments, we have experienced less than 0.1% of problems during transportation. If you need help, our customer service team will be happy to assist you.

2. Many options to find your favorite one

MUSUBI KILN carries more than 2,000 kinds of products. We have a wide range of products from authentic to modern and cute, so you are sure to find an item that will make your loved one happy.

Each of our tableware has a wonderful narrative behind it, including history, tradition, and the craftsmanship. These characteristics make tableware not just a consumable item, but a thoughtful gift that is memorable and attractive.

3. Furoshiki Japanese gift wrapping is provided as standard

We use Furoshiki to wrap our customers' all purchases. The Furoshiki used for wrapping are authentic Japanese ones produced by a company in Kyoto, and even after opening the package, you can wrap it again or arrange it to use it as a bag.

In Japan, there is a belief that a knot can contain a person's wishes. If you want to make the gift experience more exciting, it is a good idea to buy our unique Furoshiki separately and wrap it yourself.

Furoshiki Collection